If you’re looking to build a well-rounded skin care routine without breaking the bank, The Inkey List is a drugstore skin care brand that has a product for any skin care concern you could possibly have.
Cleansers, exfoliants, serums, anti-oxidants – you name it, they got it! And the brand continues to release new products each year, as if they didn’t have enough already.
The Inkey List so graciously sent me a box full of their products to try out and I got on really well with almost all of them – the Bakuchiol unfortunately gave me an allergic reaction 🙁 .
So if you’re looking to learn a little more about the products in this range, or want to find out more about some of their products you haven’t tried yet, stay tuned for all the deets!
*this post contains affiliate links – all products featured were gifted by the brand and shown in USD*
About The Brand
The Inkey List is a drugstore skin care brand that stands for transparency and innovative ingredients at affordable prices. If you’re looking to create a skin care routine to meet your individual needs but don’t know where to start, The Inkey List has a “Recipe Builder” section on their website that asks you several questions about your skin and then generates a list of products for you based on your responses.
The website also has an “Ingredient Index” that lets you browse by ingredient to find out what each one does.
What I really love about the brand – besides the recyclable packaging – is how easy it is to determine where each product fits into your skin care routine. With all the new products and ingredients out there, determining where all these products fit into your routine is usually the most common skin care question people have – but The Inkey List makes it easy!
Just look on the front of the product package, which will let you know whether the product should be used to Clean, Hydrate, Treat, Moisturize or as SPF. The packaging also lets you know if the product should be used during your day and/or night time skincare routine.
Tip: Always apply skin care products from lightest (water-based) product to heaviest (oil-based products).
The Inkey List also ensures its packaging is recyclable and includes directions as to how to recycle empty products.
Testing The Inkey List Skin Care Products
The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum – $6.99/30mL
Benefits – Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is a great ingredient to have in your routine, no matter what your skin type is or what your concerns are. It has very low potential to irritate skin and has a ton of benefits to the skin; it can reduce oil production and redness, minimize pore size, treat blemishes, brighten and smooth skin and repair your skin’s moisture barrier.
Incorporating niacinamide into your anti aging routine can also be helpful, as it can help skin accept retinol products more easily without the irritating side effects – think of it as a retinol buffer if you will. This serum has a 10% concentration of niacinamide in it, as well as 1% hyaluronic acid to boost hydration.
Texture – this serum has a clear, runny, gel texture that is super lightweight and absorbs easily without any pilling. It’s fragrance free and vegan.
How To Use – this serum is applied at the treatment stage (e.g. just before moisturizing) and can be used day and/or night.
Results – I’ve used niacinamide in my skin care for years and my skin has never looked better after adding this particular serum into the mix. Over time, my skin has become less oily and continuing with my niacinamide infusion using this serum has kept it looking great. Love this serum!
BUY IT: SEPHORA
The Inkey List 2% Hyaluronic Acid Serum – $7.99/30mL
Benefits – hyaluronic acid works like a moisture magnet for water. Once applied, it draws water into the skin and holds it there to boost hydration, which keeps skin plump and hydrated. Hyaluronic acid is a non-irritating ingredient that can be used on any skin type to avoid dryness and dehydration, day or night.
Texture – this serum is a clear, runny, lightweight gel that absorbs instantly. It’s fragrance free.
How To Use – apply this serum day and/or night after cleansing and before treating and moisturizing.
Tip: Hyaluronic acid serums should be applied to damp skin to boost absorption and hydration.
Results – plump, hydrated skin all day long! This lightweight serum doesn’t disappoint!
BUY IT: SEPHORA
The Inkey List 1% Retinol Serum – $9.99/30mL
Benefits – Retinol is a super-power ingredient that can reduce fine lines and wrinkles, minimize pores, fight acne/blemishes and blackheads, treat hyperpigmentation, make skin smoother and boost collagen production.
