Product Review: The Inkey List Peptide Moisturizer
This article is an honest review of The Inkey List Peptide Moisturizer.
In brief
The pros:
- The price! It’s extremely reasonable for anti-aging skincare
- Works well as a makeup primer
- Fragrance-free and non-irritating
The cons:
- Feels extremely basic
- Sits on the skin rather than fully absorbing
My score:
7/10
Read on for a full review and everything you need to know about this anti-aging moisturizer.
The Inkey List brand
The Inkey List launched hot on the heels of The Ordinary, another no-frills, ingredient-led skincare brand. And these two really have changed the landscape of skin products, eschewing traditional big bucks marketing and cleverly coined trademarks in favor of no-nonsense products clearly labeled with active ingredients.
As well as its transparency around formulation, The Inkey List is renowned for its low price point. It sits in Sephora almost 4 times cheaper than its shelf-mates for similar style products, and this to be honest is what led me to reach for the Inkey List Peptide Moisturizer. I dabbled in this brand years ago when it launched in 2018, but as a beauty journalist I didn’t really buy any beauty products for years, I got sent everything to try for free. Fast-forward to now, I found myself faithfully paying an eye-watering amount for my face cream, an expensive habit to keep up; I felt it was time to reinvestigate more budget-friendly brands.
My skin type & skin goals
My skin is dehydrated and of course, I have anti-aging concerns. I use prescription retinol 1-2 times a week and it really exasperates my dry skin. I can suffer from sensitive skin, and this usually reveals itself in breakouts. There are many skincare products I’ve had to abandon after just a few uses for this reason.
I don’t need an age-defying moisturizer packed full of actives as I’m a Tretonoin user. My main need is for something to lushly hydrate, help balance and repair my skin’s moisture barrier, and leave me with a pleasant glow by day. Any anti-ageing benefits are a bonus but I certainly don’t expect miracles from my creams.
WHAT THEY SAY
A nurturing yet fast-absorbing daily face moisturizer for dry skin. Its dual peptide formula aims to reduce the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles and balance the skin’s natural oil levels. With continued use, Peptide Moisturizer helps to support natural collagen production and hydrate skin, leaving skin looking youthful.
The key ingredients
As expected, the formula contains peptides, “1% Hydrating Peptide Solution” to be exact. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that make up proteins required by the skin. They occur naturally and contribute to the skin’s production of collagen and elastin which are both important for maintaining a youthful appearance. Adding peptides into your skincare regime has so many benefits and can help the speed of skin renewal and support collagen to keep it looking plump and fresh.
The formula also contains 2% Royal Epigen P5™, a biologically active new peptide that activates skin regeneration to help to even skin tone and delay the aging of skin cells.
In short, the ingredients should help to boost glow and have some lovely anti-aging effects.
Here’s the full ingredient list:
Aqua (Water/Eau), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, C 12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexyl-glycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Maltodextrin, Pentapeptide-48.
The cost
I paid 70 AED, which is approx $19 or £14. I’m not sure if the price fluctuates if you buy it in another region though.
This is relatively cheap for an anti-aging cream and less than a quarter of the price of my regular brand!
First impressions
The packaging of the product is distinct. Not quite the glossy weighted orb with a golden spoon I am used to for my face cream. The cream comes in a tube with a twist-off cap (quite annoying for handling with moisturizer-soaked hands) and is very basic black and white. I don’t hate it, but it’s not a luxurious experience.
The cream itself has a petroleum-ish smell that reminds me of Vaseline. It also has something of this in its nature, it’s white, opaque with just a hint of transparency that likens it to a balm. There are no perfumes or colorings, it’s a very simple moisturizer with a medium-lightweight texture.
On application, it melts into the skin and leaves a mild sheen on the skin. Quite a pleasant level of glow without looking too greasy.
Performance
After using The Inkey List Peptide Moisturizer for a few months, I can’t say that my face is looking any younger. I haven’t noticed any improvement in fine lines, wrinkles, or glow…
But this is a big BUT, my skin is certainly no worse than it was with my expensive $90 face cream, which is worth noting. In switching creams, I have maintained my skin hydration level and haven’t experienced any breakouts or reactions. My face still looks bright and fresh after application. It sits very nicely under makeup too.
The one place it falls down for me is the comfort level. I live in a very hot climate, and as soon as my face gets hot (which happens more than I care to admit) I can instantly feel the cream rising on my skin in a greasy layer. I don’t know how to describe this other than it “sits” on the skin rather than fully sinking into the epidermis. I don’t think this would be an issue in cooler weather, in fact perhaps it would add a layer of protection from cold wind and harsh conditions. At night this isn’t an issue, but it spoils its day cream potential for me.
Final thoughts
This is a basic all-round moisturizer, well-suited to dry skin for day/ night and combination skin for night time.
I wouldn’t recommend it for oily skin and would avoid using it as a summer moisturizer for hotter climates or on vacation, but for the price, you really should give it a try. Save money on your face cream and put it into your serums, or facial treatments instead.
How to apply the Inkey List Peptide Moisturizer
This fits into your skincare regime as any other moisturizer would. Start by washing your face with your usual face wash product. The brand then recommends applying the Hyaluronic Acid Serum, before moisturizing a pea-sized amount of Peptide Moisturizer onto your face and neck.
For me, I then followed this with an SPF for daytime. I’m currently using Super Goop and enjoying the glow it gives!
On nights that I was using my retinol, I would wait 30 minutes and apply Peptide Moisturizer over the top to try and combat dryness.
The Inkey List mentions that you can layer oil on top for extra hydration. Personally, I prefer to put oils under my cream so I haven’t tried this. It suggests that the product works well with squalane oil or rosehip oil, so that could be an interesting combination to try.
Due to the basic nature of this moisturizer, it would probably layer well with most things.
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