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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 pioneer incorporates hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and caffeine into its lines to suit dry sensitive and oily skin, whereas the British brand builds its collection around glycerin to fit sensitive and combination skin best. While both cater to various complexions, they differ in their specific targeted treatments, such as the former brand featuring the Clarifying Do-Over Peel for acne-prone skin and the Smart Clinical Repair Lifting Face + Neck Cream for mature skin, and the latter brand offering the PHA Toner and the Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturizer.

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

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Clinique vs The INKEY List routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Clinique vs The INKEY List routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Clinique or The INKEY List: which is better?

The INKEY List may be better for shoppers focusing on affordability, sensitive skin, and acne-prone skin, as the products on this page offer a High routine fit for those types compared to Clinique's Average fit. Reviewers note that The INKEY List provides budget-friendly options, whereas Clinique is often mentioned for having a high price point.

What is the difference between Clinique and The INKEY List?

Clinique and The INKEY List both offer fragrance-free skincare products, but they differ in pricing and how they address certain skin concerns. The products on this page show that Clinique is often noted for a higher price point, while The INKEY List provides more affordable options and generally achieves better fit levels for skin types like sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin.

Clinique or The INKEY List for dry skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for dry skin, where Lovi rates its routine as High compared to Clinique's Average fit level. Reviewers mention that The INKEY List offers affordable and hydrating moisturizers, while Clinique products on this page are sometimes noted for insufficient hydration or dryness.

Clinique or The INKEY List: which cleanser is better?

The INKEY List is a better fit for cleansers on this page, as its Salicylic Acid Cleanser achieves a High Lovi fit level for combination, acne-prone, oily, and sensitive skin types. In comparison, Clinique features cleansers that are generally rated as Low or carry a Warning for several of those same skin types.

Which is more affordable, Clinique or The INKEY List?

The INKEY List is more affordable, as reviewers on the page frequently mention its affordable moisturizers and affordable serums, whereas reviewers often note a high price point for Clinique.

Clinique or The INKEY List for oily skin?

Both Clinique and The INKEY List fit oily skin well, as Lovi rates the routine fit for both brands as High. Reviewers note that products from both brands are lightweight and fast-absorbing.

Clinique or The INKEY List: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, The INKEY List is a better fit for dry skin with a High routine level, whereas Clinique offers an Average fit for dry skin. Both brands provide well-liked hydrating and lightweight moisturizers on this page.

Clinique or The INKEY List for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its routine as High while Clinique's routine is rated Average. The INKEY List is also noted for doing better at soothing and being gentle for sensitive skin, and the products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients.

Clinique or The INKEY List for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, The INKEY List is a better choice because Lovi rates its routine fit as High, compared to Average for Clinique. The INKEY List also does better at reducing redness and blemishes.

Clinique or The INKEY List for mature skin?

Both Clinique and The INKEY List are well-suited for mature skin, with Lovi fit levels of High. Reviewers note that both brands offer hydrating moisturizers and lightweight, fast-absorbing textures.

Clinique or The INKEY List for skin with dark spots?

The INKEY List is a better choice for skin with dark spots because the products on this page achieve a High fit level for this skin type, compared to Clinique's Average 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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