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The INKEY List vs Olay

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

The INKEY List and Olay are accessible skincare brands that help consumers address diverse needs with targeted formulations. The INKEY List focuses on glycerin-driven moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products that suit sensitive and combination skin, while Olay thoughtfully pairs niacinamide and glycerin in cleansers, serums, eye products, and moisturizers that best fit acne-prone and mature skin. Both brands offer standout solutions for specific concerns, such as targeted dark spot treatments and specialized eye care. Ultimately, they differ in their foundational ingredients and primary skin compatibility, giving shoppers distinct choices for their routines.

The INKEY List is a British skincare brand founded in 2018 and owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited.

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular The INKEY List and Olay products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The INKEY List vs Olay products

People Say

The INKEY ListOlay
  • Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Skin Smoothing and Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “hydrates the skin — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Gentle on Skin Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “calmed my menopausal redness — The INKEY List ECTOIN HYDRO-BARRIER SERUM”
    • “tiny beads aren't harsh — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
  • Affordable Value and Pricing Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Good for the price — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “One of the best balms for quality and also price — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “unbeatable value — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “Better than high-end moisturizers — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • Brightening and Radiance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “skin looks brighter — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “Visibly reduces acne scars — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Very difficult to squeeze out at first — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
    • “dropper is frustrating — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
  • Unpleasant Scent or Fragrance Issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Smells like BBQ/meat — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Smells like chemicals — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “Fragrance can be an irritant — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “floral scent — Olay Super Serum”

The INKEY List vs Olay routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The INKEY List vs Olay routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The INKEY List vs Olay routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Olay: which is better?

Both brands offer solid routines, but Olay is a superior fit for acne-prone, mature, and oily acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that The INKEY List is more affordable and gentler, while Olay delivers better skin smoothing and brightening.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Olay?

The INKEY List and Olay offer effective options, with The INKEY List providing greater affordability and Olay delivering better skin smoothing and brightening. Reviewers note that niacinamide in Olay products helps improve texture and reduce pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

The INKEY List or Olay for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a High routine fit for dry skin among the products on this page. Reviewers note that both brands provide hydrating moisturizers and lightweight feels.

The INKEY List or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer cleansers on this page, but they cater to different needs with varying fit levels across skin types. For example, The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser achieves a High fit for acne-prone skin, while Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser also reaches a High fit for acne-prone skin.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Olay?

The INKEY List is more affordable than Olay, as reviewer feedback highlights affordable serums and affordable moisturizers as a key strength for the brand.

Between The INKEY List and Olay, which brand is better suited for mature skin?

Olay is better suited for mature skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to The INKEY List's High fit level. Topical retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation and improve signs of aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

How do The INKEY List and Olay compare in terms of skin brightening and radiance?

Olay does better than The INKEY List for brightening and radiance among the products on this page. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Which brand has more fragrance-free options, The INKEY List or Olay?

Both brands offer extensive fragrance-free options, as every product on The INKEY List page lists no fragrance, and 26 of the 27 products on the Olay page are also fragrance-free.

The INKEY List or Olay for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers find that both brands deliver equal performance for lightweight and fast-absorbing texture as well as hydration and moisture.

The INKEY List or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, both The INKEY List and Olay offer hydrating and fast-absorbing options on this page, but Olay stands out for skin smoothing and texture improvement. Reviewers note that The INKEY List provides more affordable values, while Olay delivers a superior routine fit for mature skin.

The INKEY List or Olay for sensitive skin?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin among the products on this page. Reviewers note that The INKEY List is particularly gentle on skin, while Olay provides fragrance-free options.

The INKEY List or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Olay achieves a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin, whereas The INKEY List reaches a High fit on this Lovi page. Olay relies on key ingredients like niacinamide, which helps control skin aging and pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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