🇬🇧United Kingdom

The INKEY List vs SK-II

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

The INKEY List and SK-II are distinct skincare lines anchored in targeted hydration and fermentation science. The British brand offers accessible moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products built around glycerin, suiting sensitive and combination skin best. Conversely, the Japanese house is cherished for luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, clarifying toners, and restorative masks anchored by its signature ingredient, pitera, which suit dry and acne-prone skin best. Ultimately, both differ primarily in their formulation philosophies and heritage, while each provides tailored solutions for concerns such as dark spots, texture, and aging.

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

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

SK-II is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

en.wikipedia.orgdiscoversk-ii.wixsite.comglossy.co

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

Popular The INKEY List vs SK-II products

People Say

The INKEY ListSK-II
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Glow, Radiance, and Skin Tone Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “gives a glass skin look — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “leaves me with a red carpet glow — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Price and Value Mostly MentionedNot 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”
  • General Effectiveness and Results Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “skin looks fresh and plump — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “reducing the appearance of fine lines — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Removal Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Melts away makeup and impurities without drying — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “no pilling under makeup — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “Removes leftover dirt — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “Dissolves waterproof mascara, melts stubborn makeup, removes sunscreen easily. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
  • High Price Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Lack of Results or Performance Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “didn't do anything for circles — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “did absolutely nothing — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “No visible difference — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Scent and Fragrance Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like BBQ/meat — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Smells like chemicals — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “cotton is too thick and heavy — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”

The INKEY List vs SK-II routines for dry skin

Buy SK-II routine · £225.40 · 91% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · £92.69 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs SK-II routines for oily skin

Buy SK-II routine · £339.53 · 88% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · £160.15 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The INKEY List vs SK-II routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · £130.06 · 88% fitBuy SK-II routine · £308.34 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or SK-II: which is better?

The INKEY List offers better price and value along with higher general effectiveness and results, while SK-II does better with glow, radiance, and skin tone. Lovi gives The INKEY List a Superior fit for sensitive skin, and SK-II a Superior fit for dry skin.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and SK-II?

The INKEY List does better for price and value and general effectiveness and results, while SK-II does better for glow, radiance, and skin tone. For routine fit, The INKEY List has a Superior level for sensitive skin, whereas SK-II has a High level.

The INKEY List or SK-II for dry skin?

For dry skin, the products on this page show that SK-II achieves a Superior routine fit while The INKEY List achieves a High routine fit.

The INKEY List or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

The INKEY List offers a wide range of affordable and hydrating moisturizers, whereas SK-II provides luxury options featuring Pitera as a key ingredient.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or SK-II?

The INKEY List is more affordable than SK-II, as the products on this page are frequently noted by reviewers for their affordable serums and affordable moisturizers.

Between The INKEY List and SK-II, which brand does better for glow, radiance, and skin tone?

SK-II does better for glow, radiance, and skin tone. Reviewers report that SK-II excels in these areas compared to the products on this page from The INKEY List.

How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between The INKEY List and SK-II?

The INKEY List was founded in 2018 in the United Kingdom, whereas SK-II was founded earlier in 1980 in Japan.

Which brand performs better in general effectiveness and results according to reviewers?

According to reviewers, The INKEY List performs better in general effectiveness and results.

The INKEY List or SK-II for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi rates both The INKEY List and SK-II as a High routine fit. The products on this page for The INKEY List and SK-II both list no fragrance in their ingredients.

The INKEY List or SK-II for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List fits sensitive skin better, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior while SK-II achieves a High fit for this skin type.

The INKEY List or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and SK-II are good options for acne-prone skin, as the products on this page help support this skin type. Lovi gives routine fit ratings of High to both brands for acne-prone 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

How does it fit your skin?

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