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The Ordinary vs The INKEY List

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

The Ordinary and The INKEY List are minimalist lines that pair accessible pricing with targeted formulations. The Canadian brand centers its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the British brand focuses its moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products around glycerin. The former generally suits dry and dry sensitive skin best, whereas the latter is ideal for sensitive and combination skin. While both rely on science-backed ingredients to address concerns like acne, dark spots, and aging, they differ in their specific hero products and regional origins.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular The Ordinary vs The INKEY List products

People Say

The OrdinaryThe INKEY List
  • Affordable price and value Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “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”
  • Smooths skin texture Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “skin looks fresh and plump — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
  • Hydration and moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Skin feels instantly hydrated, nourished and looks more glowing — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Clears acne and reduces blemishes Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “faded dark spots — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing texture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “feels like applying straight up water to the skin — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Other product characteristics Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “leaves skin feeling matte — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Other product issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “very runny serum — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Leaves a greasy film on face after washing — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “Forms a crust on the hole at the flick top cap. — The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum”
    • “foams up like soap — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Packaging and container issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “The 50ml tube runs out way too fast. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Wish it came in a pump — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Sticky or tacky finish Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Feels tacky on skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Leaves a tackiness that never goes away. — The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum”
    • “feeling sticky — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”

The Ordinary vs The INKEY List routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs The INKEY List routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs The INKEY List routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or The INKEY List: which is better?

The Ordinary fits dry skin with a Superior routine level, whereas The INKEY List reaches a High level for dry skin. Reviewers find that The INKEY List delivers better hydration and moisture, while The Ordinary does better at clearing acne and reducing blemishes.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and The INKEY List?

The Ordinary offers better results for smoothing skin texture, clearing acne, and fading dark spots, whereas The INKEY List delivers superior hydration and lightweight, fast-absorbing moisturizers. Both brands provide equally affordable pricing and value across the products on this page.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List for dry skin?

The Ordinary is a better choice for dry skin because Lovi rates its routine as Superior, compared to High for The INKEY List.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List: which cleanser is better?

When it comes to cleansers, both The Ordinary and The INKEY List offer options on this page that fit different skin needs well. For dry skin, The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser has a Superior Lovi fit level, whereas The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm also achieves a Superior Lovi fit level for dry skin.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or The INKEY List?

Both The Ordinary and The INKEY List perform equally well when it comes to affordable price and value.

Between The Ordinary and The INKEY List, which brand is better for reducing dark spots?

The Ordinary is better for reducing dark spots, as the products on this page achieve a Superior routine fit for skin with dark spots while The INKEY List achieves a High fit. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

How do the founding years and locations of The Ordinary and The INKEY List compare?

The Ordinary was founded in 2016 in Canada, while The INKEY List was founded in 2018 in the United Kingdom.

Which brand performs better when it comes to smoothing skin texture?

The Ordinary performs better when it comes to smoothing skin texture, as it is highlighted by reviewers for its texture-smoothing serums among the products on this page.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and The INKEY List fit sensitive skin at a Superior level with the products on this page. Topical use of dexpanthenol helps maintain skin hydration and barrier function.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or The INKEY List: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, The INKEY List is known for hydrating, lightweight, and fast-absorbing formulas, while The Ordinary offers products on this page that are a Superior fit for dry skin. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

The Ordinary or The INKEY List for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and The INKEY List fit acne-prone skin well, but The Ordinary is better at clearing acne and reducing blemishes for the products on this page. Lovi rates the routine fit for acne-prone skin as High for both brands.

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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