I recently posted ‘The Ultimate ‘The Ordinary’ Guide‘, and the response I had back on that post was mental. I absolutely loved hearing about what you all had now purchased and how it had helped you decide on what to buy in the first place, so I went on Instagram and asked what guides you’d like to see next, and The Inkey List guide popped up.
Even though I haven’t yet tried out anything from The Inkey List, it was definitely a brand I wanted to look into more myself, so I thought it would be the perfect second edition to write about.
Since The Inkey List is a new and upcoming brand, their product list is rather limited at the time being. That being said, despite the lack of products, they still seem to have a pretty good starting collection, with products for pretty much any concern and any skin type.
Table of Contents
Cleansers.
Salicylic Acid Cleanser
What It Does: Fights acne, exfoliates top layers of skin and inside the pore, controls serum production, soothes and protects skin, reduces appearance of large pores, evens skin tone, removes makeup.
Best For: Acne prone and combination skin.
Directions: Use AM and PM. Gently massage a small amount onto dampened face and neck. Rinse thoroughly with water and follow with preferred serums and moisturiser.
Price: £10.99
Oil & Water Double Cleanser
What It Does: Removes makeup, improves skin hydration levels
Best For: Any skin type.
Directions: Shake well to activate. Apply to a cotton pad or cloth. On dry skin swipe gently across the face ensuring all makeup is removed. Rinse thoroughly with water after use.
Notes: Store in a cool dry place out of sunlight.
Price: £9.99
Oat Cleansing Balm
What It Does: Maintains skin moisture levels, smoothes, reduces blackheads, reduces redness and irritation.
Best For: Any skin type (especially sensitive).
Directions: Use AM and PM. Gently massage a small amount onto a dampened face and neck. Rinse thoroughly with water.
Price: £9.99
Masks.
Kaolin Mask
What It Does: Absorbs excess oils, removes toxins from the surface of the skin
Best For: Acne prone, oily and combination.
Directions: Use in the AM and PM once or twice a week. Apply a thin layer to dampened, clean skin. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse with warm water. Pat face dry and continue with the rest of your routine.
Price: £4.99
Apple Cider Vinegar Peel
What It Does: Brightens, clears and smoothes.
Best For: Acne prone
Directions: Use in the PM once to twice a week. Apply a thin layer to dampened cleansed skin. Leave on for 10 minutes max. Rinse off using warm water.
Price: £14.99
Moisturisers & Oils.
Bakuchiol
What It Does: Stimulate collagen, hydrates, improves skin’s elasticity and reduces fine lines and wrinkles
Directions: Use AM and PM. Apply a pea-sized amount to face and neck. Apply preferred serums prior to use.
Price: £9.99
Snow Mushroom
What It Does: Hydrates, anti-inflammatory, boosts collagen production
Directions: Use AM and PM. Apply a pea-sized amount to face and neck. Apply preferred serums prior to use.
Price: £9.99
Multi-Biotic
What It Does: Hydrates, helps balance pH balance, evens skin tone, brightens
Directions: Apply a pea-sized amount to cleansed face and neck in the morning and evening, avoiding the eye area. The formula is best used after serums and before moisturiser.
Price: £12.99
Turmeric Cream Moisturiser
What It Does: Hydrates, anti-inflammatory, boosts radiance, evens skin tone
Directions: Can be used in the AM and PM. Apply a pea-sized amount after preferred serums.
Price: £7.99
Hemp Oil Cream Moisturiser
What It Does: Hydrates, calms irritation, plumps skin, protects skin from environmental aggressors
Directions: Use in the AM and PM. On cleansed skin apply a pea-sized amount and gently massage into the face and neck. Use after serums
Price: £7.99
Rosehip Oil
What It Does: Hydrates, nourishes, improves skin tone and texture, reduces hyper pigmentation
Directions: Use in the AM and the PM. Apply 1-2 drops to hands and massage into the face and neck. Use after serums and moisturiser.
