Brand comparison
The Ordinary vs The INKEY List: Which Is Better for Men?
The goal is a serum you’re still using in month three, because that’s when niacinamide and retinol start to show. The Ordinary gets you the active for the least money; The INKEY List charges more for a texture that layers without pilling and a box that tells you how to use it. Know your actives, take the price; starting one, take the help.
By Nate Calder · Updated
Which one is yours
The Ordinary
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
4.5Buy this one if you know your actives and want them for the least money. The same 10% niacinamide plus 1% zinc PCA for extra oil control, fragrance-free and vegan, from a range deep enough to follow you into retinal, peptides and vitamin C.
$6.00
Shop on Amazon
The INKEY List
10% Niacinamide Serum
4.4Buy this one if you're starting an active for the first time. 10% niacinamide in a pleasant texture that layers without pilling, with a plain-English label that tells you what it's for, so you never have to look it up.
$13.00
Shop on AmazonKey differences at a glance
| The OrdinaryNiacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% | The INKEY List10% Niacinamide Serum | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Price | $6.00 | $13.00 |
| Active | ||
| Active | Niacinamide 10%, Zinc PCA 1% | Niacinamide 10% |
| What the Extra Buys | ||
| What the Extra Buys | Nothing — it's the cheaper one | Texture that doesn't pill, and a label in plain English |
| Best Skin Types | ||
| Best Skin Types | oily, combination, normal | oily, combination, normal |
| Fragrance-Free | ||
| Fragrance-Free | Yes | Yes |
| Average Price Across Range | ||
| Average Price Across Range | $10.88 | $13.67 |
marks the better value on that row only — not an overall verdict, and not a product rating. Rows where the two are equal are left unmarked.
Where The Ordinary excels
- Extra oil control. Zinc PCA alongside the 10% niacinamide works on oil as well as pores, so an oily face stays matte longer.
- The active for less. Niacinamide does the work in both bottles, and The Ordinary charges less for it, so the money goes on results rather than packaging.
- A range that follows you. Retinal 0.2%, the Buffet peptide serum, 23% vitamin C and azelaic acid sit on the same shelf, so the next active you add can come from the brand you already know.
$6.00
Shop on AmazonWhere The INKEY List excels
- Layers without pilling. The lighter base sinks in under moisturizer, so the serum you paid for stays on your face instead of balling up.
- Instructions on the box. The label says what the product is for and how to use it, so a first-timer can start the same night without a search engine.
- A first retinol built to last past week three. The Starter Dual Retinol Serum pairs a low-dose retinol with a gentler granactive retinoid, so you get through the adjustment period without the peeling that makes men quit.
$13.00
Shop on AmazonMore from each brand
The Ordinary
AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
$9.50Shop on Amazon
Buffet — Multi-Technology Peptide Serum
$19.90Shop on Amazon
Retinal 0.2% Emulsion
$14.90Shop on Amazon
The INKEY List
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
$13.00Shop on Amazon
Starter Dual Retinol Serum
$15.00Shop on Amazon
Compare The Ordinary with
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The INKEY List better than The Ordinary?
Better formulated in small ways, at 2.2 times the price. Its 10% niacinamide at $13.00 against The Ordinary's $6.00 is the same active with a texture that doesn't pill and a label that explains itself. Whether that's worth the difference depends on whether The Ordinary's texture and jargon ever actually stopped you using it.
Why is The INKEY List more expensive than The Ordinary?
You're paying for the packaging to do some of the work. The Ordinary labels by molecule and leaves you to research what each one does; The INKEY List's packaging explains what the product is for and how to use it, and the formulas invest more in texture. Neither is wrong — one assumes you've done the reading.
Which is better for a first-time retinol?
The INKEY List, fairly clearly. Its Starter Dual Retinol at $15.00 is built around the eight-week adjustment period where most retinol attempts fail, pairing a low-dose retinol with a gentler granactive retinoid. The Ordinary's retinol is cheaper and stronger per application, which is exactly the wrong trade for someone who's never used one.
Do The Ordinary and The INKEY List use the same ingredients?
Largely, at the level that matters. Both sell 10% niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, retinoids and similar single-active serums at prices well below the mainstream. The differences are in supporting ingredients, base formulation and concentration choices — real differences, but small ones compared to the gap between either brand and a department-store serum.
Can you mix The Ordinary and The INKEY List?
Yes, and you should buy on the product rather than the brand. There's no formulation conflict between them. Take The Ordinary's price on the commodity actives you already understand, and The INKEY List's texture and instructions on anything you're using for the first time.
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