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.

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.

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.

Read on to learn more about the three skincare resolutions we’re setting out for ourselves this year and join us on the path to healthy, glowing skin.

Benzoyl Peroxide is the gold standard FDA approved skincare ingredient in treating acne. If you answer yes to any of these signs, then using Acne Solution with 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Cleanser might be one for you to consider adding to your skincare routine.

If you are looking for an ingredient that has dual benefits of effectively moisturizing and exfoliating dead skin buildup simultaneously, look no further than Urea. At The INKEY List, we believe it is the next trend ingredient! For those with dry or rough skin texture or those that are prone to eczema or psoriasis, we have your Solution. 

This science-backed guide explains exactly how retinol improves acne scars, dark spots, and red marks — and how to use it safely for real, visible results. Learn the difference between PIH, PIE, and true acne scars, how retinol works at a cellular level, and how to choose the right INKEY retinol strength for your skin. With step-by-step routines, realistic timelines, and clinically proven solutions, this guide gives you everything you need to transform post-acne skin with confidence.

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. 

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.

Have you ever been so excited to commit to a skincare routine and then left wondering when you will see results? We've been there and we'll explain what to look out for and what to expect when perfecting your skincare routine. 

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.

Not as well-known as Hyaluronic Acid, Polyglutamic Acid ("PGA"), is believed to have 4x greater moisture retaining benefits than HA. If you have dull, dry, or dehydrated skin, you should consider incorporating Polyglutamic Acid into your skincare recipe. 

Why does it seem like products become less effective over time? There are a few reasons why this might be the case. We’ll break down the most common reasons we get this question below.

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.

Want to streamline your skincare routine, but still see results? Follow these five steps when investing in your daily regimen.

Phytic Acid is an antioxidant Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) derived from micro-algae. It’s extracted from the natural environment first, then scaled up synthetically in bioreactors, which makes it a sustainable resource in the skincare industry.

Collagen within skincare has been a talking point within the beauty industry as a whole. But what does collagen actually do, and how can you include it in your regimen?

We don’t know who needs to hear this, but effective skin care doesn’t have to be expensive. If you’re paying more than $15 for these five ingredients—you’re paying way too much. 

What if one product could totally transform your skin? Even better, what if it could do it in 30 days?  Meet the $8.99 best-selling Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

Keeping your skin pH balanced and at a consistent level will help support healthy skin. The products you use in your skincare routine can have an impact on your pH levels, along with other factors, so it’s useful to understand what you can do to maintain a healthy balance.

It’s fair to say that acne is usually associated with oily skin, or those with normal to combination skin who also experience excess oil. It is less common, but dry skin types can absolutely experience acne, and it can be a hard situation to address – particularly when deciding which skincare to use.

Not all dark spots are the same. The mark left behind after a breakout, the symmetrical patches that appeared during pregnancy, the spot on your hand from years of sun exposure, and the freckles that darken every summer are all forms of hyperpigmentation - but each has a different cause, appearance, and treatment approach. In this guide, we break down the four main types of hyperpigmentation—post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), melasma, sunspots, and freckles—to help you identify exactly what you're dealing with. Learn the key visual clues, common triggers, and skin tone considerations for each type so you can make more informed decisions about your skincare routine and choose products that target your specific concern.

When we adjust and update our skincare routine regularly, it can mean some products get pushed to the back of the shelf. Whilst most products can last a number of years unopened, skincare products do also have a recommended use by date.

If you’ve been exfoliating more than usual or using several actives in one go (think acids, retinols etc), you may experience certain symptoms that will point to over-exfoliation.  The most obvious symptoms include redness and irritation at the skin’s surface, which may also manifest through burning and inflammation. Learn how to prevent over-exfoliation and how to take care of skin that has been over-exfoliated

You may be familiar with the terms ‘clinically tested’ and ‘dermatologically tested’ associated with skincare which are two ways brands can deepen their testing of their products. But what do these mean? Find our more here

The term antioxidant appears everywhere, from our food to our face creams. Antioxidants are beneficial to our bodies because of the role they play in combating imbalance of free radicals and promoting good health - this includes on the skin. Learn about what INKEY list products contain antioxidant properties

Succinic acid is naturally anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, meaning it works well to curb acne symptoms, where skin suffers redness, irritation and inflammation. Learn more about the benefits Succinic Acid has and how to use it in your skincare routine

The product and its stage in your routine can define the amount that we need to apply to the skin. We’ve created this handy sizing reference guide for each stage of your skin care routine of how much to apply.

