🇮🇪Ireland

Cetaphil vs The INKEY List

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

Cetaphil and The INKEY List are well-regarded skincare brands that offer reliable daily essentials. The American brand is known for cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and sunscreens featuring glycerin, niacinamide, and panthenol, while the British brand focuses on moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products built around glycerin. Both options suit combination skin, with the former also serving acne-prone skin best and the latter fitting sensitive skin best. They differ primarily in their founding years, ownership, and breadth of signature ingredients.

Cetaphil is an American skincare brand founded in 1947 and owned by Galderma Group AG.

en.wikipedia.orgcetaphil.co.uk

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 Cetaphil and The INKEY List products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Cetaphil vs The INKEY List products

People Say

CetaphilThe INKEY List
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “The only thing my reactive skin tolerates. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “No breakouts since switching to this. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “cleans without stripping — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “cleared up flaky skin — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “healed my dry patches — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft, not tight. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
  • Other product benefits and issues Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin felt softer after one use — Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser”
    • “Micro-fine granules don't irritate — Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub”
    • “truly no smell — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “skin looks fresh and plump — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Absorbs quickly into skin without residue — Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “feels like applying straight up water to the skin — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
  • Affordable value Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “Bar lasts a long time — Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar”
  • Acne and oil control Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “calms redness instantly — The INKEY List 10% Azelaic Acid Serum”
    • “Skin instantly looks less oily — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Removes excess oil without drying. — Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser”
  • Packaging and texture issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “hate dipping fingers in — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “wish it had a pump — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “too thick for face — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Drying and lack of moisture Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Deep cleansing ability is not very strong — Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub”
    • “Felt a little stripping on sensitive areas. — Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser”
    • “have dry skin but this doesn't feel hydrating at all — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “leaves under eye dry — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”

Cetaphil vs The INKEY List routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Cetaphil vs The INKEY List routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Cetaphil vs The INKEY List routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Cetaphil or The INKEY List: which is better?

Cetaphil is better for combination skin with a Superior routine fit compared to The INKEY List's High fit, while The INKEY List is better for sensitive skin with a Superior routine fit compared to Cetaphil's High fit.

What is the difference between Cetaphil and The INKEY List?

Cetaphil is an American brand founded in 1947 and owned by Galderma Group AG, while The INKEY List is a British brand founded in 2018 and owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited. The products on this page from Cetaphil feature key ingredients like glycerin, niacinamide, and panthenol, whereas the products on this page from The INKEY List primarily highlight glycerin.

Cetaphil or The INKEY List for dry skin?

Both Cetaphil and The INKEY List are well-suited for dry skin, as the products on this page achieve a High routine fit level for this skin type. Reviewers note that Cetaphil excels in providing gentle hydration and moisture, whereas The INKEY List offers affordable value.

Cetaphil or The INKEY List: which cleanser is better?

Cetaphil is better for gentle, non-stripping cleansing, as its products on this page are mostly mentioned by reviewers for being gentle and non-stripping.

Which is more affordable, Cetaphil or The INKEY List?

The INKEY List offers better affordability for both its moisturizers and serums compared to Cetaphil.

Which brand has better packaging and texture reviews, Cetaphil or The INKEY List?

The INKEY List has better packaging and texture reviews, as packaging and texture issues are noted more frequently for Cetaphil.

Cetaphil or The INKEY List for oily skin?

Both Cetaphil and The INKEY List offer a high routine fit for oily skin, though Cetaphil fits best for combination, acne-prone, and oily skin, while The INKEY List fits best for sensitive skin, combination skin, and oily acne-prone skin.

Cetaphil or The INKEY List: which moisturizer is better?

Cetaphil offers better hydration and moisture for dry skin with products like the Rich Hydrating Night Cream, whereas The INKEY List provides more affordable options. Both brands feature lightweight and fast-absorbing moisturizers on this page.

Cetaphil or The INKEY List for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, The INKEY List is the better choice because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to High for Cetaphil. Reviewers also note that The INKEY List offers fragrance-free products across the board.

Cetaphil or The INKEY List for acne-prone skin?

Both Cetaphil and The INKEY List are well-suited for acne-prone skin, offering a Lovi fit level of High for their respective routines on this page. Reviewers note that Cetaphil provides gentle, non-stripping cleansers, while The INKEY List excels in acne and oil control.

Cetaphil or The INKEY List for combination skin?

For combination skin, Cetaphil is superior while The INKEY List has a high fit. Reviewers note that Cetaphil offers gentle, non-stripping cleansers and hydrating, non-greasy moisturizers across the products on this page.

Cetaphil or The INKEY List for mature skin?

Both Cetaphil and The INKEY List offer a High routine fit for mature skin. The products on this page help provide hydration and moisture, and niacinamide may help 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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