Price: £6.99
Squalane Oil
What It Does: Hydrates, improves skin barrier, plumps skin, reduces fine lines
Directions: Can be used in the AM and PM. Apply 1-2 drops to hands and massage into the face and neck. Use after serums and moisturiser
Price: £8.99
Vitamin B, C and E Moisturizer
What It Does: Helps balance oil levels, hydrates, protects and brightens.
Directions: Apply morning and evening at the end of your skin care routine.
Price: £4.99
Peptide Moisturiser
What It Does: Increases the speed of skin renewal, hydrates, strengthens the barrier and increase collagen production.
Directions: Use AM and PM. Apply a pea-sized amount to cleansed face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Use after serums and before moisturiser.
Price: £14.99
Serums.
Retinol Serum
What It Does: Promotes skin renewal, boost collagen production, hydrates, soothes, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, evens skin tone, fights acne, improves skin clarity
Directions: Use in the PM after cleansing and toning and before other serums. Apply a pea-sized amount to the fingers and gently tap into the skin.
Notes: Avoid the immediate eye area. May increase sun sensitivity; always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen during the day. Whilst THE INKEY LIST Retinol has a low irritation formula, for some people redness and flakiness may occur at the beginning of use due to the increase in cell turnover. When first introducing Retinol, you may wish to use a few times per week and gradually increase to every evening.
Price: £9.99
Niacinamide
What It Does: Fights acne, minimises and decongests pores, regulates sebum production, hydrates
Directions: Use AM and PM. On cleansed skin apply a pea-sized amount to face and neck. Follow with preferred moisturiser.
Price: £6.99
Vitamin C Serum
What It Does: Protects from pollution and sun exposure, reduces pigmentation, brightens, evens skin tone, boosts collagen production, plumps skin
Directions: Can be used in the AM and PM. Use in the AM for best results. Apply a pea-sized amount to cleansed face and neck and follow with moisturisers
Notes: Avoid the eye area. A slight tingling sensation can be expected, particularly if you are new to the product. Product may cause irritation, if irritation persists discontinue use. Ensure product is kept out of sunlight in a cool dry environment. Always ensure lid is sealed.
Price: £7.99
Caffeine Serum
What It Does: Anti-inflammatory, soothes, reduces puffiness, minimises dark circles, protects from free radicals, boosts collagen production, reduces fine lines and wrinkles
Directions: Use in the AM and the PM. After cleansing apply a small amount onto finger and gently pat around the contour of the eye. Can be combined with the use of other serums, follow with moisturisers.
Price: £8.99
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
What It Does: Hydrates, plumps, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, evens skin tone and texture
Directions: Use in the AM and PM. Onto cleansed skin apply a pea-sized amount to the fingertips and gently pat into the face and neck. Follow with preferred serums and moisturise.
Notes: Hyaluronic acid can aid the efficacy of your other products, so use it as your first serum, straight after cleansing and toning.
Price: £5.99
Q10 Serum
What It Does: Protects from pollution, reduces signs of ageing, boosts collagen, hydrates
Directions: Use AM and PM. On cleansed skin apply a pea-sized amount to the fingertips and gently pat into the face and neck.
Notes: Can be used alongside other serums and followed with moisturiser.
Price: £4.99
Polyglutamic Acid
What It Does: Hydrates, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, brightens, evens skin tone
Directions: Apply a pea-sized amount to cleansed face and neck in the morning and evening, avoiding the eye area.
Notes: The formula is best used after serums and before moisturiser.
Price: £12.99
Lactic Acid Serum
What It Does: Exfoliates, dissolves skin ‘glue/bonds’ in pores, brightens, hydrates, evens skin tone, reduces fine lines and wrinkles
Directions: Use in the PM. Apply one to two drops to the fingers and gently pat into cleansed skin. Follow with other serums and moisturisers.
Notes: Start with one application every other night and increase to once daily if desired.
Price: £7.99
Collagen Booster
What It Does: Boosts collagen production, plumps, smoothes, firms, reduces fine lines and wrinkles
Directions: Use in the AM and the PM. On cleansed skin apply a pea-sized amount to face and neck. Use the tips of the fingers to gently tap the serum into the skin.
Notes: Can be used alongside other serums and moisturisers as desired.
