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The Ordinary vs The INKEY List

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

The Ordinary and The INKEY List are minimalist skincare brands offering effective serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and eye products. The Canadian brand centers its formulations around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry and oily acne-prone skin best, while the British brand focuses on glycerin and suits dry and dry sensitive skin. Both lines differ primarily in their ingredient combinations and specialized target concerns, such as targeted solutions for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

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

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

Popular The Ordinary vs The INKEY List products

People Say

The OrdinaryThe INKEY List
  • Affordable price and value Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “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”
  • Smooths skin texture Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “skin looks fresh and plump — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
  • Hydration and moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Skin feels instantly hydrated, nourished and looks more glowing — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Clears acne and reduces blemishes Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “faded dark spots — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing texture Sometimes NotedMostly 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”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Other product characteristics Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “leaves skin feeling matte — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Other product issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “very runny serum — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Leaves a greasy film on face after washing — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “Forms a crust on the hole at the flick top cap. — The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum”
    • “foams up like soap — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Packaging and container issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “The 50ml tube runs out way too fast. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Wish it came in a pump — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Sticky or tacky finish Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Feels tacky on skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Leaves a tackiness that never goes away. — The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum”
    • “feeling sticky — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”

The Ordinary vs The INKEY List routines for dry skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · S$253.28 · 96% fitBuy The Ordinary routine · S$164.78 · 92% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs The INKEY List routines for oily skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · S$520.95 · 94% fitBuy The Ordinary routine · S$393.06 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs The INKEY List routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · S$411.40 · 94% fitBuy The Ordinary routine · S$289.36 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or The INKEY List: which is better?

Both The Ordinary and The INKEY List are great budget-friendly skincare brands, with The Ordinary being better for smoothing texture and clearing acne, while The INKEY List is better for hydration and lightweight, fast-absorbing texture.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and The INKEY List?

The Ordinary does better at smoothing skin texture, clearing acne, and providing other product characteristics, while The INKEY List excels in hydration, lightweight absorption, and routine fit for several skin types. Both brands offer equally affordable prices and value for the products on this page.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and The INKEY List fit dry skin at a Superior level, so shoppers can choose either brand for this skin type.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List: which cleanser is better?

Both The Ordinary and The INKEY List feature cleansers among the products on this page, but they serve different needs. The Ordinary offers options like the Squalane Cleanser and Glucoside Foaming Cleanser, while The INKEY List features favorites like the Oat Cleansing Balm and Salicylic Acid Cleanser.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or The INKEY List?

Both The Ordinary and The INKEY List are equal when it comes to being affordable and offering great value. Reviewers mention that the products on this page are affordable for both brands.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List: which brand is better for smoothing skin texture?

The Ordinary does better for smoothing skin texture among the products on this page.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List: which brand offers better hydration and moisture?

The INKEY List does better for hydration and moisture, and the products on this page help deliver lightweight, fast-absorbing, and hydrating moisturizers.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List: which brand is better for clearing acne and reducing blemishes?

The Ordinary does better for clearing acne and reducing blemishes among the products on this page. Reviewers note that it offers acne-clearing serums.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List for oily skin?

For oily skin, The INKEY List has a Superior routine fit compared to The Ordinary, which has a High fit. Reviewers note that The INKEY List delivers lightweight and fast-absorbing moisturizers on the products on this page.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and The INKEY List offer well-liked moisturizers, but reviewers note that The INKEY List excels specifically in hydration and moisture. The INKEY List features options like the Polyglutamic Acid Serum and Omega Water Cream, which are noted for being lightweight and fast-absorbing.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and The INKEY List feature fragrance-free products on this page and achieve a High routine fit level for sensitive skin. The Ordinary helps smooth skin texture and clear acne, while The INKEY List provides hydrating moisturizers and lightweight, fast-absorbing textures.

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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