🇬🇧United Kingdom

The INKEY List vs RoC

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

The INKEY List and RoC are accessible skin care brands offering diverse moisturizers, serums, eye products, and cleansers built around glycerin and retinol. The British brand suits sensitive and combination skin best with targeted options like its PHA Toner, Azelaic Acid Serum, and Ceramide Moisturizer, while the French brand serves mature skin and dark spots best with standout solutions such as the Barrier Renew cleanser, Retinol Correxion cream, and Multi Correxion eye cream. Both utilize glycerin to significantly increase skin hydration and restore barrier function, whereas the latter also relies on retinol to significantly reduce fine wrinkles and increase collagen. Ultimately, the brands differ in their founding eras, primary active ingredients, and ideal skin types.

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

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

RoC is a French skincare brand founded in 1957 and owned by Bridgepoint Group plc since 2024.

en.wikipedia.orgprnewswire.combeautymatter.com

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

Popular The INKEY List vs RoC products

People Say

The INKEY ListRoC
  • Hydration & Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “skin is no longer dry — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream”
    • “Areas stay hydrated all day — RoC Multi Correxion Hydrate + Plump Eye Cream”
  • Affordable Price & Great Value Mostly MentionedSometimes 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”
    • “Worth the price — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Lightweight & Fast-Absorbing Texture 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 instantly — RoC Derm Correxion Fill + Treat Serum”
  • Anti-Aging & Wrinkle Reduction Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “wrinkles look less deep — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
    • “Fine lines definitely softer — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “diminished my forehead lines — RoC Derm Correxion Fill + Treat Serum”
  • Gentle & Soothing Formula Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “doesn't leave my skin feeling tight — RoC BARRIER RENEW® GEL-TO-FOAM CLEANSER”
  • Smoother Skin Texture Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “face looked smoother — RoC Daily Resurfacing Disks”
    • “skin feels silky smooth — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
    • “skin feels like silk — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Packaging & Texture Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “tube cracks easily — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
    • “Tube oozes product — RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “pump stopped working — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum”
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Ineffective or Lack of Results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “didn't do anything for circles — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “did absolutely nothing — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “took 4 weeks to see change — RoC Derm Correxion Fill + Treat Serum”
    • “didn't notice difference — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
  • Unpleasant Smell or Strong Fragrance Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Smells like BBQ/meat — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Smells like chemicals — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “smells like perfume — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream”
    • “smell is too strong — RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum”

The INKEY List vs RoC routines for dry skin

Buy RoC routine · £114.75 · 91% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · £92.69 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs RoC routines for oily skin

Buy RoC routine · £202.94 · 89% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · £160.15 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The INKEY List vs RoC routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · £130.06 · 88% fitBuy RoC routine · £180.66 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or RoC: which is better?

The INKEY List and RoC each suit different goals, as The INKEY List excels in gentle, budget-friendly hydration and soothing formulas, while RoC stands out for anti-aging and wrinkle reduction among the products on this page.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and RoC?

The INKEY List tends to focus on gentle, fragrance-free formulas that shoppers find affordable and lightweight, whereas RoC leans more toward anti-aging and wrinkle reduction with key ingredients like retinol. Reviewers note that The INKEY List is particularly great for value and hydration, while RoC is often chosen for smooth skin texture and wrinkle care.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

The INKEY List or RoC for dry skin?

For dry skin, RoC has a Superior routine fit with products like the Multi Correxion Hydrate + Plump Eye Cream and the BARRIER RENEW AM MOISTURIZER SPF 30 that rate High. The INKEY List products on this page also offer High routine fit for dry skin, and retinol may help stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

The INKEY List or RoC: which cleanser is better?

The products on this page for The INKEY List include the Salicylic Acid Cleanser and Oat Cleansing Balm, while RoC offers the BARRIER RENEW GEL-TO-FOAM CLEANSER. Reviewers mention that The INKEY List provides better value and gentle formulas, whereas cleansers and other products may help improve skin texture and reduce wrinkles.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or RoC?

The INKEY List is more affordable than RoC, with reviewers noting the brand for its affordable moisturizers and serums and offering better value on this page.

Between The INKEY List and RoC, which brand is better for anti-aging and wrinkle reduction?

RoC does better for anti-aging and wrinkle reduction, while The INKEY List focuses more on affordable and gentle formulas. RoC features key ingredients like retinol, which helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

Do The INKEY List products contain fragrance, and how does that compare to RoC?

Every product on The INKEY List page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In comparison, 10 of 12 products on the RoC page list no fragrance, while two of its serums include fragrance.

Which brand fits mature skin better, The INKEY List or RoC?

RoC fits mature skin better, as the products on this page achieve a superior routine fit compared to The INKEY List's high fit level. Retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

The INKEY List or RoC for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and RoC fit oily skin equally well, as Lovi rates their routines as High for this skin type. Shoppers note that The INKEY List provides lightweight and fast-absorbing moisturizers, whereas RoC offers non-greasy and lightweight serums.

The INKEY List or RoC: which moisturizer is better?

Both The INKEY List and RoC offer great moisturizers, with The INKEY List performing better for affordability and lightweight textures, while RoC stands out for anti-aging and wrinkle reduction. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry skin as High for The INKEY List and Superior for RoC. Retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

The INKEY List or RoC for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List fits sensitive skin better than RoC, as Lovi rates its routine fit for sensitive skin as Superior while RoC's routine fit is High. The products on this page for The INKEY List also list no fragrance in their ingredients.

The INKEY List or RoC for acne-prone skin?

RoC fits acne-prone skin better than The INKEY List, as RoC achieves a Superior routine fit for this skin type while The INKEY List reaches a High fit level.

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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