🇬🇧United Kingdom

Dermalogica vs The INKEY List

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

Dermalogica and The INKEY List are well-regarded skincare brands designed to address diverse skin types and concerns. The American line offers targeted serums, nourishing moisturizers, gentle cleansers, and purifying masks formulated with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and salicylic acid, while the British line features moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products built around glycerin. Dermalogica suits oily skin and combination skin best, whereas The INKEY List fits sensitive skin and combination skin best. The two differ in their ingredient depth and formulation focus, as the former utilizes multi-active blends for balancing oil and moisture, while the latter centers on straightforward, hydration-focused solutions.

Dermalogica is an American skincare brand founded in 1986 and owned by Unilever since 2015.

en.wikipedia.orgcosmeticsbusiness.com

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

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

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

Popular Dermalogica vs The INKEY List products

People Say

DermalogicaThe INKEY List
  • Deep Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry skin — Dermalogica Super Rich Repair”
    • “super hydrating — Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque”
    • “skin feels hydrated — Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance”
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
  • Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Texture Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “feels like applying straight up water to the skin — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “absorbs instantly — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “blends seamlessly — Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50”
  • Affordable Price and Value Not notedMostly 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”
  • Soothing and Calming Properties Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “calms redness instantly — The INKEY List 10% Azelaic Acid Serum”
    • “helps calm and nourish my skin — Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream”
  • Oily Skin and Excess Oil Control Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “doesn't clog pores — Dermalogica Active Moist”
    • “Clears sebaceous filaments — Dermalogica Precleanse”
    • “Skin instantly looks less oily — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “great for oily skin but anyone can use it — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
  • Gentle Exfoliation and Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “gentle enough for daily use — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “skin feels smooth as silk — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • High Price Point Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “hefty price tag — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
  • Unpleasant Scent or Fragrance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “smells like puke — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “smells like medicine — Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50”
    • “Smells like BBQ/meat — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Smells like chemicals — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
  • Packaging and Dispensing Issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Leaky pump — Dermalogica Precleanse”
    • “pump dispenses too much — Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel”
    • “spout is too big — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”

Dermalogica vs The INKEY List routines for dry skin

Buy Dermalogica routine · £244.49 · 87% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · £92.69 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Dermalogica vs The INKEY List routines for oily skin

Buy Dermalogica routine · £375.97 · 90% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · £160.15 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Dermalogica vs The INKEY List routines for combination skin

Buy Dermalogica routine · £431.36 · 90% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · £130.06 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Dermalogica or The INKEY List: which is better?

Both brands are great choices depending on your skin type and budget, with Dermalogica offering superior fits for oily and combination skin and The INKEY List leading for sensitive skin. Reviewers highlight Dermalogica for deep hydration and The INKEY List for affordable, lightweight moisturizers.

What is the difference between Dermalogica and The INKEY List?

Dermalogica is an American brand owned by Unilever since 2015, while The INKEY List is a British brand owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited. For routine fit, Dermalogica has a Superior fit for oily and combination skin, whereas The INKEY List has a Superior fit for sensitive skin.

Dermalogica or The INKEY List for dry skin?

Both Dermalogica and The INKEY List are a High fit for dry skin. The products on this page provide deep hydration, with Dermalogica standing out for intense moisture.

Dermalogica or The INKEY List: which cleanser is better?

Both brands offer strong options, but Dermalogica cleansers achieve a High Lovi fit across all skin types on this page, including dry and sensitive skin. The INKEY List also features well-liked cleansers like the Salicylic Acid Cleanser, which reaches a High fit for combination, acne-prone, and oily skin.

Which is more affordable, Dermalogica or The INKEY List?

The INKEY List is more affordable, as the products on this page offer budget-friendly prices for both moisturizers and serums.

Which brand has better texture and absorption, Dermalogica or The INKEY List?

The INKEY List does better than Dermalogica for a lightweight and fast-absorbing texture.

Dermalogica or The INKEY List for oily skin?

Dermalogica is the better choice for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to The INKEY List's High fit level. The products on this page for Dermalogica also feature targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to help control excess oil.

Dermalogica or The INKEY List: which moisturizer is better?

Both Dermalogica and The INKEY List offer moisturizers that help with hydration, but Dermalogica achieves a Superior routine fit for oily and combination skin compared to The INKEY List's High fit. The products on this page for both brands are fragrance-free, while reviewers note that The INKEY List provides more affordable options.

Dermalogica or The INKEY List for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Dermalogica's High fit level. Both brands formulate the products on this page without added fragrance.

Dermalogica or The INKEY List for acne-prone skin?

Both brands are a good match for acne-prone skin, with Lovi giving Dermalogica a High fit level and The INKEY List a High fit level. Reviewers note that The INKEY List offers more affordable options, while Dermalogica provides stronger deep hydration.

Dermalogica or The INKEY List for mature skin?

Both Dermalogica and The INKEY List fit mature skin at a High level on the products on this page. Dermalogica is owned by Unilever since 2015, whereas The INKEY List is owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited.

Dermalogica or The INKEY List for skin with dark spots?

Both Dermalogica and The INKEY List fit skin with dark spots well, as Lovi rates both brands High for this skin type across the products on this page. Reviewers note that Dermalogica does better for deep hydration and moisture, while The INKEY List does better for affordable price 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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