Inkey List vs The Ordinary 2024 (The Definitive Guide)

Welcome to the long-awaited comprehensive guide to The Inkey List vs The Ordinary! It has to be said, both lines of products appear to be incredibly similar on first glance.

Though both brands offer loads of different skincare products, let's be honest, we're all here for the best-selling serums. So let's dive straight in!

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The Inkey List vs The Ordinary Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3, and is an absolute powerhouse of an ingredient. It can (and should!) be added to your skincare routine if you are looking to improve hydration, reduce the appearance of blemishes, or even out the skin's complexion. Furthermore, preliminary research has shown that Niacinamide can aid in the production of collagen, thus also helping to treat fine lines and wrinkles.

The Ordinary and The Inkey List both make extremely popular niacinamide products, namely: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% and The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum, but which one is better?

Both serums more or less target the same things: redness, excess oil, and enlarged pores, but they actually take slightly differing approaches to achieving this (which we love, because it gives us options!)

On one hand, The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum doubles down on being for those with oily skin types. This is in large part due to the inclusion of Zinc PCA, an oil-regulating ingredient. So, if you have oily/combination skin then this means you'll love it even more. However, normal-to-dry skin types may find it to be too drying.

On the other hand, the Inkey List's Niacinamide Serum is formulated with 1% hyaluronic acid instead of 1% zinc. This means that it would be suitable for all skin types - yes, even those of us with dry skin - thanks to hyaluronic acid's intensely hydrating properties.

Fortunately, this difference also makes our lives rather easy when it comes to deciding between the two (especially considering they're pretty much the same price). If you have oily/combination skin, you will prefer The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum, whereas if you have normal/dry skin you will much prefer The Inkey List's Niacinamide Serum.

The Inkey List vs The Ordinary Retinol

Retinol is typically found in a range of acne/blemish-prone or anti-aging products in skincare. Retinol works to treat both of these conditions by increasing cell renewal and exfoliating the skin. In addition, Retinol can be used to treat age spots, soften rough patches, reduce blemishes, and stimulate the production of new blood vessels in the skin.

Let's compare two of the most popular retinol products side-by-side; The Inkey List Retinol vs The Ordinary Retinol in Squalane.

The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane solution contains 1% pure retinol. If you are new to using retinol in your skincare routine, do not start with the 1% solution. Instead, it is best to start with the 0.2% or 0.5% version before graduating to 1%. Retinol can cause skin sensitivity, redness, tingling, irritation, and your skin may need to build its tolerance.

The Ordinary offers a range of Retinol Solutions so you can start where you feel your skin can tolerate the active ingredients and stay with the same brand as and when your skin desires more.

The Inkey List, on the other hand, only offers a 1% version of their retinol serum. That said, it's not actually pure retinol in The Inkey List Retinol Serum, it's "retiSTAR" - a mixture of retinol, tocopherol, sodium ascorbate, and castor oil. This means that it is more like 0.05% retinol, as opposed to the advertised 1%. This is somewhat made up for with the addition of 0.5% granactive retinoid, but this is still relatively weak even compared to The Ordinary's weakest retinol serum.

All in all, The Inkey List's Retinol is a great introduction to retinol for a beginner, but to see the best results, The Ordinary's range of retinol serums is definitely the way forward.

The Inkey List vs The Ordinary Vitamin C

This wouldn’t be a comprehensive The Inkey List vs The Ordinary guide without talking about their top vitamin C products! Vitamin C is by far the most popular vitamin in skincare, and rightfully so. Regular use of vitamin C helps your skin produce collagen, heal wounds, reverse sun damage, brighten your complexion, prevent aging, and improve overall skin tone. Experts recommend that even the simplest of skincare routines should include vitamin C because it also makes your SPF more effective. We told you, it really lives up to the hype!

For this product match up, we’ll be comparing The Ordinary’s Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% to The Inkey List's Vitamin C Serum.

As you search for the right vitamin C serum for you, it’s really important to stick to products that are transparent about the type of vitamin C they use and the concentration. Both The Inkey List's Vitamin C Serum and The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% check those boxes.

The Inkey List's Vitamin C Serum contains the most effective form of Vitamin C: L-Ascorbic Acid. However, the concentration is sub-optimal at 30% (optimal being between 10%-20%), likely making it far too strong for the average person. This is heavily reflected in the subpar reviews this product receives online.

As the name of The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% suggests, this solution is formulated with the weaker vitamin C derivative, ascorbyl glucoside, at a dosage of 12%.

