Hello Picky community! Today I feel like discussing with you about The Inkey List brand and my unpopular opinion about it. This post is an open discussion for all.

First of all, ever since I discovered The Inkey List I instantly got hooked about their brand. The fact that they are actively participating in educating the consumer to make an informed decision when buying skincare is respectable. Not many brands engage in this type of behaviour and it is something that I truly admire. I mean, what brand will tell you to not jump the horse and use too much of their skincare products at once in hoping to see fast result? They are honest in this approach. I do find their explanations about their ingredients and supply chain pretty transparent.

With all of this being said, I tried several of their products, especially products catered for more sensitive skin types. My skin type is combination to dry, very sensitive and reactive, I have rosacea and Malassezia (aka "fungal acne") prone. You are probably something like "Gee, then you don't have many options when it comes to skincare. Stick to French brands such as La Roche Posay, Eucerin or Avene which are gentler." - woah. That could actually hurt my feelings. I have much faith in The Inkey List who seems to be able to do a good job and cater to a wide market audience. With that being said, so far I tried their Oat Cleansing Balm, Squalane, PHA Toner, Glucoside Serum, Snow Mushroom Moisturizer, Vitamin B, C and E Moisturizer. I even tried their haircare range and I think it's pretty awesome but let's keep it to skincare only. My personal favourite product? Their sugarcane derived squalane oil. Why? Fungal acne safe. Literally one ingredient, low irritation chance for my sensitive af skin. Here comes the deal. All their other products dealt irritation to me. Everytime I used them on their own. I found out that my skin has an issue with Phenoxyethanol. Stop right there. This is not a fearmongering post. My skin is just... a stupid snowflake. Phenoxyethanol is not the devil. Some people just have a problem with this ingredient as it evaporates off the skin and causes irritation. I was so excited to try the Glucoside Serum, which was supposed to be good at reducing inflammation and redness (rosacea you mf, I am looking at you). BOOM. Irritation. Phenoxyethanol and denatured alcohol in it. In a product which is supposed to soothe my angry inflamed skin. Ok, this was not for me. Snow Mushroom Moisturizer, which is also catered for people who suffer from redness and inflammation also did the same thing to me.

I get it. A brand cannot give up a good preservative for some sensitive skinned individuals. What I do wish was that the products which are formulated to calm and soothe troubled skin can actually do a proper job and not do more harm than good. Why this long thread? Because I really really wanted to love The Inkey List but their products just don't love me back. It's a one sided kind of thing. 

For all of you lucky people who can use their products with no major issues, I feel so jelly on that! 🙉 Especially because they have some amazing ingredients and "fungal acne" safe options in their range.

I want to know, what are your opinions about this brand? Do you love The Inkey List to bits? Or are you left desiring more from it? I think they can do a lot better! Let me know your thoughts! 😊

We need to talk: The Inkey List - An unpopular opinion and rant

Hiya fellow Pickies! Do you take care of your other body parts? I recently started using my products more on the shoulders, decolette and chest area. I am already used to applying moisturizers to my legs and arms but most of the times I completely forget or don't want to deal with the hair that stands in the way. 🙈 It just doesn't feel nice as a freshly depilated skin. I started using Retinyl Palmitate and Q10 on my body and my current fave body moisturizer is the Lush Charity Pot. What are your go-to products? 😊

Body skincare routine?

Hi, I would like to learn some tips on how to combine antioxidants such as the maximum number of compatible antioxidants which can be combined together and generally what pairs well together.

Also, what antioxidants would you recommend for sensitive skin? I've been recommended Pycnogenol, EUK and caffeine so far.

I've learned that Pycnogenol, an antioxidant extracted from French pine bark can recycle vitamin C so therefore they make a great pair! 😊

Tips for combining antioxidants?

Hi fellow Pickies! This is a direct topic and  I want to know what skin condition/s and issues you are dealing with. How was your journey to treat them?

I personally am dealing with rosacea, malassezia (known as fungal acne) and sometimes suffer from allergic contact dermatitis, plus in the past seborrheic dermatitis. During my teens I've mistaken my rosacea pustules as acne... My rosacea got worse in the past two years and I get frequent flares from many various triggers - heat and stress being the biggest culprits! I know that I've not treated my skin with kindness during my younger times but as an enemy but now I've changed my skincare outlook for the better. I haven't seen a derm (yet!) but I will seek one in the near future.