If you’re looking to prevent or reduce the signs of aging, retinol is one ingredient that you really need to add into your skin care routine, especially as you enter into your 30’s. Retinol can have irritating side effects, especially if you have never used it before (your skin needs to get used to it over time).
I advise you to read my post “How To Use Retinol: A Beginner’s Guide” if you are a first-time retinol user (luckily The Inkey List Retinol is super gentle and has a slow release formula!).
Texture – this yellow-coloured serum has a thin, runny consistency that absorbs in seconds and is fragrance free and vegan.
How To Use – retinol is best used at night and should be applied as a treatment after cleansing and hydrating, but before moisturizing. If you choose to apply your retinol during the day, please wear SPF to avoid reducing the effectiveness of the retinol.
This serum is quite gentle, but if you’re concerned about the negative side effects of retinol (flakiness, redness or dryness) you can add this serum into an existing serum (like the Niacinamide serum) or moisturizer to buffer the side effects.
Results – I actually was just finishing a tube of this retinol when I received a free tester from the brand. This stuff is excellent! Gentle, yet effective, this serum works to reduce my fine lines and keeps my skin smooth and my pores minimized.
I use a pea-sized amount of this serum 2-3 times per week and I highly recommend it – especially for retinol newbies. Its gentle formula means less potential for irritation. I also featured it in my Drugstore Retinoids post here.
Tip: Are your hands showing some signs of aging? Rub a drop of The Inkey List Retinol serum on the back of your hands to ward off lines and dark spots!
BUY IT: SEPHORA
A Comprehensive Guide To Drugstore Retinol
Find the right drugstore retinol for you in this detailed post!
The Inkey List 1% Bakuchiol Moisturizer – $9.99/30mL
Benefits – Bakuchiol has been touted as a more gentle alternative to retinol – all the anti-aging, skin plumping benefits of retinol without the irritating side effects. Bakuchiol’s anti-bacterial properties also make it great for treating acne and it is safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding (retinol cannot be applied while you are pregnant or breastfeeding). This serum also contains 3% squalane, as well as glycerin to moisturize skin.
Texture – this treatment is a white lotion that absorbs easily without any pilling. It’s fragrance free and vegan.
How To Use -the brand indicates this should be used as a moisturizer, but I feel this should actually be used as a treatment (it’s not moisturizing on its own). If used as a treatment, it would be applied just before moisturizing, day and/or night.
Results – as I mentioned in the intro to this post, I had a terrible allergic reaction to this serum and had to stop using it once I confirmed that it was the culprit. As a result, I can’t share any results from this serum with you – sorry! This is a great reminder to always patch test new skin care.
BUY IT: SEPHORA
The Benefits Of Bakuchiol + Bakuchiol Serums To Shop
Find out why bakuchiol is picking up steam in the skin care community and shop a selection of bakuchiol serums to get you started!
The Inkey List 2% Salicylic Acid Cleanser – $9.99/150mL
Benefits – foaming cleansers can be great for removing dirt, oil and grime from skin to keep pores clean. This particular cleanser contains 2% salicylic acid, which is a beta-hydroxy acid that is well-known for being able to penetrate deep into pores to remove oil that can cause breakouts and blackheads. It also contains zinc to reduce oil output and allantoin to soothe irritated skin.
Texture – this is a clear, gel cleanser that foams when mixed with water. It’s fragrance free and vegan.
How To Use – this cleanser is used as the first step in your routine, or as a second cleanse in a double cleansing routine when removing makeup and/or sunscreen products. Mix a pea-sized amount of cleanser with water and massage into skin to create a luxurious foam – rinse to remove.
This can be used day and/or night. If you have drier skin, you may prefer to use this in the evening followed up by a heavier moisturizer to avoid feeling dry.
Results – I love this cleanser! It foams well, removes all my oil from the day and most importantly, it doesn’t leave my skin tight or dry (which is a foaming cleanser no-no). Highly recommend if you have normal to oily skin or suffer from acne/blemishes or blackheads.