Pilling refers to a residual build up on the surface of the skin from the application of cosmetic products, make up or skincare. It occurs when something is preventing a product being absorbed into the skin and leaving small blobs, gritty balls or flakes. Find out what can cause pilling and how to prevent it when applying your skincare routine.

Keeping pores clean and clear is a fundamental objective within most skincare routines - whether it’s to reduce breakouts, brighten the tone or even the texture. Whatever your reason, there are varying degrees of treatments and products available to serve this cause - including the classic pore strip. We explain how pore strips work, how they can cause damage to the skin and some INKEY alternatives you can use to unclog pores and get rid of blackheads

It can be tempting to reorganise your routine and incorporate your new additions straight away - BUT we have some important advice which your skin will thank us for. Learn more about why it's important to patch test before using new products and how is best to perform a patch test to avoid any risk of irritation.

Introducing your new hyperpigmentation hero - Mandelic Acid. A member of the Alpha Hydroxy Acid family, we’ve formulated this gentle treatment to target marks and scarring caused by breakouts as well as pigmentation concerns. 

Combination skin can feel like a contradiction: an oily, shiny T-zone paired with cheeks that feel normal, dry, or tight. As one of the most common skin types, it often leads people to use products that over-treat one area while neglecting another. In this guide, we explain how to identify combination skin, what causes it, and how it differs from oily skin. You'll also discover the ingredients that work best, from Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid to Salicylic Acid, plus a simple AM and PM routine designed to balance oil, support hydration, and keep skin comfortable year-round.

Toners are an excellent step to add into your routine as they work to deliver a range of benefits to skin and come in all different forms. Learn what a toner is, how to use one in your routine and more.

There are so many different ways to store skincare these days, but after you’ve decided the type of shelving unit or boxes you’d like to suit your aesthetic, there are certain rules to bear in mind when deciding where to house them. Find out more here.

Whatever workout you’re about to take on, we’d recommend going into your session with a fresh, clean face and once done, helping your skin return to its' cleansed and balanced state. Find out what we recommend to use before and after a workout.

We recognise our moisturizer as the essential finale of our skincare regime but often overlook the moisturizing facial oil which can add an extra layer of benefits to hydrate, protect and nourish the skin. Find out about the benefits of using a facial oil moisturizer and the INKEY List products you can easily incorporate into your skincare routine.

When building your routine, you’ll likely come across serums as a way to incorporate key active ingredients but what exactly are they and how can you use them? Find out more about The INKEY List serum collection and which one is suited to your skin goals. 

The skin on our neck often gets grouped in to our facial routine or receives a dose of our body care products but can often be neglected as an independent area of attention. Unfortunately, the neck is a key place that shows the signs of ageing such as fine lines, wrinkles and uneven texture as well as hyperpigmentation and discoloration - so it can be worth isolating for tailored TLC. Find out what products can be used to target the delicate skin on your neck.

When we think of the microbiome, the word may draw us to the world of digestion and gut health, but what about the microbiome of your skin? Learn what a Microbiome is, what can cause disruption to your Microbiome and what you can do to support it to achieve your best skin.

Pregnancy can turn even the most confident skincare lover into an anxious ingredient-checker. But here’s the reassuring truth: you don’t need to sacrifice results for safety. With the right ingredient knowledge, pregnancy-safe skincare can be just as effective—if not more so.

