Our 9 Favorite Skin-Care Products From The Inkey List

This affordable brand has won two Allure Best of Beauty awards in a row and continues to impress us more every day.

For those who may not know, The Inkey List is a British brand that launched globally at Sephora in 2019.

Co-founder and chemist Mark Curry and co-founder Colette Laxton set out to create a brand that would incorporate affordable and effective ingredients into your skincare routine without breaking the bank.

These products will quickly have a positive impact on your skin and your wallet. The brand is affordable, and it’s intuitive to browse and shop both online and in-store.

Each product in The Inkey List is named after its main ingredient – ??meaning what you see is what you get. We love the puns in the product names, but we appreciate even more how The Inkey List gets straight to the point.

For example, if you want to try the Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum, go straight for the product named (you guessed it) Hyaluronic Acid Serum. You’ll notice this extremely transparent naming system across all of the products.

If you’re wondering which ingredients will work best for your skin, the site also has a lot of helpful information to help you choose.

With over 30 affordable, ingredient-conscious products, it can be hard to know where to start with Inkey List’s product line. While we love all of the brand’s products, we narrowed our top picks down to nine standouts. Have fun!

Inkey List Polyglutamate Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30

This Polyglutamate Dewy Sunscreen from Inkey List won a Best of Beauty award in 2023 for good reason. It’s lightweight, non-greasy, and non-pilling, and it gives a fresh glow to every skin tone.

Not only does it protect your face from harmful UV rays, but it’s also a mini skincare in a tube. The formula features a trio of 8% polyglutamate, glycerin, and squalane to lock in moisture.

We recommend using it as the last step in your morning routine. If applying the serum over makeup, use a blending sponge.

Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum

The Hyaluronic Acid Serum won a Best of Beauty award in 2022 because it provides instant and lasting hydration to your skin without a sticky feel. The brand’s best-selling product contains 2% multi-molecular hyaluronic acid for deep skin renewal.

We also love hyaluronic acid because it allows other products in your skincare routine to absorb more easily. Apply a pea-sized amount of the serum to a damp face and neck, and finish with your favorite sunscreen.

Inkey List Oatmeal Cleansing Balm

Inkey List’s Oatmeal Cleansing Balm contains oat kernel oil and colloidal oatmeal to moisturize and prevent redness. This luxurious face wash removes makeup, sunscreen, and dirt without drying out your skin.

Pro tip: This cleanser also doubles as a mask, and you can apply it to your face and neck for 10 minutes to improve hydration. No wonder it won a 2020 Best of Beauty Award.

Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream

Inkey List’s Caffeine Eye Cream is like a double latte for your face. The combination of caffeine and the peptide Matrixyl 3000 reduces redness for a more awake look.

According to chemist Ginger King, this peptide aids in the formation of collagen, which has skin-firming benefits and reduces the appearance of fine lines.

The brand recommends storing the cream in the fridge between uses to enhance the cooling effect and spa feel. Just pour some ice cubes over a hot latte macchiato.

Inkey List Retinol Serum

Retinol is ideal for softening fine lines and producing collagen, which naturally firms wrinkles in the most delicate areas of the face. Use this serum once or twice a week in the evenings to test your retinol tolerance and increase the dose as needed.

Then apply your favorite moisturizer and top up the serum with SPF in the morning. We love the retinol serum because it’s gentle enough to be used around the eyes and mouth, too. Did we mention it won a 2021 Best of Beauty Award? It’s that good.

Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

Salicylic Acid Cleanser gets a gold star for helping to clean and care for acne-prone skin. The formula contains 2% beta hydroxy acid to exfoliate the skin and unclog pores. The zinc compounds it contains help reduce inflammation.

This cleanser is not just for the face. As we all know, acne doesn’t just go everywhere. So if you have pimples on your arms, back, chest, etc., just apply a raspberry-sized amount to the affected area.

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 with 100% pure rosehip oil and makes your skin softer and smoother.

The essential fatty acids Omega-6 and linoleic acid it contains regulate sebum production, thereby preventing acne. Apply a few drops before bed as the last step of your skincare routine, and your skin will be radiant, hydrated and nourished every time you wake up. You can also use the oil on your hands, nails, and cuticles.

Inkey List Tranexamic Acid Night Serum

In an interview with Allure, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Y. Claire Chang claims that, unlike many other skincare acids, tranexamic acid is safe for all skin types, including during pregnancy.

It also has anti-inflammatory properties and evens out skin tone — which is exactly what The Inkey List’s Tranexamic Acid Night Serum does. After your acne has healed and developed into dark spots, apply a pea-sized drop of the wonder drug every night. You’ll see a difference in about a month.

Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner

Glycolic Acid Toner contains 10 percent of key ingredients — alpha hydroxy acid, glycolic acid, and witch hazel — to minimize pores, blackheads, and fine lines. Glycolic acid is extracted from sugar cane and removes dead skin cells through gentle exfoliation.

This leaves skin more radiant and more structured without drying it out. It pairs perfectly with The Inkey List’s HA Serum. Apply with a cotton pad after cleansing. No need to rinse.