The INKEY List has been all over my social media recently, with skincare enthusiasts being blown away by the abilities of this super affordable brand. Of course, that means only one thing, it’s time to put it to the test to see if it’s just social media hearsay, or absolutely yes-way for this bargain brand!
I’m a sucker for finding good skincare products that won’t break the bank, and with the majority of The INKEY Lists products coming in at under £15, building a skincare routine could be an absolute steal, providing they work as well as social media declares they do. With this in mind, I rushed straight to boots.com to get my hands on some goodies!
First Impressions
First off, let’s talk about the buying process. Buying on boots was a breeze, they even have the helpful addition of shopping by skin concern to make finding the perfect product to suit you even easier. Choose from hydrated skin, clearer skin, brighter skin and younger skin and you’re away with all suitable options. After popping four products in my basket it was time to check out, at just £35 (yes, £35 for an entire skincare routine!!) I was praying for the INKEY list to become one of my ride or die brands.
Fast forward two days and my products arrived. On first inspection, I can’t say I was overly excited by the packaging but its always nice to receive some new goodies. Everything is plastic and comes in branded boxes that feel relatively cheap, but overall I don’t mind the minimalistic, clinical branding of The INKEY List. As packaging goes, it’s not the most luxurious but that being said, for the price, I’d rather be paying for spectacular skincare solutions than over-compensating packaging.
Above all, the stand-out star on the packaging was the handy guide that came on the products, telling you which step each product fits in to and which order this should be applied in. For skincare beginners this is extremely beneficial and helps to build your skincare routine, stress-free – nice touch The INKEY List, I approve.
Testing The INKEY List Skincare Range
Right, so here is the real reason we’re all here – to see if The INKEY List is worth dropping your coins on. I chose to purchase The Salicylic Acid Cleanser, Hyaluronic Acid Serum, PHA Toner and Vitamin B. C and E moisturiser. These four products fit into four of the five skincare steps one the INKEY List chart, only missing out SPF.
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser
It’s time for the first step of our INKEY list skincare routine – cleanser. I chose this cleanser as it promises to “remove makeup and dirt, while helping to reduce blackheads and breakouts.” I have recently been having issues with hormonal breakouts so, my hopes are that these will be cleared up through prolonged use of this cleanser.
From the first use, the cleanser lathers wonderfully on my skin and leaves it feeling squeaky clean. Unlike some of the other gentler cleansers I have used, this one feels a little harsher on the skin (probably because of its spot fighting abilities) and isn’t the best for rubbing mascara off from the eyes so I did have to go in with a micellar water to melt away the mascara. However, I can over look this if it still lives up to its skin clearing claims!
The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Step two on our skincare routine is The INKEY list Hyaluronic Acid Serum. I have used hyaluronic acid serums in the past and from first application I can’t see much difference in this serum for the multitude of others I have tried over the years. Sitting at the lower price point of the ones I have previously tried, means that this one does come up trumps over other some of the pricier serums. Only time will tell how this performs properly, but after the first use I can feel a noticeable difference in how hydrated my skin feels.
The INKEY List PHA Toner
The INKEY List PHA Toner is a curve ball for me in terms of skincare, it’s not something that I have previously tried from any other brands but it’s promise to exfoliate away my dead skin cells to make way for a brighter skin base was something I couldn’t turn down, and definitely something I need!
I must admit I couldn’t tell much difference from the first application other than feeling fresh on the skin, but I’m excited to find out if this will bring anything extra to my daily skincare routine.
The INKEY List Vitamin B, C, E Moisturiser
Lastly, we have some moisture – hurrah! Usually I opt for a deeply moisturising formula that is tailored to dry skin but recently my skin seems to have shifted from dry AF to a little on the oily side. With this in mind I decided to switch it up (I know how rogue of me!) to a moisturiser for oily skin. The ingredients list on this product seems impressive, granted I’m not sure what a lot of it means but by the sounds it offers some magnificent benefits! Filled with vitamins and positive skincare ingredients I’m looking forward to seeing how this product lives up to it’s claims.
Only time will tell how I these products work with my skin to clear up my breakouts and dull skin but from first impressions (and no reactions!) I can’t complain.
