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The INKEY List vs Olay

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

The INKEY List and Olay are accessible skincare brands offering thoughtful arrays of moisturizers, serums, eye products, and cleansers. The British brand relies on glycerin to suit sensitive and combination skin, while the latter brand builds its gentle, deeply nourishing formulations around niacinamide and glycerin to support dry and acne-prone skin. Through regular use, both brands deliver noticeable results by improving skin hydration, barrier function, wrinkles, pigmentation, and aging. Ultimately, they differ in their foundational ingredients and the specific skin types they serve best.

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

Popular The INKEY List vs Olay products

People Say

The INKEY ListOlay
  • Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Skin Smoothing and Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “hydrates the skin — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Gentle on Skin Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “calmed my menopausal redness — The INKEY List ECTOIN HYDRO-BARRIER SERUM”
    • “tiny beads aren't harsh — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
  • Affordable Value and Pricing 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 than high-end moisturizers — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • Brightening and Radiance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “skin looks brighter — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “Visibly reduces acne scars — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Very difficult to squeeze out at first — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
    • “dropper is frustrating — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
  • Unpleasant Scent or Fragrance Issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Smells like BBQ/meat — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Smells like chemicals — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “Fragrance can be an irritant — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “floral scent — Olay Super Serum”

The INKEY List vs Olay routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The INKEY List vs Olay routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The INKEY List vs Olay routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Olay: which is better?

Both brands are great choices, as The INKEY List is better for affordability and being gentle on skin, while Olay is better for skin smoothing and brightening. Reviewers note that the products on this page for both brands offer good hydration and lightweight textures, with Olay providing a Superior routine fit for mature skin, sensitive skin, and acne-prone skin.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Olay?

The INKEY List stands out for its affordable pricing and gentle formulations, making it a budget-friendly option for sensitive skin. In contrast, Olay excels in skin smoothing, texture improvement, and brightening benefits, providing advanced anti-aging options with key ingredients like niacinamide and peptides.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

The INKEY List or Olay for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and Olay are great options for dry skin, with routines on this page earning a High fit for The INKEY List and a Superior fit for Olay. Reviewers note that Olay excels at skin smoothing and texture improvement.

The INKEY List or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a range of cleansers with varying results on this page. Reviewers note that The INKEY List is more affordable, while Olay provides options that help improve skin texture and smoothness.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Olay?

The INKEY List is more affordable than Olay, as the products on this page offer better affordable value and pricing.

Which brand performs better for mature skin, The INKEY List or Olay?

Olay performs better for mature skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to The INKEY List's High fit on this page. Reviewers also note that Olay does better for skin smoothing and texture improvement as well as brightening and radiance.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

How do The INKEY List and Olay compare regarding brightening and radiance?

Olay does better than The INKEY List for brightening and radiance. Topical niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Which brand offers better options for reducing skin dark spots?

Olay offers better options for reducing skin dark spots, as the products on this page help improve brightening and radiance. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

The INKEY List or Olay for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a high routine fit for oily skin, making them strong choices depending on your specific preferences. The INKEY List is especially noted for providing affordable value and pricing as well as being gentle on skin, while Olay excels in skin smoothing and texture improvement.

The INKEY List or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer well-regarded moisturizers, with The INKEY List standing out for affordable value and Olay delivering superior skin smoothing and brightening. Reviewers frequently mention that the products on this page from both brands provide intense hydration and a lightweight feel. Overall, Olay achieves a superior routine fit for mature skin, whereas The INKEY List features lower prices for its serums and moisturizers.

The INKEY List or Olay for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, the products on this page show that Olay has a Superior routine fit compared to the High fit of The INKEY List. Reviewers note that The INKEY List is generally more gentle on skin, while Olay offers fragrance-free options.

The INKEY List or Olay for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Olay has a Superior routine fit, while The INKEY List offers a High routine fit. Reviewers note that The INKEY List is especially gentle on skin and provides affordable value, whereas Olay excels at skin smoothing and texture improvement.

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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