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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 offering reliable daily formulas built around nourishing ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide. The INKEY List is known for targeted serums, moisturizers, and toners featuring active ingredients such as azelaic acid and ceramides that suit dry, dry sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin best. Simple is deeply loved for gentle cleansers, makeup removers, and soothing toners that suit oily acne-prone and sensitive skin. While both brands support delicate moisture barriers, the first focuses on ingredient-led specialty treatments, and the latter offers a comforting, barrier-respecting routine.

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

Buy The INKEY List routine · S$253.28 · 96% fitBuy Simple routine · S$261.94 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · S$520.95 · 94% fitBuy Simple routine · S$459.69 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The INKEY List vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · S$411.40 · 94% fitBuy Simple routine · S$355.99 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Simple: which is better?

The products on this page show that both brands offer fragrance-free formulations, but The INKEY List provides a superior routine fit across all skin types compared to Simple.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Simple?

The INKEY List offers a more affordable price point, while Simple is gentler on sensitive skin. Both brands provide equal hydration and lightweight texture among the products on this page.

The INKEY List or Simple for dry skin?

The INKEY List is a superior fit for dry skin compared to Simple, which is a high fit. Reviewers note that The INKEY List offers hydrating and affordable moisturizers, and every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

The INKEY List or Simple: which cleanser is better?

The products on this page show that The INKEY List cleanser has a High fit for combination, oily, oily acne-prone, acne-prone, sensitive, and dark-spot skin, and an Average fit for mature skin, compared to Simple cleanser which has an Average fit for most and a Low fit for dry and dry sensitive skin.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Simple?

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

Which brand performs better for makeup compatibility and performance, The INKEY List or Simple?

Simple performs better for makeup compatibility and performance compared to The INKEY List. Reviewers note that Simple offers effective and hydrating daily makeup removers that are gentle on sensitive skin.

Which brand is more gentle on sensitive skin, The INKEY List or Simple?

Simple does better than The INKEY List for being gentle on sensitive skin. Lovi rates the routine fit for sensitive skin as Superior for The INKEY List and High for Simple.

Which brand has better options for acne and blemish control, The INKEY List or Simple?

The INKEY List has better options for acne and blemish control as it does better on acne and blemish control.

The INKEY List or Simple for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi rates the routine fit as Superior for The INKEY List and High for Simple. Reviewers note that The INKEY List does better for acne and blemish control.

The INKEY List or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

The products on this page show that The INKEY List offers superior fit levels for moisturizers across various skin types compared to Simple. Reviewers note that The INKEY List provides affordable and hydrating moisturizers with plumping and firming benefits.

The INKEY List or Simple for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is rated Superior for sensitive skin, whereas Simple is rated High. Reviewers note that Simple is better on sensitive skin, while The INKEY List offers a more affordable price point.

The INKEY List or Simple for acne-prone skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Simple's High. The INKEY List products on this page also tend to do better with acne and blemish control.

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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