In this guide, we break down how pregnancy hormones affect your skin, which ingredients to avoid, and which clinically proven alternatives truly work. From niacinamide and vitamin C to azelaic acid and ceramides, discover how to build a simple, effective routine using pregnancy-safe formulas from The INKEY List—so you can care for your skin with total confidence throughout your pregnancy journey.

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.

When we think of pollution, many of us will likely think of a scary, big-city problem that only really impacts high-flying office workers and those living in built-up areas. But these days, pollution particles are everywhere, including in more rural areas, surrounded by countryside. Read more on pollution and what INKEY List products you can use in your routine to keep your skin safe and protected from pollution

There are a number of factors which can determine when under-eye wrinkles begin to appear, but generally speaking, many people tend to see them first forming in their late twenties and early thirties. This is when the skin’s production of collagen and elastin starts to slow down, making wrinkles and other lines more likely to show up. Learn more about what you can do to prevent and treat under-eye wrinkles here.

Cassandra Bankson & Dr Kemi share some amazing tips to help better treat your skin in the winter months and walk us through a step by step routine that you can try at home! 

Robert & James Welsh share their 5-step routine to creating the perfect makeup base. They reveal their favourite INKEY products and give some insider tips for prepping your skin for makeup.

The texture of our skin can be a primary concern and range from bumpiness to dry patches or pitting. Out of balance skin texture can appear dull, dry, patchy and uneven. Learn about the approaches to help even the texture of the skin by incorporating various tips and INKEY List products in your skincare routine.

We have heard the research surrounding the impact of blue light on our sleep health, wellbeing, attention span and eyesight but how can the light from our devices and screens be impacting the health of our skin? Find out what blue light is and the key INKEY LIst ingredients that can help protect and repair against blue light effects on the skin.

When it comes to anti-ageing, peptides are a powerful ingredient that you may have heard of, but what are they? Peptides, also known as polypeptides, are amino acids which form proteins in the skin. Find out more about Peptides, how they can be beneficial in your skincare routine and what INKEY List products contain this super ingredient.

Whilst we spend a lot of time and energy refining the formulas and ingredients of each member of The INKEY List range, there are a few secret life hacks that can level up your routine even more. From unexpected bonus usage to storage hacks - here’s the extra INKEY knowledge that’s not always on the box…

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!

Reading a beauty product label can feel like a major challenge, particularly if you’re not familiar with certain ingredient names. An initial glance at an INCI List is enough to send many of us into confusion and understandably. Learn what an INCI List is and how to read one, from de-coding intimidating ingredient names to understanding those scary-looking symbols on the packaging. 

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. 

It’s a term often connected to ingredients like collagen and peptides but what is ‘plump’ skin and why do we want it? Plump skin can be regarded as well-hydrated, firm with a natural fullness, roundness and bounciness. Its decline can be considered a sign of ageing and can also affect the brightness, texture and tone. Learn more about how to get plump skin, the best INKEY List products to support the production of elastin and collagen whilst giving hydration and other tips to help plump your skin.

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.

If your skin has ever seemed to get worse after starting a new active like retinol or acids, don’t panic—this may be skin purging. Purging is a temporary phase where ingredients that speed up cell turnover bring existing congestion to the surface more quickly, which can look like sudden breakouts. While frustrating, it’s often a sign that your product is working, and understanding this process can help you stay consistent and avoid giving up just before clearer, healthier skin starts to show.

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.

There are a few reasons why acne scars occur. Firstly, not all acne will result in scarring and even if it does, there are plenty of treatments to reduce their appearance and help them disappear completely. Learn what can cause scarring, how to get rid of scarring and prevent the risk of them occurring.

Dull skin can be caused by many factors, one of which is not cleansing the skin properly. A buildup of dead cells can make the skin's surface rough, and cause skin to absorb light rather than reflect making skin look dull. Our NEW ingredient, Fulvic Acid is the perfect first step in your skincare regimen to achieve that bright, enviable glow!

Beta Hydroxy Acids are oil soluble chemical exfoliators and a great choice for oily and breakout prone skin

They work deeper in the skin than Alpha Hydroxy Acids, and can help unclog pores and target blackheads.