Our 9 Favorite Skin-Care Products From The Inkey List

For those who may not know, The Inkey List is a British brand that has been available at Sephora worldwide since 2019.

Co-founders and chemists 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 pay for themselves in no time—for both your skin and your wallet. The brand is affordable and intuitive to browse and shop both online and in-store.

Each product in The Inkey List is named after its main ingredient—so, what you see is what you get. While we love the puns in the product names, 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 that all of their products use this extremely transparent naming system.

If you’re wondering which ingredients are best for your skin, you’ll find a lot of helpful information on the site to help you choose.

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

Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30

This Polyglutamic Acid 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 also works as a single mini skincare tube. The formula contains a trio of 8% polyglutamic acid, glycerin, and squalane to lock in moisture.

We recommend using it as the last step in your morning skincare routine. If applying 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 to promote deep skin regeneration.

We also love hyaluronic acid because it makes it easier for other products in your skincare routine to absorb. Apply a pea-sized amount of serum to a damp face and neck, then follow 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 from your skin without stripping it of moisture.

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

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 and helps you look more awake.

According to chemist Ginger King, the peptide boosts collagen production, has a skin-firming effect, and reduces the appearance of fine lines.

The brand recommends storing the cream in the fridge between uses for an extra cooling, spa-like feel. In short: pour a hot latte macchiato over ice.

Inkey List Retinol Serum

Retinol is a dream: It softens fine lines and produces collagen to naturally tighten wrinkles in the most sensitive areas of your 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 so gentle it can also be used around the eyes and mouth. Did we mention it won a 2021 Best of Beauty Award? It’s that good.

Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

Salicylic Acid Cleanser is a real insider’s secret because of its ability to cleanse and care for acne-prone skin. The formula with 2% beta hydroxy acid exfoliates the skin and unclogs pores.

The zinc compound has anti-inflammatory properties. This cleanser isn’t just for the face. We all know that acne doesn’t just appear everywhere. So if you have pimples on your arms, back, chest, etc., feel free to 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. Made with 100% pure rosehip oil, it 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 you’ll wake up with radiant, hydrated skin every time. 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 wonders for.

After your acne has healed and developed into dark spots, apply a pea-sized drop of this wonder remedy every night. You’ll see a difference in about a month.

The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner

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

This improves overall radiance and texture without drying out the skin. It pairs perfectly with The Inkey List’s HA Serum and can be applied with a cotton pad after cleansing. No need to rinse after cleansing.