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The INKEY List vs Elemis

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

The INKEY List and Elemis are British skincare brands offering moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products built around ingredients like glycerin and shea. The former brand fits dry skin and sensitive skin best, featuring targeted treatments such as its PHA Toner, Azelaic Acid Serum, and Ceramide Moisturizer. Meanwhile, the latter brand suits dry skin and mature skin best, highlighted by formulations like its Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment, Tri-Acid Peel, and Marine Cream. Both differ in their specific ingredient profiles and founding eras, with the British skincare brand from 2018 focusing primarily on glycerin while the 1989 British skincare brand weaves together glycerin and shea.

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

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular The INKEY List vs Elemis products

People Say

The INKEY ListElemis
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Texture Mostly MentionedOften 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”
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Gentle and Soothing Formula Often 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”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
  • Affordable 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”
  • Skin Smoothing and Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “skin feels baby-soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedNot noted
    • “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”
  • High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Fragrance and Scent Issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like BBQ/meat — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Smells like chemicals — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “smells plasticky — The INKEY List ECTOIN HYDRO-BARRIER SERUM”
    • “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “jar looks half empty — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “tube feels half empty — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “pump broke quickly — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”

The INKEY List vs Elemis routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs Elemis routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The INKEY List vs Elemis routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Elemis: which is better?

The INKEY List is better for shoppers seeking affordable prices and gentle formulas without added fragrance, whereas Elemis excels in luxurious textures and smoothing skin texture despite its higher price point. Both brands offer solid routines for mature skin and acne-prone skin, but The INKEY List achieves a superior fit for dry skin, sensitive skin, and dry sensitive skin among the products on this page.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Elemis?

The INKEY List offers more affordable, fragrance-free products that are rated Superior for dry, sensitive, and combination skin on the products on this page. Elemis provides more luxurious, higher-priced formulas with key ingredients like shea butter that are frequently scented.

The INKEY List or Elemis for dry skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for dry skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis which has a High fit on this page. Reviewers mention that the products on this page help provide hydrating and lightweight moisturizers.

The INKEY List or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

The INKEY List tends to be better for cleansers on these pages, offering options like the Salicylic Acid Cleanser that are well-suited for acne-prone and oily skin types.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Elemis?

The INKEY List is more affordable, as the products on this page provide budget-friendly skincare options compared to Elemis.

Between The INKEY List and Elemis, which brand offers better options for mature skin?

Both The INKEY List and Elemis offer options that fit mature skin at a High level on the products on this page. Reviewers note that The INKEY List provides more affordable options, while Elemis is often noted for smoother skin texture and a radiant glow.

How do the fragrance options compare between The INKEY List and Elemis products?

The products on this page from The INKEY List list no fragrance in their ingredients, whereas 18 out of 22 products from Elemis contain fragrance. Reviewers sometimes note strong fragrance and skin irritation as issues with Elemis.

Which brand has a better routine fit for dry sensitive skin, The INKEY List or Elemis?

The INKEY List has a superior routine fit for dry sensitive skin compared to Elemis, which is high. Reviewers note that the products on this page for The INKEY List provide hydrating, lightweight, and affordable moisturizers.

The INKEY List or Elemis for oily skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for oily skin, offering a High routine fit compared to the Average fit of Elemis on the products on this page. Reviewers note that The INKEY List delivers better acne and blemish control as well as a more lightweight and fast-absorbing texture.

The INKEY List or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

Both brands offer well-liked moisturizers, but The INKEY List stands out for providing hydrating options at a more affordable price point. Reviewers frequently mention that the products on this page from The INKEY List deliver lightweight and fast-absorbing hydration, while Elemis is often praised for its luxurious textures.

The INKEY List or Elemis for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is a better choice for sensitive skin, offering a superior routine fit compared to Elemis, which has a high fit level. The products on this page for The INKEY List list no fragrance in their ingredients, helping to reduce the likelihood of skin irritation.

The INKEY List or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and Elemis fit acne-prone skin well, as the products on this page achieve a High fit level for this skin type.

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

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