Price: £8.99
Hepta-Peptide
What It Does: Reduces signs of ageing, promotes cell renewal, collagen boosting
Directions: Apply a pea-sized amount to cleansed face and neck in the morning and evening, avoiding the eye area.
Notes: The formula is best used after serums and before moisturiser.
Price: £14.99
Beta Hydroxy Acid
What It Does: Unclogs pores, controls excess sebum, evens skin tone
Directions: Use AM or PM. Apply one to two drops on cleansed skin and follow with preferred serums and moisturiser.
Notes: Always use a broad spectrum (SPF) moisturiser in the day.
Price: £9.99
Alpha Hydroxy Acid Serum
What It Does: Smooths, softens, evens skin tone, reduces appearance of pores, fights acne, exfoliates, brightens, increases cell turnover, reduces dark spots.
Directions: Use in the PM. Onto cleansed skin apply one to two drops to the face, using the fingertips to pat the serum into the skin. Follow with other serums and moisturisers
Notes: Avoid the under-eye area.
Price: £8.99
Toners.
Glycolic Acid Liquid Toner
What It Does:
Directions: Use in the PM. Saturate a cotton pad with the formula and on cleansed skin, sweep across the face and neck. Do not rinse off. Follow with serums and moisturisers.
Notes: Start with one application every other night and increase to once daily if desired. pH = 3.5 – 4.0.
Price: £6.99
SPF & Sun Protection.
Zinc Oxide Cream Moisturiser
What It Does: Blocks UVA and UVB rays, moisturises, fights free radicals
Directions: Use in the AM. Apply as the last step over other skincare products. Apply liberally and ensure that product has been absorbed into the skin.
Price: £8.99
Routines
| Skin Type | AM | PM | Weekly |
| Dry Skin | 1. Hyaluronic Acid Serum 2. Q10 Serum 3. Polyglutamic Acid 4. Hemp Oil Cream Moisturiser | 1. Hyaluronic Acid Serum 2. Lactic Acid Serum 3. Polyglutamic Acid 4. Squalane Oil | |
| Oil Control | 1. Hyaluronic Acid Serum 2. Vitamin C Serum 3. Polyglutamic Acid | 1. Salicylic Acid Cleanser 2. Beta Hydroxy Acid 3. Hyaluronic Acid Serum 4. Caffeine Serum | 1. Kaolin Clay Mask |
| Fine Lines and Brightening | 1. Hyaluronic Acid Serum 2. Caffeine Serum 3. Collagen Booster 4. Vitamin C Serum 5. Hepta-Peptide | 1. Hyaluronic Acid Serum 2. Retinol Serum 3. Caffeine Serum 4. Rosehip Oil | |
| Sensitive Skin | 1. Hyaluronic Acid Serum 2. Caffeine Serum 3. Q10 Serum 4. Multi-Biotic Moisturiser | 1. Hyaluronic Acid Serum 2. Lactic Acid Serum 3. Caffeine Serum 4. Turmeric Cream Moisturiser | |
| Blemish Prone Skin | 1. Hyaluronic Acid Serum 2. Caffeine Serum 3. Q10 Serum 4. Polyglutamic Acid | 1. Salicylic Acid Cleanser 2. Beta Hydroxy Acid 3. Hyaluronic Acid Serum 4. Retinol Serum |
FAQ
Q: Are There Any Products That I Can’t Mix/Use Together?
A: To find out what ingredients you shouldn’t use together, click HERE.
Q: Does The Inkey List Test On Animals?
A: No. They also do not sell to any suppliers who do, or in any places that requires animal testing.
Q: Are The Inkey List Products Breastfeeding Safe?
A: The Inkey List suggests avoiding Retinol whilst breastfeeding.
Q: Where Can I Buy The Inkey List?
A: UK – Cult Beauty, Feel Unique, ASOS
Ireland – Arnotts
France – Sephora, Feel Unique
Italy – Sephora
Spain – Sephora
Germany – Sephora
Poland – Sephora
Sweden – Sephora
Denmark – Sephora
US – Sephora
Canada – Shopper’s Drug Mart, Store Finder