Although it’s not as effective as l-ascorbic acid, it does have its benefits. It’s much more stable than l-ascorbic acid which means you don’t have to worry as much about it going rancid. It’s also more easily tolerated because your skin must convert it to l-ascorbic acid before it can use it. That means that if you have sensitive skin or haven’t been able to tolerate l-ascorbic acids in the past, this could be the solution for you! You’ll take additional reassurance knowing that just like the other The Ordinary products we’ve discussed, this solution is alcohol-, oil-, and fragrance-free, as well as vegan and cruelty-free.

As far as best overall is concerned, we are erring on the side of caution by recommending the less potent (but more tolerable) The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%.

The Inkey List vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid

Although it’s been in skincare products since the mid 90s, hyaluronic acid (HA) really hit its PR-stride in the early noughties and we’re so happy it did! Synonymous with plump, dewy and glowing skin, HA is a humectant which means it draws moisture from the air and pulls it into your skin. It’s also naturally occurring within our skin which makes it extremely well tolerated and great for all skin types.

Inkey List and The Ordinary both make extremely popular hyaluronic acid serums, namely: The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum and The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum, but which one is better?

When you’re assessing an HA serum, you want to consider how much of the active ingredient is in the serum, what other ingredients are used in the product, the texture, and the efficacy. We’ll use all of these criteria to decide which wins our vote as best overall hyaluronic acid serum!

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum is vegan, cruelty free and completely clean. It gets even better as we look at the specific ingredients. The key ingredients include sodium hyaluronate, sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, and vitamin B5. Sodium hyaluronate is the sodium sister of HA, which chemists agree can be used interchangeably. Sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer is a magical HA mesh that can bind 5 times more water than regular HA, which is already incredible at 1,000 times its body weight! As an added bonus, it’s also an antioxidant! The final ingredient is vitamin B5, a powerful moisturizing agent. Combined, these ingredients give The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid triple moisturizing properties!

The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum is also vegan, cruelty free and completely clean. However, the main difference is the inclusion of Matrixyl instead of Vitamin B5. Matrixyl cleverly mimics the behaviour of our body’s own naturally occurring cell-signalers and regulators (called matrikines), thus stimulating the growth of new collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. In case that was too much scientific jargon, essentially it is a fantastic anti-aging ingredient.

We feel that the Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum therefore outperforms The Ordinary for those with mature skin types, however, the best overall is The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum.

The Inkey List vs The Ordinary Glycolic Acid

Glycolic Acid is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) derived from sugar cane, which is primarily used for exfoliation. Exfoliation—for the uninitiated—refers to the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, which helps to improve texture, skin tone, and dullness (among other related concerns).

Two of the best glycolic acid products from The Ordinary and The Inkey List are: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution and The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner, but which one is better?

As with any skincare product, you want to ensure you're getting your money's worth. With serums and toning solutions, a good way to do this is by figuring out how much of the active ingredient you're actually getting in each bottle (because it certainly won't be 100%!). In this instance, The Ordinary's Glycolic Acid Toning Solution contains 7% Glycolic Acid, whereas The Inkey List's Glycolic Acid Toner contains 10%. Both fall inside the 'ideal' range of 5-10% (since AHAs are really rather potent, and overexfoliation is never fun), but The Inkey List's is clearly more concentrated. Sooo... case closed, then? Not quite.

Both formulas also contain other beneficial ingredients beyond just Glycolic Acid, which makes for a more interesting comparison (albeit much less straightforward). The Inkey List's additionally includes 5% Witch Hazel, famed for its ability to minimize excess oil, whereas The Ordinary's contains a trio of soothing anti-inflammatories: Aloe, Ginseng, and Tasmannia Lanceolata extracts.

These extras kind of hint at the fact that despite their similarities, these toners are formulated for slightly different purposes (which should help you decide between the two). More specifically: The Ordinary's Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is for addressing uneven skin tone, textural irregularities, and dullness, whereas The Inkey List's Glycolic Acid Toner is for excess oil, enlarged pores, blackheads, and uneven skin texture. (Textural concerns being where the two meet in the middle.)

Regardless of which appeals more to your specific concerns, be confident in the fact that both products are formulated at the optimal pH of 3.6 for maximum effectiveness. You should be looking to apply them 1-3 times a week (ideally in the PM since they will increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun), and you should avoid mixing with other AHA, BHA, or PHA products (or use on different nights if absolutely necessary).

The Inkey List vs The Ordinary Lactic Acid

While we're on the topic AHAs, allow us to introduce Lactic Acid. Akin to Glycolic Acid, it provides a similar exfoliating effect (thus meaning it's great for all-things related to texture and skin tone). However, it boasts a larger molecular size meaning it is less penetrative and consequently less irritating—making it a fantastic option for those with sensitive skin!

