Having won back-to-back Allure Best of Beauty Awards, the affordable brand impresses us more every day.
For those of you who may not know, The Inkey List is a U.K.-based brand that made its way to Sephora shelves worldwide back in 2019. Brand co-founder and chemist Mark Curry and co-founder Colette Laxton were devoted to creating a brand that introduces affordable and effective ingredients into your skin-care routine without asking you to dig too deep into your pockets. It doesn’t take long for these products to make a difference in your skin and in your wallet.
The brand is reasonably priced, and the whole operation is intuitive to browse and shop online and in stores. Each product in The Inkey List is named solely for its main ingredient, meaning what you see is what you get. While we love a good pun in a product name, we appreciate how The Inkey List cuts to the chase. For example, if you want to try a hydrating hyaluronic acid serum, go straight for the serum called (you guessed it) Hyaluronic Acid Serum. You’ll notice this über-transparent naming system with all their products. If you need clarification about which ingredients are best for your skin, the site also offers plenty of helpful info to guide your choice.
With more than 30 affordable, ingredient-focused products in The Inkey List’s lineup, it’s hard to know where to begin. While we’re fans of everything the brand makes, we’ve narrowed our top picks down to nine divine products. Enjoy!
The Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30
This Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen from The Inkey List is a 2023 Best of Beauty Winner, and for good reason. It’s lightweight, non-greasy, non-pilling, and it leaves a dewy sheen on any and all skin tones. Beyond shielding your face from harmful UV rays, it’s like a mini skin-care routine in a single tube. The formula features an 8% trio of polyglutamic acid, glycerin, and squalane, to lock in hydration. We recommend using it as the last step of your morning regimen, and if you’re reapplying over makeup, do so with a blending sponge.
The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum
The Hyaluronic Acid Serum picked up a 2022 Best of Beauty Award for its ability to give your skin an instant (yet long-lasting) burst of hydration without leaving behind tackiness. The brand’s #1 bestselling product is powered by 2% multi-molecular hyaluronic acid for intense, deep skin replenishment. We also love HA because it helps absorb any other products in your skin-care routine. Apply a pea-sized dollop of this serum to your damp face and neck, and finish with your fave SPF.
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm
The Inkey List’s Oat Cleansing Balm is formulated with oat kernel oil and colloidal oatmeal to keep skin moisturized and redness-free. This luxurious face wash will dissolve all the makeup, sunscreen, and any lingering griminess off your skin without stripping moisture. Pro tip: the cleanser doubles as a face mask you can wear on your face and neck for 10 minutes to boost hydration. No wonder it had a 2020 Best of Beauty Award in the bag.
The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream
The Inkey List’s Caffeine Eye Cream is like a double-shot latte for your face. The formula’s combination of caffeine and the peptide matrixyl 3000 makes you look more awake by reducing redness and puffiness. Chemist Ginger King says the peptide helps boost collagen, a firming agent, and minimize fine lines. The brand suggests putting the cream in your fridge between uses for extra cooling power and extra spa vibes. In other words, pour that hot latte over some ice.
The Inkey List Retinol Serum
Retinol is a dream for softening fine lines and producing collagen to naturally firm up wrinkles in the most fragile areas on your face. Use this serum one or two nights a week as you gauge your tolerance to retinol, and increase use as needed. Follow the application with your favorite moisturizer, and top it off with an SPF if you’re applying it in the AM. We love the Retinol Serum because it’s gentle enough to use around the eyes and mouth. Did we mention it won a 2021 Best of Beauty Award? It’s that good.
The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser
The Salicylic Acid Cleanser gets a gold star for helping acne-prone skin clear up and stay that way. This formula features 2% beta hydroxy acid to exfoliate skin and unclog pores, and its zinc compound helps reduce inflammation. The cleanser isn’t just for your face, either. We all know acne location does not discriminate, so if you have zits on your arms, back, chest, etc., go ahead and apply a raspberry-sized dollop to any affected areas.
The Inkey List Rosehip Oil
The brand’s Rosehip Oil won a Best of Beauty Award in 2019, and we’ve been using it ever since. It’s made of 100% pure rosehip oil, which promotes softer and smoother skin. The product’s essential fatty acids, omega-6, and linoleic acid, regulate oil production to keep acne at bay. Apply a few drops as the last step in your skin-care routine before bed, and you’ll wake up with glowy, moisturized skin every time. You can also use the oil on your hands, nails, and cuticles.
The Inkey List Tranexamic Acid Night Serum
In a conversation with Allure, board-certified dermatologist Y. Claire Chang, MD explained that, unlike many other skin-treating acids, tranexamic acid is safe for all skin types (and safe during pregnancy). It can also act as an anti-inflammatory and evens out skin tone — precisely what The Inkey List’s Tranexamic Acid Night Serum does oh so beautifully. After your pimple heals and becomes a dark spot, apply a pea-size drop of this magic potion nightly, and in about a month, you’ll be able to spot the difference.
The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner
The Glycolic Acid Toner features 10% of its star ingredients, alpha hydroxy acid, glycolic acid, and witch hazel to minimize the look of pores, blackheads, and fine lines. Glycolic acid is derived from sugar cane and removes dead skin through gentle exfoliation, overall improving brightness and texture without drying. It works really well with The Inkey List’s HA serum, where you can put it on with a cotton pad after cleansing. No need to rinse it off when you’re done.