The Inkey List Order of Application
If you aren’t living under a rock you likely already heard about the UK’s latest skincare import, The Inkey List.
The Inkey List launched about six months ago in England and is now debuting at Sephora.com (and coming to Sephora stores shortly as well). So far, I’ve been having a good time trying all the different products I purchased from the brand and although small in size seems like the formulas are pretty mighty!
I’m surprised there aren’t a ton of articles out that explain how to use the products, what order to apply them or an order of application for them. I always struggle with this myself. It’s one reason I’m not in love with the Ordinary as I’m always trying to figure out what I can and can’t cocktail and if it’ll work with what I currently use. But trying and playing is half the fun sometimes with skincare.
I created a rather simple how-to guide for the Inkey List’s Order of Application to give you some idea what would work for what skin type and the order you should apply the products.
Here’s the details!
If you have dry skin like me here’s a suggestion for AM and PM use.
In the morning, start off with The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum it’s perfect for drier skin and created with 2% Pure Hyaluronic Acid which allows it to penetrate your skin’s surface for easy absorption. Not only will it plump but it’ll also help you retain moisture resulting in smoother, softer skin!
Next up, apply the Inkey List Q10 Serum! I’m loving this stuff. I actually applied in the PM but it’s actually recommended for use in the AM due to the fact it protects skin against environmental stress and free radicals. It’s very hydrating as well so it gives skin an instantly smoother, softer feel.
Pop up on your moisturizer of choice next! The Inkey List recommends their Hemp Moisturizer for drier skin! I purchased it but haven’t yet tried it. They say it’s rich yet lightweight and contains skin soothing Green Tea Extract as well as Omega-3 and Sativa Seed Oil.
In the evening, you can start your routine with The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum again! If you want you can mist with a facial mist before applying it. That’s what I do as Hyaluronic Acid can feel a little weird on my skin and the mist helps it to absorb fast.
To gently exfoliate your skin try out the Inkey List Lactic Acid Serum after applying your Hyaluronic Acid Serum. This formula contains 10% Lactic Acid but they also contain 1% Hyaluronic Acid which makes this a gentle and hydrating formula. If you textured skin or flaky skin this is the acid you’ll want to use to get smoother finish. Although do keep in mind it’s not ideal if you’re looking for the best anti-aging effects.
One of my favorite products at the moment that I’ve been testing is The Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid. Apparently it retains more moisture than mere Hyaluronic Acid! I’ve used it four times this week and already I can feel how much more softer my skin feels and how plumper it looks. It’s one you’ll want to use after Lactic Acid.
At this point, you’ve applied some great things to your skin but you’ll want to seal all that goodness in! Seal in the moisture with the Inkey List Squalane Oil.
And that’s all for dry skin!
Let’s move on to oily skin next. I’m not a big expert in this area 🙂 But as the Summer starts rolling in I can probably inject some of these items into my routine as I see a bit of shine and oil when the warm weather hits.
In the AM, you can start your routine with The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum! Don’t be scared! I know it sounds like something created for drier skin but Hyaluronic Acid can be enjoyed by all! It’ll plump and smooth your skin and provide just the right amount of moisture without leaving you looking dry or dewy!
You can follow up with The Inkey List Vitamin C Cream which is pretty much great for all skin tones but since the Inkey List lacks an actually moisturizer I feel comfortable recommending for oily skin (from my experience their moisturizers are really hydrating and not ideal for oily skin but I still have to test more) this will act to protect your skin against free radicals and also brighten it up over time. You’ll want to follow up with your moisturizer and SPF of choice after this application! After this stage you can even skip your own moisturizer and apply The Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid in place of it. It’s very, very hydrating but it also smooths and plumps skin. At first it feels a bit greasy but it sets to a very smooth finish.
In the PM, you can cleanse skin with The Inkey List’s Salicylic Acid Cleanser if you’re prone to blackheads or breakouts. and if you’re up for some masking you can use the Inkey List Kaolin Mask to combat oil or any blemishes that might pop up!
BHAs are always great for oily skin and The Inkey List Beta Hydroxy Acid is the perfect way to end your night! It’s an exfoliator that works beneath the surface of the skin to help unclog pores, target blackheads and reduce excess oil. You can seal off everything at the end of the night with more Hyaluronic Acid Serum.
Moving on to sensitive skin types…
In the AM, as with all of us, sensitive skin types can always use The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum. It’s gentle, fragrance-free, and will plump and smooth skin while helping it to retain moisture. For an extra shot of moisture if you’re a dry/sensitive use you can follow up with The Inkey List Q10 Serum.
The Inkey List Multi-Biotic Moisturizer is a nice gentle moisturizer that contains 5% Yogurtene Balance that provides skin the same benefits as yogurt would. It also contains a brightening agent and squalane to seal in moisture!
As you head into the evening part of your routine you can start off with Hyaluronic Acid Serum again followed by Lactic Acid which should be a very gentle way to exfoliate skin. And finally, their The Inkey List Turmeric Moisturizer is the perfect end to smooth sensitive skin especially if you experience redness as this contains Turmeric Root Extract which address the issue!
These are only some of the ways to apply the Inkey List. I haven’t addressed all the products in this post. The cocktails and recipes and orders of application can be changed and rearranged or added to anyway you like! Right now the brand carries 19 different products all $15 or less so, there’s a lot we didn’t yet cover in this order of application post! As I test and use these products I’ll bring reviews and thoughts on each and will explain how I’m using them in my routine!
I hope you’ll add in the comments how you use them or cocktail them with other products.
Enjoy!