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The INKEY List vs MAC

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

The INKEY List and MAC are two distinct beauty lines, with the former being a British skincare brand founded in 2018 and the latter a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984. The INKEY List focuses on moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and more built around glycerin, suiting dry skin and dry sensitive skin best, while MAC is beloved for its thoughtful approach to daily skincare, offering reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas that suit balanced skin best. Both brands offer targeted solutions for specific needs, such as acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin. They differ primarily in their core ingredients and ideal skin types, with the British brand emphasizing hydration through glycerin and the Canadian brand providing a calm and measured foundation for daily maintenance.

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

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

MAC is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

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

Popular The INKEY List vs MAC products

People Say

The INKEY ListMAC
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Absorbs in a snap — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Leaves skin feeling soft and supple, never tight. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
  • Makeup Performance and Base Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Reduces appearance of pores — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “no pilling under makeup — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
  • Gentle Formula and Soothing Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “Does not cause breakouts — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Other Positive Effects Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Removes waterproof mascara completely without needing a separate remover. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “lit-from-within look — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Emulsifies beautifully and rinses off without a greasy film. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “skin looks fresh and plump — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
  • 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”
    • “Emulsifies beautifully and rinses off without a greasy film. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • 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”
  • High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Other Minor Complaints Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “very runny serum — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “contains glitter — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Felt sticky to me — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Unpleasant Scent or Fragrance Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like BBQ/meat — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Smells like chemicals — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “scent is overpowering — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Has a scent that might irritate very sensitive noses. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or MAC: which is better?

The INKEY List may be better for affordability, gentle formulas, and dry or oily acne-prone skin, whereas MAC often performs better for hydration, makeup bases, and lightweight moisturizers but tends to have a higher price point and strong fragrance. Reviewers note that the products on this page for The INKEY List focus on hydrating and lightweight moisturizers, while MAC products on this page frequently offer good makeup performance.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and MAC?

The INKEY List offers fragrance-free formulas that reviewers find more affordable and gentle, whereas MAC provides makeup bases and moisturizers that reviewers mention as having stronger fragrances and a higher price point. Lovi rates The INKEY List with superior fits for dry skin, dry sensitive skin, and oily acne-prone skin.

The INKEY List or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

The products on this page show that The INKEY List offers multiple moisturizers with a High or Superior Lovi fit for dry skin, whereas MAC features a high price point and fragrance across its moisturizers.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or MAC?

The INKEY List offers much greater affordability, as its serums and moisturizers are frequently noted by reviewers for their budget-friendly value, whereas MAC carries a high price point across its products on this page.

Which causes fewer breakouts, The INKEY List or MAC?

The products on this page for The INKEY List show varying Lovi fit levels for acne-prone skin, ranging from Superior to Low depending on the product, while MAC products on this page show an Average fit for acne-prone skin. Reviewers sometimes note purging and breakouts for The INKEY List, and MAC reviewers note strong fragrance and sensitivity.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, The INKEY List or MAC?

The INKEY List has more fragrance-free options, as every product on the products on this page for The INKEY List lists no fragrance. In contrast, 0 of 3 products on this page for MAC list no fragrance.

Which brand was founded earlier and in which country, The INKEY List or MAC?

MAC was founded earlier in 1984 in Canada, whereas The INKEY List was founded in 2018 in the United Kingdom.

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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