Welcome to the INKEY Blog. Where we spread and share our skincare knowledge with you!

A moisturizer is a must-have in any skincare routine. Right up there with an effective cleanser, a hydrating step, lotion, or oil can make all the difference for any skin type, and is a pillar in an effective regime. But with so many around and lots of conflicting advice, it can be tough to know how to pick, apply, and make the best of your moisturizer. Fear not; we’ve laid everything out that you need to know to make the process easier and more straight forward than ever.

Using the right skincare products is only half the story—how you apply them matters just as much. Studies show that incorrect skincare layering can reduce product performance by up to 40%, preventing active ingredients from penetrating the skin effectively. When products are applied in the wrong order, lightweight serums can be blocked by heavier creams, and pH-sensitive ingredients may not function as intended.

This guide breaks down the science behind skincare layering, from molecular weight to ingredient compatibility, and introduces a simple, dermatologist-informed 5-step framework designed to maximise results. Whether your goal is hydration, clearer skin, brighter tone, or long-term skin health, understanding the correct order of application ensures every product in your routine works at its full potential.

Retinol is one of the most proven ingredients for improving texture, signs of ageing, and cellular turnover, but its potency means it must be used thoughtfully. Conflicting advice often oversimplifies retinol pairing, yet effective routines rely on understanding ingredient interactions, timing, and skin barrier support. Whether you’re starting with INKEY’s Starter Retinol or using our Advanced Retinal that works up to 11 times faster, the right layering approach ensures maximum benefits while protecting skin health. This guide breaks down the science behind retinol compatibility into clear, practical advice so you can use retinoids with confidence—not caution.

Struggling with persistent breakouts, pigmentation, or excess oil? The 360 Skin Clearing Serum is here to change your skincare game. This all-in-one formula is designed to visibly improve blemish-prone skin by targeting every stage of a breakouts.

Meet your new hydration go to. Hydro Surge Dewy Face Mist gives you instant glow and lasting moisture in one refreshing spritz. Lightweight, makeup friendly and perfect for on the go, it keeps skin looking fresh and feeling hydrated all day. Mist up anytime before makeup, post gym, mid flight for skin that looks dewy not dull.

Meet Hydrating Cream-to-Milk Cleanser — your new go-to for soft, balanced, and hydrated skin. Powered by 5% Rice Milk and Hyaluronic Acid, this gentle cream transforms into a silky milk to melt away makeup and grime without leaving skin dry or tight. Think deep cleanse, zero drama. Just calm, hydrated skin that feels good all day.

Let’s get into it: are you familiar with Exosomes in skincare? Know what they do––and most importantly, the power they have when it comes to skin? Whether you are or not quite, the at-home skincare game is about to change.

Think of the epidermis as your skin's suit of armour—its first line of defence. The condition of your skin’s barrier is closely tied to the overall health and appearance of your skin. When strong and healthy, your skin looks hydrated, plump, and glowing. When compromised or damaged, it may appear dull, uneven, or sagging, with visible fine lines and wrinkles. 

Enter NEW Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum. This is not just another barrier serum; this is leading barrier science now with advanced hydration. Read on to get the lowdown on the hottest launch of 2025...

Think hydrating is only a daytime thing? We’ll let you in on a secret, it’s even more powerful in the evening. 

Here at The INKEY List we’ve always understood the power of hydration because we know that healthy skin starts with hydrated skin.

Experiencing blemish-prone skin? You’re not alone. Did you know that breakouts will affect 90% of the global population at some stage in their lives? Whether it's blemishes or breakouts, pre, during or post, we’re here to help you at every stage and get you on the right path to clearer-looking skin.

With the launch of INKEY Body, we’re here to show you there’s a better way to exfoliate, and it’s so easy to do you can make it part of your daily routine with no extra effort. Get ready because your best body skin is just a glide away… INKEY SAYS EXFOLIATE.

With the launch of INKEY Body we’re here to show you that there’s a better way to exfoliate, one that targets and improves multiple body skin concerns and is so easy-to-use, you can add it to your daily body care routine with no extra effort. INKEY SAYS EXFOLIATE!

Keratosis pilaris, ingrown hairs, body breakouts and rough texture are common—and often misunderstood. This guide explains why these concerns happen, why traditional scrubs and aggressive exfoliation usually fall short, and what actually works instead.

You’ll learn the science behind glycolic acid and how clinically proven chemical exfoliation can improve skin texture in as little as 7 days. We’ll also show you exactly how to use Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Stick, with clear, practical guidance for treating different body areas and concerns, plus UK-specific advice to help you get consistent, visible results.

