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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 known for straightforward, effective formulations centered around glycerin and hyaluronic acid. The first brand offers moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products built around glycerin, suiting sensitive and combination skin best. The second brand features serums, moisturizers, eye products, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, suiting dry and dry sensitive skin best. While both cater to varied skincare concerns, they differ in their foundational ingredients and specific target skin types.

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 · 98% 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 · 94% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Medik8: which is better?

The INKEY List and Medik8 each suit different needs, with The INKEY List offering better affordability and acne control, while Medik8 provides superior results for hydration and anti-aging. The products on this page help improve skin texture and moisture.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Medik8?

The INKEY List focuses on budget-friendly serums and acne control, while Medik8 offers more advanced, higher-priced formulas that excel in hydration and gentle care.

The INKEY List or Medik8 for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and Medik8 are great for dry skin, though Medik8 provides a Superior routine fit compared to The INKEY List's High fit. The products on this page for Medik8 feature key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps boost deep hydration.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Drug Delivery, 2017

The INKEY List or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

Medik8 is generally considered better for cleansers on this page, as its Surface Radiance Cleanse achieves Superior ratings for acne-prone skin, skin with dark spots, and oily acne-prone skin compared to The INKEY List's Salicylic Acid Cleanser.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Medik8?

The INKEY List is more affordable than Medik8. Reviewers frequently note a high price point for Medik8, while highlighting The INKEY List for its affordable moisturizers and serums.

Which brand has better anti-aging results for mature skin, The INKEY List or Medik8?

Medik8 stands out for better results and effectiveness, and the products on this page for mature skin feature key anti-aging ingredients like retinol which helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

Do The INKEY List products contain any fragrance?

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

The INKEY List or Medik8 for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi shows that both The INKEY List and Medik8 have a High routine fit. Reviewers note that The INKEY List offers better price and value, while Medik8 is often favored for results and effectiveness.

The INKEY List or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

The INKEY List and Medik8 both offer strong moisturizer options, with Medik8 having a superior routine fit for dry skin and the products on this page providing deep hydration and plumping. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

The INKEY List or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Medik8 offers a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin, while The INKEY List provides a High routine fit. Reviewers note that Medik8 features gentle and non-irritating serums.

The INKEY List or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and Medik8 are great options for acne-prone skin, as the products on this page for both brands achieve a High routine fit level.

The INKEY List or Medik8 for dry sensitive skin?

Medik8 is a better choice for dry sensitive skin, offering superior routine fit compared to The INKEY List.

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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