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The INKEY List vs Minimalist

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

The INKEY List and Minimalist are accessible skincare brands known for straightforward, effective formulations centered on science-backed ingredients. The British line offers moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products built around glycerin, suiting combination and sensitive skin best, while the Indian counterpart provides sunscreens, moisturizers, and cleansers tailored primarily for acne-prone and oily skin. Both brands address specific concerns with targeted solutions, such as high-rated cleansers and sunscreens for breakouts or dark spots, yet they differ in their foundational ingredients and regional origins.

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

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

Minimalist is an Indian skincare brand founded in 2020 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2025.

m.economictimes.comunilever.combeminimalist.copersonalcareinsights.com

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

Popular The INKEY List vs Minimalist products

People Say

The INKEY ListMinimalist
  • Soothing, Barrier Repair, and Gentle Formula Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't make skin feel tight — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
    • “love the niacinamide — Minimalist SPF 50 Sunscreen”
    • “zero smell — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • 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”
    • “feels like applying straight up water to the skin — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly and doesn't feel greasy — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “very moisturizing — Minimalist SPF 50 Sunscreen”
    • “calmed it when my skin was super irritated — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
  • Acne and Oil Control Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Skin instantly looks less oily — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “acne cleared up in a week — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
    • “keeps skin oil-free for hours — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
  • Performance under Makeup and Sun Protection Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Melts away makeup and impurities without drying — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “no pilling under makeup — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “leaves absolutely no white cast — Minimalist SPF 50 Sunscreen”
    • “prevented tanning on vacation — Minimalist SPF 50 Sunscreen”
  • Affordable 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”
  • Texture and Formulation Inconsistencies Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Smells like BBQ/meat — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “consistency is like water — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
    • “smells like chemicals — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
  • Sticky, Tacky, or Greasy Finish Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Feels tacky on skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Leaves a greasy film on face after washing — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “Leaves a tackiness that never goes away. — The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum”
    • “makes face very oily — Minimalist SPF 50 Sunscreen”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “cap leaks during travel — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
    • “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
  • Ineffective Results or Insufficient Moisture Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “not moisturizing enough — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
    • “face looked dull — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
    • “didn't do anything for circles — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”

The INKEY List vs Minimalist routines for dry skin

Buy Minimalist routine · SAR 740.96 · 83% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · SAR 1,013.85 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The INKEY List vs Minimalist routines for oily skin

Buy Minimalist routine · SAR 1,201.67 · 94% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · SAR 1,267.37 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The INKEY List vs Minimalist routines for combination skin

Buy Minimalist routine · SAR 1,033.81 · 93% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · SAR 1,056.73 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Minimalist: which is better?

Both The INKEY List and Minimalist are great choices, with The INKEY List performing better for affordable pricing, lightweight texture, and sensitive skin, while Minimalist excels in soothing, barrier repair, and oily or acne-prone routines. Reviewers find that both brands offer equal hydration and sun protection across the products on this page.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Minimalist?

The INKEY List and Minimalist differ mainly in their product range size and specific review strengths, with The INKEY List offering many more options and better affordable pricing and lightweight texture, while Minimalist is noted for soothing, barrier-repairing, and gentle formulas.

The INKEY List or Minimalist for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and Minimalist offer a High routine fit for dry skin based on the products on this page. Reviewers note that The INKEY List delivers great affordable prices and hydration, while Minimalist provides strong soothing and barrier-repair benefits.

The INKEY List or Minimalist: which moisturizer is better?

The INKEY List and Minimalist offer moisturizers with different strengths, as The INKEY List features a wider variety of affordable hydrating and plumping options, while Minimalist products on this page focus heavily on soothing and gentle barrier repair.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Minimalist?

The INKEY List does better for affordable price and value among the products on this page.

Between The INKEY List and Minimalist, which brand is better suited for oily acne-prone skin?

For oily acne-prone skin, Minimalist is better suited as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior, while The INKEY List routine fit is High.

Which skincare brand provides better results for soothing, barrier repair, and gentle formulas?

Minimalist provides better results for soothing, barrier repair, and gentle formulas among the products on this page.

How do the founding years and corporate ownerships of The INKEY List and Minimalist compare?

The INKEY List was founded in 2018 in the United Kingdom and is owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited, while Minimalist was founded in 2020 in India and has been owned by Unilever PLC since 2025.

The INKEY List or Minimalist for oily skin?

For oily skin, Minimalist is a better fit with a Superior routine level, while The INKEY List has a High routine level on this page.

The INKEY List or Minimalist for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List fits sensitive skin better, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to High for Minimalist. Reviewers note that The INKEY List offers affordable prices and lightweight textures, while Minimalist does better with soothing, barrier repair, and gentle formulas.

The INKEY List or Minimalist for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Minimalist has a Superior routine fit, while The INKEY List has a High routine fit. Reviewers indicate that Minimalist does better for soothing, barrier repair, and gentle formulas.

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

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