🇬🇧United Kingdom

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 known for gentle formulations built around glycerin and niacinamide. The INKEY List offers moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products suited best for sensitive and combination skin, while Simple is beloved for its gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners tailored for acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots. Through key ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide, the brand products help improve skin hydration, barrier function, hyperpigmentation, and signs of aging. They differ primarily in their founding years, product ranges, and specific target concerns, with both offering effective targeted solutions.

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 Simple routine · £136.73 · 83% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · £92.69 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy Simple routine · £221.50 · 87% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · £160.15 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The INKEY List vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · £130.06 · 88% fitBuy Simple routine · £185.60 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Simple: which is better?

The INKEY List is a better choice for acne and blemish control as well as a more affordable price point, whereas Simple is better known for being gentle on sensitive skin and having strong makeup compatibility. Both brands perform equally well when it comes to hydration, lightweight texture, and routine fits across most skin types.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Simple?

The INKEY List and Simple are both founded in the United Kingdom, but they differ in their product strengths and performance. The INKEY List is better for acne and blemish control and offers a more affordable price point, whereas Simple is gentler on sensitive skin and performs better with makeup compatibility.

The INKEY List or Simple for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and Simple are a High fit for dry skin on this page, offering lightweight and affordable moisturizing options. Reviewers note that both brands help deliver hydration, though The INKEY List often provides better options for acne and blemish control.

The INKEY List or Simple: which cleanser is better?

When comparing cleansers, The INKEY List is a better option because its Salicylic Acid Cleanser achieves a High Lovi fit for most skin types, whereas Simple products like the Refreshing Facial Wash receive lower fit ratings.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Simple?

The INKEY List does better than Simple on affordable pricing across the products on this page.

Which brand performs better for sensitive skin, The INKEY List or Simple?

The INKEY List performs better for sensitive skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Simple's High fit. Reviewers also note that Simple is gentle on sensitive skin, while The INKEY List features fragrance-free products across its range.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of The INKEY List and Simple compare?

The INKEY List was founded in the United Kingdom in 2018 and is owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited, while Simple was founded in the United Kingdom in 1960 and is owned by Unilever PLC. Both brands originated in the United Kingdom, but Simple has a much longer history dating back to 1960 compared to the newer INKEY List established in 2018.

What are the main packaging and texture issues reported by reviewers for Simple compared to The INKEY List?

Reviewers note that Simple struggles more with packaging and texture issues, whereas The INKEY List receives complaints primarily about packaging issues.

The INKEY List or Simple for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and Simple perform equally well for oily skin, with both brands showing a High routine fit on this page. Reviewers note that both offer lightweight and affordable options, while The INKEY List leans more towards acne and blemish control.

The INKEY List or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

The INKEY List is better for moisturizers on this page, as reviewers mostly mention them as hydrating, lightweight, fast-absorbing, plumping, and affordable. Simple moisturizers are noted by reviewers to sometimes lack sufficient hydration or moisture.

The INKEY List or Simple for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is a superior fit for sensitive skin compared to Simple. Reviewers note that Simple is gentle on sensitive skin, but The INKEY List has a higher overall Lovi fit level for this skin type.

The INKEY List or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and Simple feature products on this page that achieve a High fit level for acne-prone skin. Review themes indicate that The INKEY List does better for acne and blemish control, while Simple does better being gentle on sensitive skin.

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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