The INKEY List Review: Affordable Skincare

I always love to see affordable skincare, developed by experts, made easily accessible to everybody. This is the case with a brand – The Inkey List – that launched in Canada (originally from the UK and also launched in the US). Since I’ve been lucky to get my hands on a few products, I’m giving you my honest INKEY List review.

The verdict so far: I LOVE IT.

The INKEY List is a budget skincare brand with a great line-up of products that usually cost an arm and a leg. But cost isn’t always a factor. The products have to work, and in this case, they do.

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Disclaimer: I received samples of INKEY List products for review. No other compensation was provided. All thoughts below are based on my experience and my honest opinion of the products.

Disclosure: This post contains sponsored product. I recommend products I would use or have used myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission on any purchases you make using these links, at no extra cost to you. Read my full Disclaimer.

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What’s To Love About The INKEY List?

I love how the team behind The INKEY List – veteran skin experts Mark Curry and Colette Newberry, formerly of the UK’s Boots’ branding and product development team – use the best raw ingredients, straight from suppliers.

This approach, and their use of simple packaging and marketing, make the price point so affordable.

The most expensive item on the list: Squalane is about $15.

However, more importantly, the products do work.

For this The INKEY List review, I tried them out for a week, using them during my morning and evening skincare routine.

One of the things I’ve noticed on the brand’s website is that they espouse the idea that you should focus your skincare routine on one key thing you want to improve.

In my case, it’s the appearance of more fine lines and wrinkles, as well as skin that seems to be dull.

Winter is not kind of my skin. Add to the face that I have rosacea, and I tend to look awful at this time of the year.

If there’s only one thing I would like different about The INKEY List products would be for the tubes to have some reference to whether the item is an antioxidant, AHA acid, etc.

They have this information on the box packaging the product comes in, but once you throw out the box you might not remember. So for now, I’m not throwing out my boxes.

INKEY List Retinol (30 ml, $12.99)

This one is all about skin renewal and collagen production. Perfect for my aging skin! Derived from Vitamin A, The INKEY List Retinol aids in cell renewal and repair. It helps smooth out skin (those darn wrinkles and fine lines!) and make it brighter-looking. Overall, you end up with healthier-looking skin.

I used this regularly for a week and found my overall complexion to look brighter. My wrinkles appeared a bit more smoothed out. So it seems to be working so far. I’ll see what effects it has long term!

So far, this is one of my favourite products in this The INKEY List review.

The INKEY List Kaolin Mask (50 ml)

The INKEY List Kaolin Mask is one of the nicer masks I’ve tried in the last little while. You don’t need to put much on – a thin layer of this creamy, gentle mask is enough to do its work. It works to unclog pores and give your skin a smoother tone.

I like how gentle it is. I’d buy this again!

Since it interacts with sunlight, you use it during your nighttime skincare routine and make sure you wash it off the next morning. You will want to wear sunscreen during the day to protect your skin.

The INKEY List Vitamin C (30 ml, $12.99)

I used this during my morning routine. Why? Because Vitamin C protects from environmental pollution. And since I’m out and about during the day, this makes the most sense.

The INKEY List Vitamin C helps to brighten dull skin, even skin tone and reduce fine lines. All great things in my opinion.

Vitamin C has also been shown to help with collagen production, so it’s great for aging skin and the reduction of fine lines.

The verdict? LOVED IT. It comes on nice and works great when paired with a simple moisturizer.

The INKEY List Q10 (30 ml)

I really like this one. The INKEY List Q10 is a powerful antioxidant, protecting skin from environmental damage.

It hydrates my skin, while also reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

In combination with the Retinol in the evening, I felt like I was giving my face a one-two punch of goodness before bedtime.

A Little Goes A Long Way

For this The INKEY List review, I followed the simple instructions on the bottles. A pea-sized amount, a little dab is all you really need to use for great results. Because of this, a small 30 ml package (most of the serums are in this size), will last you a little while. Paired with affordable prices, it’s a win-win situation.

The 30 ml tubes also make it super easy to slip in with your travel toiletries when flying.

Will I Buy Again?

After this The INKEY List review – most definitely yes.

They work and they are inexpensive.

Many in the beauty industry know that you don’t have to pay a bomb to get results from skincare products that are well-formulated. This is the case with this line.

An Inkey List Update For 2023

I was recently updating blog posts and I stumbled upon this Inkey List review.

What I want you – my reader – to know is that I’m STILL using The Inkey List. It’s part of my regular skincare because the products work and the pricepoint can’t be beat.

I love how the availability has expanded into online shopping and other options. See the update below.

UPDATED 2023:

Shop on The Inkey List sites (UK, US, Canada and Europe – English/German)

You can also purchase The INKEY List at Sephora Canada.

In the US it’s more broadly available online (Amazon, FeelUnique, ASOS, etc.)

Follow The INKEY List on Instagram: @theinkeylist and #asktheinkeylist too (ask questions and you’ll get answers!).

QUESTION: What is your bedtime routine to protect your skin?

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