Is your skin feeling more dry, dull and dehydrated than usual? Are you suffering with increased sensitivity? Are you noticing your skin is breaking out? If so, you’re not the only one. Inconveniently, alongside the cozy nights and hot chocolate, winter brings the cold weather and lack of humidity which, for some people, can cause issues with their skin.

Plump lips are back on trend but, if you’re searching for the ultimate fuller, healthy-looking lips without compromising your lip skin barrier or opting for filler then read on.

In this article, we'll explore the science behind this innovative lip balm, discovering why it's essential for achieving hydrated, smooth, and naturally plumper-looking lips. No filler, no filter, just fuller!

In this blog post, we’ll explore the different skin types and offer straightforward tips to help you identify your own.  Additionally, we’ll reveal the top recommended ingredients recommended for your personalized routine. 

There’s no question too big or too small for our in-house team of experts! We’re taking a look at your most asked questions so we can help share our INKEY knowledge even further.  

Let’s face it, dealing with blemishes can be frustrating, but with the right skincare products, you CAN effectively combat breakouts and achieve clearer, healthier skin. In this blog post, we will discuss several recommended product types

Starting retinol doesn’t have to be intimidating. With so much conflicting advice, it’s easy to feel unsure about when to start, how to use it, and what to expect. This beginner-friendly guide breaks it all down into the 5 essential things you need to know – from how retinol actually works and when you’re ready to start, to managing the adjustment period, choosing the right strength, and following the non-negotiable safety rules.

At The INKEY List, People and Planet have always been at the heart of what we do and over the last two years we have been actively working towards becoming a certified BCORP and to create more moments of knowledge powered change.

Did you know you could use some of INKEY’s most loved skincare products on your body too? We’re all about simplifying skincare so what better way than using multi-purpose products! Below are the top INKEY products to use on your body and hacks to incorporate in future self-care routines. 

We’re incredibly lucky at The INKEY List that we’re co-founded by an empowering female leader and successful business woman, Colette Laxton, so we thought who better to share her own experience of being a woman in business and her recipe for success.

Unlike glass, buttery, or dolphin skin, which aims to make your complexion so luminous it could have been modeled from glass by the skin gods, cloud skin uses a strategic mix of skincare and makeup to achieve a dreamy and ethereal glow-from-within look.

Our award-winning Oat Cleansing Balm is a rich cleansing formula designed to melt away makeup and impurities without drying the skin. The key to making the most out of this product is knowing how to best apply it in your routine.

Although our products are designed to work all year long, the change in weather means readjusting our current skincare routine to best combat the colder temps and help avoid and target dry skin.

If you struggle with breakouts, you’ve probably heard of these ingredients before: Salicylic Acid and Benzoyl Peroxide. Both are key for keeping skin clear and smooth, but they do so in totally different ways.

Today, we’re breaking down the differences between Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) and Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA).

If your skin feels persistently dehydrated despite using moisturizer, it may be lacking water rather than oil. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule in the skin that plays a key role in hydration, barrier support, and skin elasticity—but levels decline steadily with age and environmental stress. This article explains how to recognise the signs your skin may benefit from hyaluronic acid, why dehydration can affect all skin types (including oily and sensitive), and how incorporating a hyaluronic acid serum can help improve skin comfort, radiance, and overall resilience.

This article explains what retinol does for your skin and why it remains one of the most effective skincare ingredients available. We explore how retinol supports collagen production, improves skin texture and radiance, fades hyperpigmentation, helps manage acne, and can be used safely on delicate areas like the eye contour. You’ll also find guidance on choosing the right strength, what results to expect over time, and how to introduce retinol into your routine for consistent results

If you’re using hydrating products and not seeing results for dry skin, there are numerous reasons why this could be happening. Let’s take a look at the 5 best ingredients for dry skin.

Not sure where to start with moisturizers? We don’t blame you. This lightweight, oil-free moisturizer is the answer to everyone’s moisturizer questions. 

Whether you’re feeling burnout from holiday spending, trying to combat the rise of inflation, or looking for ways to be cost-efficient in the new year–we’re sharing our top 5 ways to save money without compromising your skincare routine.

At The INKEY List, our top priority is providing our community with high-quality skincare and scalp care at an accessible price. We also promise to always be transparent and honest with you, which is why we are sharing that starting 1st January 2023, you will notice some of our prices increasing. Here’s why.

So many things can cause facial redness—genetics, skin type, the environment, stress, breakouts, etc. With the right skin care formulas, you can not only soothe dry, itchy skin but you can prevent redness from happening in the first place. 

Meet, Real Results with INKEY. This is our dedicated series where our customers will share their reviews and INKEY products recommendations. This week we look at before and after transformations of acne on the chin and cheek areas.

