🇳🇱Netherlands

CeraVe vs The INKEY List

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

CeraVe and The INKEY List are well-regarded skincare brands that offer reliable everyday essentials. The American brand features moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and sunscreens powered by hyaluronic acid and glycerin, making its formulations best suited for acne-prone skin and dry skin. Conversely, the British brand provides moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products built around glycerin, which fit sensitive skin and combination skin best. While both brands rely heavily on glycerin to improve hydration and restore barrier function, they differ in their specific ingredient combinations and targeted product choices.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.com

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

Popular CeraVe vs The INKEY List products

People Say

CeraVeThe INKEY List
  • Fragrance-free and gentle formulas Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “cured my dry patches — CeraVe Eye Repair Cream”
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
  • Affordable value and pricing Sometimes NotedMostly 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”
    • “reasonably priced — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
  • Skin texture improvement and smoothness Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “difference in my skin's texture is noticeable — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
    • “smoother complexion — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “less greasy — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Effective oil control and acne clearing Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Skin instantly looks less oily — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “My T-zone was excessively oily... observed a subtle reduction in sebum. — The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum”
    • “dialed back oiliness — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
  • Packaging and pump issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “no safety seal included — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “jar is tiny — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Very difficult to squeeze out at first — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Can be drying or lack sufficient hydration Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “face feels stripped — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “Not moisturizing enough for winter — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “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”
  • Caused breakouts and purging Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “did cause major breakouts — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “New formula breaks me out — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Caused cystic acne — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Gave me cystic acne — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”

CeraVe vs The INKEY List routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

CeraVe vs The INKEY List routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

CeraVe vs The INKEY List routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or The INKEY List: which is better?

CeraVe is better for fragrance-free and gentle formulas, deep hydration, and skin texture improvement, while The INKEY List excels in affordable value and pricing and effective oil control and acne clearing. CeraVe achieves a superior routine fit for acne-prone skin, whereas both brands offer equal fit levels for other skin types.

What is the difference between CeraVe and The INKEY List?

CeraVe and The INKEY List both offer fragrance-free products on their respective pages, but CeraVe achieves a Superior fit for acne-prone skin compared to The INKEY List's High fit. Reviewers note that CeraVe is better for fragrance-free and gentle formulas as well as deep hydration, while The INKEY List offers better affordable value and pricing.

CeraVe or The INKEY List for dry skin?

Both CeraVe and The INKEY List fit dry skin well, offering an equal high routine fit level for the products on this page. CeraVe features a high routine fit and deep hydration, while The INKEY List provides a high routine fit alongside affordable value and pricing.

CeraVe or The INKEY List: which cleanser is better?

CeraVe provides a better range of cleansers on this page, achieving a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin compared to The INKEY List. Reviewers mention that CeraVe offers gentle, non-stripping cleansers alongside effective options for acne and oil.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or The INKEY List?

The INKEY List offers better value and pricing among the products on this page compared to CeraVe. Reviewers frequently note its affordable value for both serums and moisturizers.

CeraVe or The INKEY List: which brand has better fragrance-free and gentle formulas?

CeraVe does better for fragrance-free and gentle formulas among the products on this page.

CeraVe or The INKEY List: which brand is superior for skin texture improvement and smoothness?

CeraVe is superior for skin texture improvement and smoothness.

CeraVe or The INKEY List: which brand provides deeper hydration and moisturization?

CeraVe provides deeper hydration and moisturization compared to The INKEY List. Review themes on the page indicate that CeraVe performs better for deep hydration and moisturization.

CeraVe or The INKEY List for oily skin?

Both CeraVe and The INKEY List show a High routine fit for oily skin. CeraVe offers products on this page such as the Foaming Facial Cleanser and PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with Superior fit levels for oily skin.

CeraVe or The INKEY List for sensitive skin?

Both CeraVe and The INKEY List show a High routine fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. CeraVe tends to do better for fragrance-free and gentle formulas.

CeraVe or The INKEY List for acne-prone skin?

CeraVe is a superior fit for acne-prone skin on this page, offering targeted options like the Resurfacing Retinol Serum and Acne Control Gel. Reviewers note that CeraVe provides effective cleansers for acne and oil, while The INKEY List may sometimes cause breakouts and purging.

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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