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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 known for gentle formulations built around glycerin and niacinamide. The INKEY List offers moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products suited best for sensitive and combination skin, while Simple is beloved for its gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners tailored for acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots. Through key ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide, the brand products help improve skin hydration, barrier function, hyperpigmentation, and signs of aging. They differ primarily in their founding years, product ranges, and specific target concerns, with both offering effective targeted solutions.

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 · 98% 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 · 94% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Simple: which is better?

Both The INKEY List and Simple are a great match, as the products on this page achieve an equal fit for all skin types. Reviewers find that Simple is gentler on sensitive skin and performs better with makeup, while The INKEY List offers a more affordable price point and better acne and blemish control.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Simple?

Simple is better for sensitive skin, makeup compatibility, and performance, while The INKEY List is better for an affordable price point and acne and blemish control. Both brands are equal in hydration, moisturizing, lightweight texture, fast absorption, and lack of hydration or drying effects.

The INKEY List or Simple for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and Simple are a High fit for dry skin on this page, offering equal hydration and moisturizing benefits.

The INKEY List or Simple: which cleanser is better?

The INKEY List offers a better cleanser option on this page, as its Salicylic Acid Cleanser achieves a High Lovi fit level for combination, oily, oily acne-prone, acne-prone, sensitive, and dark spot skin types. In comparison, Simple's Refreshing Facial Wash only reaches an Average fit for those same skin types and a Low fit for dry skin.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Simple?

The INKEY List is more affordable than Simple, as the products on this page offer an affordable price point.

Between The INKEY List and Simple, which brand has better options for makeup removal?

Simple has better options for makeup removal, as reviewers note the brand offers gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly and effective daily makeup removers.

Do The INKEY List and Simple products contain any added fragrance?

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

What are the key ingredients shared across The INKEY List and Simple product lines?

Glycerin is a key ingredient featured across the products on this page for both The INKEY List and Simple. Niacinamide is also shared as a key ingredient across the products on this page for Simple.

The INKEY List or Simple for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and Simple provide a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that Simple performs better for makeup compatibility, while The INKEY List does better for acne and blemish control.

The INKEY List or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Both The INKEY List and Simple offer moisturizers with equal routine fits and hydrating benefits, while reviewers note that The INKEY List provides more affordable options.

The INKEY List or Simple for sensitive skin?

Both The INKEY List and Simple are well suited for sensitive skin, offering an equal routine fit. Reviewers note that Simple is especially gentle on sensitive skin, while every product on the INKEY List page also lists no fragrance.

The INKEY List or Simple for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, both The INKEY List and Simple achieve a High routine fit level on this page. Reviewers note that The INKEY List does better for acne and blemish control, while Simple is considered better for being gentle on sensitive skin.

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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