What conditions are you striggling with? Share your story with your fellow Pickies! :)

What are your skin conditions?

Hello everyone. I have been personally struggling not washing my hair every two days as it gets oily and weights down my roots and curly hair. As a result, it has become brittle, matte and very difficult to brush. I can't go outside for one day then arriving back home feeling my hair is disgusting and sticked in sunscreen and city dirt, pollution and gunk. I hate the idea of laying my hair on the pillow then rubbing my face on it. But for the sake of my hair, I should be washing my hair less...

How about you, do you feel similarly about your hair routine? What are your products, tips and tricks for keeping hair fresher and oil free in-between washes? Dry-shampoo? Clarifying shampoo? Sleep caps? Please feel free to drop your ideas in this discussion. 😊

How to keep hair fresh longer in-between washes?

This serum should not be applied on a compromised skin barrier, I found that it triggered irritation on my skin this way.

This serum seems to run out very quickly as it's only 30ml and the texture is quite runny so more product will be used.

I received the Deep Sea Droplet Serum for free from Picky and Purito in exchange for my honest review.

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:
• 66.01% Deep sea water
• Glycerin
• Ectoin
• Betaine
• Snow mushroom
• Marine complex
• Various peptides

𝐌𝐲 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞: Combination, dehydrated, rosacea and Malassezia prone, very sensitive and reactive skin.

𝐌𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞:
I was fascinated when I first saw the little spheres in this serum. They look so cute! And I find the packaging attractive as well.

The product comes with a pump, which makes application very easy and helps preserve the integrity of the product. The texture is quite lightweight and I find this serum suitable for using during summer time as well. The consistency is silky and runny but still has some nice body to it. It absorbs into my skin nicely. I love that the formula is fragrance free, as my skin does not tolerate fragrance in skincare. My skin feels very hydrated and bouncier after application.

Moreover, this serum seems to be suitable for individuals who suffer from Malassezia ("fungal acne"). No triggering ingredients but as always, everyone's skin is different and reacts differently.

I wish the product would provide a better UVA protection of 4 +'s instead of 3.

The formula contains alcohol but this shouldn't be an issue for most people. People with a broken skin barrier or very sensitive individuals - rosacea prone included should be aware. I have also noticed dyness on my hands after using this sunscreen.

As far as I know, Nivea conducts animal testing which is one of the things that I take in consideration when purchasing skincare.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭?

This is a Japanese sunscreen with SPF 50+ and PA +++ rating.

▪︎Fragrance free: Yes.
▪︎Malassezia (fungal acne) safe: Yes.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:

The sunscreen comes in a pump packaging which makes it easier to measure how much to use. It also features a pump stopper which is ideal to use when travelling. The packaging has the classic Nivea colour palette. The ingredient list is stated in Japanese, although not in English. Product content is 140ml.

𝐌𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧:

My first impression about the packaging is that it is so pretty and elegant! I am a sucker for the pump system and I like the pump stopper as well. The formula consistency is an almost translucent, light yellow runny liquid, which is lightweight and very easy to spread. It absorbs into the skin very quickly and it leaves no sticky residue, making it ideal to layer with other skincare products in your routine. The consistency is delish, it has a faint scent which I enjoy a lot. This combined with the lightweight formula makes it a joy to reapply! I use this on my neck, chest and hands area as my facial skin cannot withstand chemical sunscreens. I noticed that my hands can become a little dry when using it but it's nothing major. Still worth mentioning it if you suffer from dry hands or eczema as I think the alcohol contained in this sunscreen can accentuate the dryness issue. Have I mentioned that this is Malassezia (aka "fungal acne") safe? This is very important for me! The sunscreen has some antioxidants in the formula, which is nice to see. Overall I think that this sunscreen is great! But you shouldn't just take my words for it, give it a try yourself.

Given only a PA +++ rating, I only use this in my house and I wouldn't use it say, on the beach or in a very sunny location.

𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞?

Yes, I think I will repurchase it!

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞?

You can find it on Stylevana and Amazon UK stores. Prices fluctuate between around £8 on Stylevana and £12-15 on Amazon UK.

The cap design is very annoying. I think that an applicator such as The Ordinary's Glycolic Acid solution would have been better but I understand that the packaging is designed to keep the costs low. Due to the cap and since the toner is watery I always end up spilling the liquid when pouring it.

