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The INKEY List vs SK-II

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

The INKEY List and SK-II are distinct skincare lines anchored by very different philosophies and ingredients. The British brand relies on glycerin to build moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products that suit sensitive and combination skin, while the Japanese brand centers its moisturizers, serums, masks, and toners around pitera to nurture acne-prone and dry skin. Though both offer targeted solutions for dark spots, aging, and blemishes, they differ profoundly in their geographic origins, proprietary compounds, and primary skin-type affinities.

The INKEY List is a British skincare brand founded in 2018 and owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited.

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

SK-II is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

en.wikipedia.orgdiscoversk-ii.wixsite.comglossy.co

This page compares some of the most popular The INKEY List and SK-II products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The INKEY List vs SK-II products

People Say

The INKEY ListSK-II
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Glow, Radiance, and Skin Tone Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “gives a glass skin look — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “leaves me with a red carpet glow — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Price and Value Mostly MentionedNot 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”
  • General Effectiveness and Results Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “skin looks fresh and plump — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “reducing the appearance of fine lines — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Removal Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Melts away makeup and impurities without drying — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “no pilling under makeup — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “Removes leftover dirt — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “Dissolves waterproof mascara, melts stubborn makeup, removes sunscreen easily. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
  • High Price Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Lack of Results or Performance Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “didn't do anything for circles — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “did absolutely nothing — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “No visible difference — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Scent and Fragrance Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like BBQ/meat — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Smells like chemicals — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “cotton is too thick and heavy — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”

The INKEY List vs SK-II routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The INKEY List vs SK-II routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The INKEY List vs SK-II routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or SK-II: which is better?

Both brands offer solid options, but The INKEY List tends to provide better price and value along with strong general effectiveness, whereas SK-II stands out more for glow, radiance, and skin tone. Reviewers frequently praise The INKEY List for its affordable serums and moisturizers.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and SK-II?

The INKEY List offers better price and value with more affordable serums and moisturizers, while SK-II performs better for glow, radiance, and skin tone. Both brands feature fragrance-free products on the products on this page.

The INKEY List or SK-II for dry skin?

For dry skin, both brands work well, but SK-II has a Superior routine fit compared to The INKEY List's High fit level.

The INKEY List or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

The INKEY List stands out for its affordability and hydration, while SK-II does better for glow and radiance based on the reviews on this page. Reviewers note that the products on this page from The INKEY List offer hydrating, lightweight, and fast-absorbing moisturizers that are budget-friendly.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or SK-II?

The INKEY List offers better price and value compared to SK-II, while SK-II reviewers note high price issues.

Between The INKEY List and SK-II, which brand performs better for glow, radiance, and skin tone?

When comparing glow, radiance, and skin tone, SK-II does better than The INKEY List.

Which brand has more reported packaging issues, The INKEY List or SK-II?

SK-II has more reported packaging issues between the two brands. Review themes on this page show that packaging issues are a negative point for SK-II.

How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between The INKEY List and SK-II?

The INKEY List was founded in 2018 in the United Kingdom, whereas SK-II was established earlier in 1980 in Japan.

The INKEY List or SK-II for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and SK-II achieve a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers indicate that the brands perform equally when it comes to texture and absorption, hydration and moisture, and makeup compatibility and removal.

The INKEY List or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Both The INKEY List and SK-II are a High fit for sensitive skin. Reviewers find that both brands do equally well for scent and fragrance, as every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

The INKEY List or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, both brands offer great options, but SK-II has a Superior routine fit while The INKEY List has a High fit. Reviewers highlight The INKEY List for general effectiveness and value.

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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