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The INKEY List vs Simple

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

The INKEY List and Simple are British skincare brands offering targeted daily formulas built around glycerin and niacinamide. The INKEY List features moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products suited best for dry and sensitive skin. Simple is beloved for gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners that suit acne-prone and mature skin best. Both brands differ in their specific ingredient focus, with the first emphasizing specialized actives like azelaic acid and ceramides while the second centers on a nurturing approach.

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

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular The INKEY List vs Simple products

People Say

The INKEY ListSimple
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Affordable price point Mostly MentionedOften 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”
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
  • Hydration and moisturizing Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
  • Lightweight texture and fast absorption Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Makeup compatibility and performance Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Takes off any makeup residue and makes my face feel refreshed. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Best morning cleanser — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “removes last traces of makeup — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “Melts away makeup and impurities without drying — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Acne and blemish control Often MentionedNot 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”
  • Packaging and texture issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Worried about the snap top bottle leaking when travelling. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The cap broke off immediately. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “feels like a film — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Lack of hydration or drying effects Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “need to apply multiple layers — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”

The INKEY List vs Simple routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs Simple routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The INKEY List vs Simple routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Simple: which is better?

The INKEY List is better for dry, sensitive, and dry sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Simple's High fit. Reviewers also note that The INKEY List provides an affordable price point and better acne and blemish control.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Simple?

The INKEY List fits dry skin, sensitive skin, and dry sensitive skin with a Superior Lovi level, whereas Simple achieves a High level for those skin types. Simple does better for sensitive skin and makeup compatibility, while The INKEY List does better for acne and blemish control and pricing.

The INKEY List or Simple for dry skin?

The INKEY List offers a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Simple offers a High routine fit.

The INKEY List or Simple: which cleanser is better?

The products on this page for The INKEY List include cleansers like the Salicylic Acid Cleanser and Oat Cleansing Balm, which have Lovi fit levels ranging from Low to Superior depending on skin type, whereas Simple offers cleansers like the Refreshing Facial Wash with fit levels from Low to Average. Reviewers note that Simple is gentler on sensitive skin, while The INKEY List offers a more affordable price point.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Simple?

The INKEY List is more affordable than Simple, as it does better on the affordable price point review theme.

Between The INKEY List and Simple, which brand is better for mature skin?

The INKEY List fits mature skin better with a Superior Lovi routine level compared to Simple's High level.

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

Simple has better packaging and texture reviews than The INKEY List, as reviewers note packaging issues for The INKEY List and packaging and texture issues for Simple.

Do The INKEY List products contain any fragrance in their ingredients?

The INKEY List products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients.

The INKEY List or Simple for oily skin?

For oily skin, The INKEY List and Simple are both a High fit according to Lovi.

The INKEY List or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

The INKEY List stands out for its hydrating and lightweight moisturizers, which reviewers note are affordable and perform well under makeup. Both brands offer fragrance-free options featuring key ingredients like glycerin, but The INKEY List is frequently praised for offering a better price point.

The INKEY List or Simple for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List offers a Superior Lovi fit for sensitive skin, while Simple offers a High fit.

The INKEY List or Simple for acne-prone skin?

The INKEY List fits acne-prone skin better, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Simple's High routine fit.

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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