I'm bummed that I can't use this on my face since this is originally why I purchased it. This toner causes my eyeballs to burn as well as I experience skin irritation and flushing due to the Phenoxyethanol (I am allergic to it). I have resorted to using it on my hands and chest since these areas are not that sensitive.

I find the ingredients concentration quite low so it takes some time to see results but the most sensitive skin types / chemical exfoliation beginners will appreciate this. I have switched to the Tiam AC Fighting PHA 12 Purifying Liquid which has a higher PHA concentration and is Malassezia safe.

Last but not least, as this product is not Malassezia safe, I have switched to Ti'am PHA Liquid, which also has a higher PHA concentration (12%).

This is a toner that provides gentle chemical exfoliation. It features the star ingredient Gluconolactone, which is a PHA (Polyhydroxyacid).

PHAs are a gentler option for individuals who have sensitive skin but still want to exfoliate their skin. This is because unlike AHAs and BHAs, PHAs have a larger molecule that can't penetrate very deeply into the skin. This results in a more superficial exfoliation and decreased levels of irritation. Gluconolactone is also a humectant so it has hydrating properties.

▪︎My skin profile: Combination, dehydrated prone to rosacea and Malassezia.
▪︎Fragrance free: Yes.
▪︎Malassezia (fungal acne) safe: No.

This toner has a watery texture and a subtle scent to it which dissipates very quickly after application. I enjoy using this on my hands, neck and torso and I have noticed a subtle difference, mostly on the areas with thinner skin such as the hands and neck. During the nighttime I often soak my hands with the toner then apply a thicker layer of cream to lock in the hydration. I wake up with beautifully smooth hands! I feel that my skin hydration levels are overall increased.

Will I repurchase?
I have decided not to, as this is not suitable for people prone to Malassezia, plus the phenoxyethanol burns my face.

I would have probably preffered if the product was fragrance-free.

This product seems to aggravate my Malassezia flares.

I think that the stick consistency could have been softer, so it melts in more readily in contact with the skin heat, thus reducing friction on the delicate skin around the eye area.

I still need to use a moisturizer on top of this eye stick, as it is not enough on its own to keep my eye skin area moisturized.

The product content is quite little. Also, the product stick has a tendency to come out of the packaging when taking out the silicone lid.

I received this product for free from Picky and THE SAEM in exchange for my honest review.

I love the cute packaging of this product. It is sweet and childlike, making it appealing for younger individuals to use, as well as anyone who enjoys cute packaging. 

The product does have fragrance so I have to be careful, as my facial skin is not very tolerant of fragrances in skincare.

Upon application, I can feel a slight cooling effect, which I believe it due to the alcohol that the product contains (it'a pretty high up the list). I notice some hydration at first but it quickly dissipates and makes my skin want more. Therefore I cannot skip the moisturizer with this product.

I haven't noticed any firming effects yet, I believe these will be seen with continued use.

⚠️ This product contains several Malassezia triggers.

This cream is not enough as a standalone moisturizer for my skin during the night time.

With these aspects considered, I think I would not purchase this product myself, mainly because it contains ingredients which feed the Malassezia yeast, which pose an issue for my skin.

I received the Essential-Oil Free Deep Sea Pure Water Cream for free from Picky and Purito in exchange for my honest review.

A fragrance and essential oil free cream, with a lightweight texture.

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:
• 60% Deep Sea Water
• 2% Niacinamide
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Panthenol
• Nourishing Marine Ingredients (Caulerpa Racemosa, seaweed and Salicornia)

𝐌𝐲 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞: Combination, dehydrated, rosacea and Malassezia prone, very sensitive and reactive skin.

𝐌𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞:
I find it great that this cream is packed with several goodies! The formula is fragrance-free which I do appreciate for my sensitive and reactive skin.

I do not expect drastic changes from this moisturizer and I find that my skin craves ceramides as my barrier is compromiser. This moisturizer is not a repairing one so it is not exactly what my facial skin needs right now. It's still great to have those skin loving benefits in the formula.

I find it handy that this moisturizer comes in a tube, as this makes it for a more hygienic application and increases practicality. No fuss! For the relatively small format, I can carry this cream with me on the go, if need be.

Hinarushi