Glass Skin is the Korean beauty term for a smooth, dewy, poreless look (think: a piece of glass). We’ll take you through a step-by-step guide on how to achieve glass skin with a quick daily lineup of INKEY products.

Our top five tips for getting the most out of your skincare routine. Make your skincare products work more effectively, get better results, and save some money in the process.

Consider us your token skincare friend. Meet, Real Results with INKEY. This is our dedicated series where we pass off the mic to our very own customers, who will share their reviews and recommendations on some of our products.

Clogged pores occur when oil and dead skin cells build up inside of pore linings and they expand to accommodate it. Here are our derm-recommended tips for dramatically smaller-looking pores.

There are certain tweaks you should make between your AM and PM regimes to get the most out of your skincare. A night-time skincare is more focused on washing away the remnants of the day, and prepping skin to repair overnight with certain treatments and active ingredients. Learn about what happens to skin overnight and what products you should be using in your PM skincare routine to achieve your skin goals.

A change in season can bring both a wardrobe update and a skin routine update. Shifts in temperature and humidity as well as elemental challenges such as sunshine, wind and showers, bring a necessity to adjust your skincare routine throughout the year to help adapt to these external influences. Discover helpful skincare swaps as you transition from season to season. 

Skincare: we all love it, but it’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed from time to time. These days, the number of brands and products available to buy is endless, while advice and information is often conflicting. Here, we break down what you really need to know about a basic, solid skincare routine.

Skincare: it’s the ultimate makeup base. Without an effective skincare routine that ensures skin is feeling and looking its best, makeup sort of doesn’t stand a chance. Learn why having a solid skincare base is crucial for seamless make up application, creating a glowing complexion for no makeup days and helping your make up last longer!

Cleansing is one of the most crucial pillars of a skincare routine, if not the most important. A good regime begins with a solid cleanse, and sets skin up for everything that follows, from treatment serums to protective SPFs. It’s also a must if you wear makeup or SPF (the latter of which you should be every single day); ensuring skin is clean and product-free before bedtime is essential, which is where double cleansing can come in. Read on to discover our ultimate cleansing guide. 

When discussing the skin barrier, we are referring to the outermost layer of the skin known as the epidermis. We can think of the epidermis a bit like a suit of armour and the first point of protection. The health of the skin barrier can directly correlate with how healthy your skin looks overall. When in good shape, your skin appears hydrated, plump and bright. If compromised, it can look dull, uneven, translucent and sagging with more visible lines and wrinkles. Learn more about what the skin barrier is, how it can be damaged and what INKEY list products help support and protect the skin barrier.

Whether it’s an ongoing condition or sudden reaction, the skin can appear red for a number of different reasons with a spectrum of severity - from health conditions such as Rosacea and dermatitis, allergies, reactions to a flush from exercise, temperature etc. The accompanying factors to the redness, such as itchiness, inflammation or dryness, can help determine the cause and resolution of the concern. Learn more about why skin can appear red, what INKEY List product are best suited to target skin redness and tips to reduce the appearance of redness.

Understanding which skincare ingredients shouldn’t be used together is key to keeping skin healthy and getting the best results from your routine. While many actives can complement each other, some pairings can trigger irritation, weaken the skin barrier, or cancel out each other’s benefits. This guide explains why these conflicts happen—such as pH clashes and ingredient instability—and highlights common combinations to avoid, including retinol with vitamin C and layering multiple acids. You’ll also learn practical ways to use powerful ingredients safely through smart timing, alternating nights, and proper layering.

Sensitive skin is a broad term to describe skin that has reduced tolerance and can be aggravated by products or external/lifestyle stressors. It can be the result of damage to the skin barrier or as an allergic/irritated reaction to certain ingredients that it comes into contact with. If you have sensitive skin, it can require an adjustment to your daily skincare routine, exploration of the cause and a consciousness around the ingredients you’re using. Find out which INKEY List products are best suited to those who have sensitive skin.

From cleansing the skin to managing oil production, there are several ways to treat and bust blemishes fast! Learn about our acne hero products and more tips on fighting blemishes and preventing further breakouts. 

Puffiness, dark circles or fine lines are enough to remove the twinkle in anyone’s eye so it’s important to give this area special attention in your skincare routine. Find the best eye cream for you, whether you are wanting to target dark circles, puffiness, wrinkles or want to illuminate your under eyes.

Retinoids are the gold-standard ingredient for skin renewal — but understanding how they work can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about retinoids and retinol, from how they boost cell turnover and collagen production to how to use them safely in your routine. Learn the difference between retinol and other retinoids, how to introduce retinol serums and eye creams correctly, and what results to expect over time for smoother, brighter, more youthful-looking skin.