BUY IT: SEPHORA
The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream – $9.99/15mL
Benefits – this hydrating eye cream is made with caffeine, which can help reduce puffiness around the eyes caused by fluid build up while you sleep. How? Caffeine, a natural anti-oxidant derived from coffee, acts as a diuretic to relieve water retention. This moisturizer also includes Matrixyl 3000, a fabulous peptide that reduces the appearance of fine lines and smooths skin texture.
Texture – a white, thin cream that absorbs easily. It’s fragrance free.
How To Use – this is a moisturizing treatment that is applied to the eye area day and/or night.
Results – a fabulous eye cream! I first used The Ordinary’s Caffeine Eye Serum each morning to depuff my eyes before applying my eye cream (I still enjoy it!) but The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream depuffs my eyes in one step – depuffer and moisturizer all in one. This cream is lightweight and keeps my eye area plump and smooth – definitely a drugstore gem.
Tip: Store some in the fridge for a refreshing eye treatment!
BUY IT: SEPHORA | AMAZON
The Inkey List 3% Polyglutamic Acid – $14.99/30mL
Benefits – This is a powerful surface hydrator that promises to hold four times more moisture than hyaluronic acid – wowza! It’s designed to boost surface moisture to keep skin hydrated and plump even in the driest conditions. Want more? It also brightens and reduces the look of fine lines and works as the perfect hydrating skin primer for makeup application.
Texture – this is a translucent gel, slightly thicker than the Niacinamide serum gel, which absorbs well without pilling. Dimethicone in this formula also makes this treatment sit smoothly on the skin. It’s vegan and fragrance free.
How To Use – apply a pea-sized amount all over the face during the Treat stage of your routine day or night. To boost moisture retention, I recommend applying it on damp skin. It does work well under makeup, so I only used it during the day.
RELATED READING: 5 Ways To Helps Skin Care Products Absorb Better
BUY IT: SEPHORA
The Inkey List 2% Tranexamic Acid Night Treatment – $14.99/30mL
Benefits – this nighttime treatment targets hyperpigmentation, uneven patches and dark spots. It also contains 2% Acai Berry extract to promote even skin tone, as well as 2% Vitamin C to boost skin brightness and tone.
Texture – this is a thick, translucent gel that’s fragrance-free and vegan.
How To Use – apply at night during the Treat stage before applying moisturizer. Can be applied all over the face (avoiding eyes) or as a spot treatment for dark spots.
Results – I don’t suffer from dark spots or hyperpigmentation on my face, so testing this was a bit tricky. I am however, using it to treat some small dark spots I’ve noticed on my hands, so I will have to provide an update in a few weeks as to these results.
BUY IT: SEPHORA
The Inkey List 2% Succinic Acid Acne Treatment – $8.99/15mL
Benefits – this acne treatment uses 2% succinic acid, 1% salicylic acid and 2% sulfur powder to clear blemishes/blackheads, reduce inflammation and prevent clogged pores in a non-drying treatment. The green colour of the cream also acts to neutralize the look of redness.
Texture – this treatment comes in the form of a light green cream that absorbs well. It’s fragrance free and vegan.
How To Use – this treatment is to be applied in the Treat stage before applying moisturizer as a spot treatment for blemishes, day and/or night (up to three times per day if needed).
Results – I don’t suffer from acne but I do get the odd blemish or two, especially when having to wear a mask for extended periods of time. I applied this green cream to the odd pimples that cropped up on my upper lip and cheeks and my spots disappeared over night!
I also like to apply a thin layer of this treatment on my nose and upper cheeks to treat my blackheads and keep my pores clear. If you are looking for a great blemish spot treatment, this one worked well for me.
BUY IT: SEPHORA
How To Get Rid Of Blackheads In 6 Steps
Find out how to reduce blackheads by using the right skin care products and avoiding skin-damaging bad habits!
What drugstore skin care products have you been loving from The Inkey List?