Two of the best lactic acid products from The Ordinary and The Inkey List are: The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA and The Inkey List 10% Lactic Acid. Let's find out which is best!

With both serums evidently containing 10% Lactic Acid, we're going to have to dig a little bit deeper here to uncover any differences worthy of swaying your decision. Given their names, you'd be forgiven for thinking that an obvious difference is that The Ordinary's contains Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and The Inkey List's doesn't, but no, The Inkey List's 10% Lactic Acid Serum does actually contain HA too.

They're even similar in the sense that they've both included soothing botanical extracts—Tasmannia Lanceolata for The Ordinary, and Agastache Mexicana Flower for The Inkey List. Both products are even formulated at the same, optimal pH for Lactic Acid: 3.8.

You *could* argue that The Inkey List's isn't strictly oil-free given the inclusion of PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil (and The Ordinary's is oil-free), BUT it makes up less than 1% of the formula so any downsides are more or less negligible, rendering it a moot point. How on Earth are we meant to split them?

Ultimately, we think it comes down to two points: texture, and price. Firstly, The Ordinary's formula is slightly more sticky/tacky than it's The Inkey List counterpart. Not the biggest deal in the world, but it's one deciding factor at least! More important, though, is the fact that The Inkey List's Lactic Acid Serum is $4 more expensive per bottle for practically the same formula and results. In our opinion, it's a no-brainer to save a few bucks and pick up The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA.

The Inkey List vs The Ordinary Azelaic Acid

Now for something a bit different. Neither an AHA, BHA, or PHA, Azelaic Acid is a "Dicarboxylic Acid", notable for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It's actually produced naturally by yeast that lives on normal skin, and when applied topically, it is extremely effective in the treatment of acne and rosacea.

Two of the best azelaic acid products from The Ordinary and The Inkey List are: The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% and The Inkey List Redness Relief Solution with 10% Azelaic Acid Serum. It's time to figure out which to choose!

Neither of these products is a 'serum' in the sense that you're probably used to; instead of being a liquid, both formulas boast a gel-cream texture. This doesn't really change anything as far as this side-by-side comparison is concerned, but it's important to note that when layering these products with others in your routine, they should be applied after lighter/watery serums (but still before any moisturizers or lotions).

Now, to the comparison! Both products contain 10% Azelaic Acid (a fairly typical concentration), and both are primarily intended for the treatment of redness and an uneven complexion. Beyond the active ingredient itself, The Ordinary's Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% doesn't have too much to boast about. Tocopherol is a nice addition (with potent anti-inflammatory benefits), but the rest of the formula purely serves as a solution to suspend the Azelaic Acid in.

The formula of The Inkey List's 10% Azelaic Acid Serum, on the other hand, is one to wax lyrical about. It additionally contains Allantoin to further soothe the skin, Gardenia Florida fruit extract for antioxidant protection, and most notably: micro-fine green colour particles to help instantly mask redness.

It's a good bit more expensive than The Ordinary's offering, but as a standalone rosacea/redness treatment, it is perfect. In fact, it is clinically proven to minimize redness in 4 days, and 91% of users in an independent dermatological trial agreed that skin was instantly soothed.

If, however, you're not seeking a treatment for redness—but rather another concern that Azelaic Acid is known to treat such as blemishes, dullness, or textural irregularity—then the plainer Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% from The Ordinary is almost certainly more preferable, especially with its cheaper price point.

The Inkey List vs The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin

When it comes to dealing with dark spots and hyperpigmentation, Hydroquinone is the treatment that usually springs to mind. However, while its brightening effects are covetable, it is also really rather controversial due to its unwieldy potency and status as a potential carcinogen. Enter: Alpha Arbutin, a derivative of Hydroquinone with the same melanin/pigmentation-busting effects, but with considerably less of the irritation and melanocytotoxicity.

Two of the best alpha arbutin products from The Ordinary and The Inkey List are: The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA and The Inkey List 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum. It's time to figure out which to choose!

As with most of these product comparisons until now, there's no difference between the key ingredients here. Both serums contain 2% Alpha Arbutin, as well as Hyaluronic Acid (which supports product absorption).

