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The INKEY List vs SK-II

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

The INKEY List and SK-II are distinct skincare lines anchored in targeted hydration and fermentation science. The British brand offers accessible moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products built around glycerin, suiting sensitive and combination skin best. Conversely, the Japanese house is cherished for luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, clarifying toners, and restorative masks anchored by its signature ingredient, pitera, which suit dry and acne-prone skin best. Ultimately, both differ primarily in their formulation philosophies and heritage, while each provides tailored solutions for concerns such as dark spots, texture, and aging.

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

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

SK-II is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

en.wikipedia.orgdiscoversk-ii.wixsite.comglossy.co

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

Popular The INKEY List vs SK-II products

People Say

The INKEY ListSK-II
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Glow, Radiance, and Skin Tone Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “gives a glass skin look — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “leaves me with a red carpet glow — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Price and Value Mostly MentionedNot 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”
  • General Effectiveness and Results Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “skin looks fresh and plump — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “reducing the appearance of fine lines — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Removal Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Melts away makeup and impurities without drying — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “no pilling under makeup — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “Removes leftover dirt — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “Dissolves waterproof mascara, melts stubborn makeup, removes sunscreen easily. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
  • High Price Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Lack of Results or Performance Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “didn't do anything for circles — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “did absolutely nothing — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “No visible difference — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Scent and Fragrance Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like BBQ/meat — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Smells like chemicals — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “cotton is too thick and heavy — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”

The INKEY List vs SK-II routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The INKEY List vs SK-II routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The INKEY List vs SK-II routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or SK-II: which is better?

Both brands are great choices, but The INKEY List takes the lead for price and value while SK-II does better for glow, radiance, and skin tone. Reviewers frequently mention The INKEY List for affordable moisturizers and serums, and every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients for both brands.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and SK-II?

The INKEY List offers more affordable pricing and better general effectiveness and results for the products on this page, whereas SK-II scores better for glow, radiance, and skin tone. Lovi rates The INKEY List fit as Superior for sensitive skin, while SK-II fit is Superior for dry skin and acne-prone skin.

The INKEY List or SK-II for dry skin?

For dry skin, both brands are great options as the products on this page achieve a High routine fit with The INKEY List and a Superior routine fit with SK-II.

The INKEY List or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, The INKEY List is better for shoppers seeking affordability and good general effectiveness, whereas SK-II stands out for improving glow, radiance, and skin tone. Reviewers frequently praise the products on this page from The INKEY List for being hydrating, lightweight, fast-absorbing, plumping, and affordable.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or SK-II?

The INKEY List is more affordable than SK-II. Reviewers on this page frequently mention the products on this page for offering good price and value.

Between The INKEY List and SK-II, which brand performs better for glow, radiance, and skin tone?

Between The INKEY List and SK-II, SK-II does better for glow, radiance, and skin tone based on reviewer feedback.

How do the founding years and corporate ownerships of The INKEY List and SK-II compare?

The INKEY List was founded in 2018 in the United Kingdom and is owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited, whereas SK-II was founded in 1980 in Japan and has been owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

Which brand has better routine fit for sensitive skin between The INKEY List and SK-II?

For sensitive skin, The INKEY List has a Superior routine fit, while SK-II has a High routine fit.

The INKEY List or SK-II for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and SK-II achieve a High routine fit level for oily skin. Reviewers indicate that both brands perform equally well for texture, absorption, hydration, and moisture.

The INKEY List or SK-II for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both brands work well, but Lovi rates The INKEY List as Superior and SK-II as High. Reviewers highlight that the products on this page for The INKEY List offer good hydration and affordability.

The INKEY List or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, SK-II is the better choice because Lovi rates its routine as Superior, compared to High for The INKEY List.

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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