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Clinique vs The INKEY List

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

Clinique and The INKEY List are well-regarded skincare brands that offer thoughtful ranges of moisturizers, serums, eye products, and more. The American brand, founded in 1968, incorporates hydrating hyaluronic acid, nourishing glycerin, and invigorating caffeine into its products, suiting dry sensitive skin and oily skin best. Conversely, the British brand, founded in 2018, builds its formulations around glycerin and fits dry skin and sensitive skin best. While both feature comforting, balancing ingredients to restore barrier function, they differ in their specific targeted solutions, such as Clinique utilizing advanced peptides for mature skin and the INKEY List relying on targeted acids for varied concerns.

Clinique is an American skincare brand founded in 1968 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.combusinesswire.comglossy.co

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

Popular Clinique vs The INKEY List products

People Say

CliniqueThe INKEY List
  • Hydration and plumping effect Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “skin feels soft and smooth — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “skin looks fresh and plump — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
  • Soothes and gentle for sensitive skin Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “No stinging eyes — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “cools the heat in my cheeks — Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream”
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “sinks in instantly — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “feels like applying straight up water to the skin — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
  • Good makeup base and compatibility Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “holds concealer in place — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “no pilling under makeup — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
  • Morning glow and skin smoothing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
    • “wake up glowing — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Glass skin — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
  • Reduces redness and blemishes Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “calms redness instantly — The INKEY List 10% Azelaic Acid Serum”
    • “Redness has lessened and the cluster of whiteheads... cleared. — The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum”
    • “keeps the redness at bay — Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream”
  • Insufficient hydration or dryness Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “Leaves my skin a bit dry — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “skin felt tight — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
  • High price and small size Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “runs out quickly — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “tube is tiny — The INKEY List 10% Azelaic Acid Serum”
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
  • Causes breakouts and skin reactions Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Woke up with whiteheads on my chin — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “gave me tiny bumps — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “did cause major breakouts — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “New formula breaks me out — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”

Clinique vs The INKEY List routines for dry skin

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Clinique vs The INKEY List routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Clinique vs The INKEY List routines for combination skin

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Questions and answers

Clinique or The INKEY List: which is better?

The INKEY List generally performs better across various skin types on this page, offering superior routine fits for dry, combination, sensitive, and dry sensitive skin.

What is the difference between Clinique and The INKEY List?

The INKEY List offers superior routine fits for dry, combination, sensitive, and dry sensitive skin types on this page compared to Clinique. Reviewers note that The INKEY List provides more affordable options, while Clinique is often mentioned for a higher price point.

Clinique or The INKEY List for dry skin?

The INKEY List is a superior choice for dry skin, as its routine fit level is Superior while Clinique is Average. The INKEY List features hydrating moisturizers and targeted options like Polyglutamic Acid Serum and Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturizer that help deliver deep moisture.

Clinique or The INKEY List: which cleanser is better?

The INKEY List is better for cleansers, as the products on this page achieve higher Lovi fit levels across multiple skin types compared to Clinique's cleanser options.

Which is more affordable, Clinique or The INKEY List?

The INKEY List offers greater affordability, as reviewers often note its affordability for both moisturizers and serums while frequently mentioning Clinique's high price point.

Clinique or The INKEY List: which has better options for mature skin?

Both Clinique and The INKEY List feature products on this page that achieve a High fit level for mature skin. Reviewers note that The INKEY List offers affordable moisturizers and serums, while Clinique is often mentioned for its higher price point.

Clinique or The INKEY List for oily skin?

Both Clinique and The INKEY List are well suited for oily skin, as the products on this page for both brands reach a High fit level for this skin type.

Clinique or The INKEY List: which moisturizer is better?

The INKEY List offers superior routines for dry, sensitive, and combination skin on this page, while both brands match well for oily, mature, and oily acne-prone skin.

Clinique or The INKEY List for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Clinique's Average fit level.

Clinique or The INKEY List for dry sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for dry sensitive skin, offering a superior routine compared to Clinique's average fit for this skin type. Reviewers note that The INKEY List provides affordable, hydrating moisturizers and targeted serums, though it may occasionally lead to packaging issues or purging.

Clinique or The INKEY List for skin with dark spots?

The INKEY List is a better fit for skin with dark spots, with Lovi rating its routine as High compared to Clinique's Average. Reviewers note that The INKEY List does better at reducing redness and blemishes.

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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