Where they begin to differ is their supporting ingredients lists. The Ordinary's Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA additionally contains Lactic Acid, and while its exact concentration percentage is unclear (to truly understand how beneficial its inclusion is), we know from earlier that this AHA is an exfoliant which can further help to fade dark spots—a nice little bonus! That said, our guess is that its inclusion is purely for the purpose of slightly acidifying the solution, since Alpha Arbutin is extremely sensitive to degradation unless the pH is absolutely ideal. There isn't much else to say about the rest of the ingredients list.

The Inkey List's 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum instead contains Squalane, Soybean Oil, Tocopherol, and Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, which all help to support the skin's natural moisture barrier. There's no real evidence of optimizing the pH of the formula, though, so unfortunately with a pH of 5.98 it sits well outside the ideal pH of ~4.9 (although just inside the required range of 3.5-6.6). The formula is also slightly more viscous than The Ordinary's serum due to the inclusion of Squalane (which doesn't necessarily affect efficacy, but it's still worth noting for the sake of preference).

On the whole, we prefer The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA. While we can appreciate the extra hydrating perks of The Inkey List's, The Ordinary's formula just seems far more optimized for its intended purpose (i.e. minimizing the appearance of dark spots & hyperpigmentation)—oh, and it's also cheaper.

The Inkey List vs The Ordinary Rosehip Oil

Loaded with nourishing vitamins, essential fatty acids, as well as anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-septic phenols, Rosehip Oil is a *major* contender for the title of 'miracle worker'. It boasts the ability to hydrate & moisturize, exfoliate & brighten, firm & regenerate, color correct & damage protect, and is considered safe for all skin types.

If you want to get your hands on this goodness, two of the best products containing it from The Ordinary and The Inkey List are: The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil and The Inkey List 100% Natural Rosehip Oil. Let's dive straight into the review.

Alright, so I can already tell what you're thinking. If they're both "100%" Rosehip Oil, then there can't possibly be any difference, right? Well, you're not wrong. As far as the actual formulas are concerned, they are completely identical. They both consist of 100% natural/organic Rosehip Oil, cold-pressed to ensure maximum potency and gentleness.

For once, the differences here lie completely outside the ingredients lists. While The Ordinary's Rose Hip Seed Oil comes in a glass bottle with a dropper, The Inkey List's Rosehip Oil comes in a plastic bottle with a cap. There's no such thing as an "objectively better" bottle (unless it influences degradation or efficacy), but I suppose if you have a preference for a specific applicator—such as The Ordinary's iconic dropper—this could help you to decide between the two.

The most important difference, though, is the fact that The Ordinary's Rose Hip Seed Oil is $1 cheaper, which also happens to be the reason why we prefer it over The Inkey List's (hey, every penny counts!). We'd only really recommend choosing The Inkey List Rosehip Oil if the different container is worth the extra $1 to you (e.g. for aesthetics, or application preferences).

The Inkey List vs The Ordinary Squalane

Mimicking your skin's natural oils, Squalane helps lubricate skin so it feels comfortable, prevents moisture loss, and restores suppleness. Unlike sebum, though, it is super lightweight and doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy. As an oil-soluble antioxidant, it also works with other antioxidants in the skin to neutralize sun damage. Quite the powerhouse!

The Ordinary and The Inkey List each offer a couple of excellent squalane serums, specifically: The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane and The Inkey List Squalane Oil.

Let's cut to the chase. Both products contain 100% Squalane, so like with the Rosehip Oil comparison, all the differences between the two are completely external. The bottles are different, yadda yadda, but the real difference is their cost; The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane clocks in at just under $3 cheaper than The Inkey List Squalane Oil.

Given that both formulas are identical yet one is 30% cheaper than the other, which we prefer goes without saying (*ahem* - The Ordinary). It's also worth noting that The Ordinary also offers 100% Plant-Derived Hemi-Squalane, which is an even more lightweight formula for those with oilier skin types.

The Inkey List vs The Ordinary Peel

Acid Peels boast a wide range of incredible benefits. Through the power of exfoliation they can: reduce fine lines, correct sun damage, improve acne, improve the appearance of scars, fade pigmentation, even your skin tone, and yield super smooth skin. That said, they are typically reserved for people with a *lot* of experience with acid exfoliation, since extremely high concentrations of free acids obviously comes with a hefty risk of chemical burns when used incorrectly.

If you're new to exfoliation, we would recommend starting out with something like a Glycolic Acid serum or Lactic Acid serum instead (such as those we've reviewed earlier in this comparison guide).

If you're confident in your experience and you have a good understanding of what your skin can tolerate, then peels such as The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution and The Inkey List Apple Cider Vinegar Acid Peel will help you maximize your exfoliation results.

