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The INKEY List vs Medik8

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

The INKEY List and Medik8 are British skincare brands offering moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and more. The INKEY List is known for glycerin, which significantly increased skin hydration and restored barrier function, while Medik8 is known for hyaluronic acid, which lengthens toxin wrinkle effect duration. Both brands suit dry skin and sensitive skin best, with specific formulations tailored for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin. They primarily differ in their founding years, parent companies, and signature hydrating ingredients.

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

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular The INKEY List and Medik8 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The INKEY List vs Medik8 products

People Say

The INKEY ListMedik8
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
  • Results and Effectiveness Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “Reduces fine lines — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “smells like a spa — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “skin looks fresh and plump — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
  • Price and Value Mostly MentionedRarely 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”
    • “better value than Skinceuticals — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Skin instantly looks less oily — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Visibly reduces acne scars — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “pigmentation lightened slightly — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
  • Lack of Results or Slow Progress Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “no difference yet — Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3”
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Glass bottle breaks easily — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “hard to get last bit — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “click mechanism tricky — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
  • High Price Point Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”

The INKEY List vs Medik8 routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The INKEY List vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Medik8: which is better?

Both The INKEY List and Medik8 are great choices depending on your budget and skincare goals. The INKEY List offers more affordable options and does better for acne and blemish control, while Medik8 provides more advanced results and gentler formulas.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Medik8?

The INKEY List and Medik8 both offer strong routines across skin types, but The INKEY List tends to be more affordable, while Medik8 is often noted for better results and effectiveness. Reviewers also mention that The INKEY List focuses more on acne and blemish control, whereas Medik8 provides gentle and non-irritating serums.

The INKEY List or Medik8 for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and Medik8 are a superior fit for dry skin based on the products on this page. Reviewers note that both brands offer deep hydration and plumping benefits, while The INKEY List stands out for its affordability.

The INKEY List or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

Both The INKEY List and Medik8 offer top-rated options for cleansing, with Surface Radiance Cleanse by Medik8 achieving a Superior Lovi fit level for acne-prone skin, skin with dark spots, and oily acne-prone skin.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Medik8?

The INKEY List is more affordable, as price and value is an area where it does better than Medik8. The products on this page for The INKEY List feature affordable moisturizers and affordable serums.

Which brand performs better for acne and blemish control, The INKEY List or Medik8?

The INKEY List does better for acne and blemish control. Reviewers note that the products on this page offer better blemish management with this brand.

Do any products from The INKEY List or Medik8 contain fragrance?

Every product on The INKEY List page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, while Medik8 has 11 of 12 products with no fragrance and only the Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream listing fragrance.

What are the key ingredients across the products for The INKEY List versus Medik8?

The key ingredients across the products on this page for The INKEY List include Glycerin, whereas Medik8 features Hyaluronic acid as its main key ingredient.

The INKEY List or Medik8 for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and Medik8 offer great options for oily skin, as the routine fit for this skin type is High for the products on this page from both brands. Reviewers note that The INKEY List provides better value for price and acne control, while Medik8 delivers better results and effectiveness.

The INKEY List or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, The INKEY List is better for shoppers focused on price and value, while Medik8 is better for results and effectiveness. Reviewers frequently mention that the products on this page for The INKEY List offer affordable moisturizers, whereas Medik8 products provide deep hydration and plumping.

The INKEY List or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Both The INKEY List and Medik8 achieve a Lovi fit level of Superior for sensitive skin. Reviewers indicate that Medik8 offers gentle and non-irritating serums.

The INKEY List or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and Medik8 offer products on this page that are a High fit for acne-prone skin, so either brand helps depending on your preference for price or formulation.

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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