At the heart of both serums is a blend of powerful acids. The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution features Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Tartaric Acid, and Citric Acid (all Alpha Hydroxy Acids), as well as Salicylic Acid (a Beta Hydroxy Acid).

The Inkey List Apple Cider Vinegar Acid Peel contains the AHAs Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, and Citric Acid—just like The Ordinary's—but it also contains Acetic Acid, Succinic Acid, and a blend of fruit acids (unlabelled, but given the listed fruit extracts we can hazard a guess that they include: Tartaric Acid from citrus, Salicylic Acid from willow bark, more Glycolic Acid from sugar cane, Glutamic Acid from bilberries, Ferulic Acid & Benzoic Acid from cranberries, and Palmitic Acid & Stearic Acid from seabuckthorn).

Though it's a longer list of acids from The Inkey List, the concentration of free acids in The Ordinary's is much higher (32% vs ~17%), especially when you consider that most of the "5% multi-fruit acid blend" are antioxidants rather than exfoliants. Knowing this, we can deduce that The Ordinary's Peeling Solution is the more potent of the two, and therefore the better choice if you're looking to absolutely max out the potential results of exfoliation in your skincare routine.

There's still a lot to be said for the acids that The Inkey List's Peel contains that The Ordinary's doesn't, though. Those fruit acids that we just pooh-poohed offer some incredible anti-aging, moisturizing, and softening benefits that you wouldn't typically find in a peeling solution. To highlight a few in particular, Acetic Acid targets blemish-causing bacteria (great for those with acne-related concerns), Ferulic Acid helps reduce inflammation, signs of aging, and evens the skin's tone, and Glutamic Acid helps bind water molecules within the skin, thus helping maintain your skin's moisture balance.

So, on your quest to find the ultimate peel for your routine, you've instead found a dilemma that's worth spending some time pondering. On the one hand, The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution is probably exactly what you were initially looking for: an ultra-potent chemical peel that exfoliates to yield smoother, brighter, clearer skin. On the other hand, The Inkey List's offers slightly less intense exfoliation (though still not suitable for those with sensitive skin), but also a myriad of supplementary benefits thanks to the chemical makeup of Apple Cider Vinegar and its concoction of additional fruit extracts.

The Inkey List vs The Ordinary Peptides

Healthy levels of Collagen in the skin helps it stay firm and looking youthful. Unfortunately, as we age, collagen production decreases causing skin to look more wrinkled, less even, and more dull. It's doubly unfortunate, too, because it's actually not possible to replace lost collagen topically because of its large molecular size. That's why you never see serums containing collagen, or if you do, they're being a bit naughty because collagen molecules simply cannot penetrate beneath the surface of the skin—at best they'll just help to moisturize a bit.

What *does* work, though, is applying Peptides topically. Collagen is made of three polypeptide chains, so applying peptides can stimulate your skin to make collagen. A couple of the best serums containing peptides are The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum and The Inkey List Collagen Peptide Serum.

Both serums contain Matrixyl 3000, a synthetic collagen booster containing two skin active peptides: Palmitoyl Oligopeptide and Palmitoyl-Tetrapeptide-7. The Inkey List Collagen Peptide Serum additionally contains Syn®-tacks (a dual-peptide), whereas The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum additionally contains Syn®-ake, Matrixyl™ synthe'6™, and ARGIRELOX™ peptide.

The jury's out on whether more equals better when it comes to peptides, but if it does, then The Ordinary is clearly winning that race here. It's important to note that research behind Peptides is still developing, and other anti-aging ingredients such as AHAs and retinols are currently more scientifically backed. With that said, all of the listed peptides are heralded as the cream of the crop when it comes to stimulating collagen production, and are some of the most studied in the industry.

Both serums also contain Hyaluronic Acid for its plumping properties (which further helps to minimize fine lines and wrinkles).

Without knowing the exact concentrations in both products (only The Inkey List has disclosed concentration information for theirs), or something actually quantifiable regarding collagen stimulation results, it's impossible to declare a true winner here—especially since it will differ greatly from person to person.

Our recommendation would be that if you're looking to introduce peptides into your skincare routine, either product would be worth trying, given their similar claims, formulas, and popularity. Your mileage may vary, and it can take up to six weeks to show full results, but this is just one of those times where you've got to give it a go for yourself to find out.

Work in progress

You have been reading a post that we are constantly updating. Be sure to bookmark this page, subscribe, and come back later to see additions to the definitive Inkey List vs The Ordinary guide!

This article was originally published on April 26th 2022, but it has been reviewed and updated with the latest available information on February 5th 2024 by Sara Mckay, MA.