This post is sponsored by The INKEY List, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.
"As someone who would categorize her LED red light skincare device as a need versus a want, it would be a bit of an understatement to say that I take my skincare seriously. I’ve spent more hours than I care to admit wandering the aisles of Sephora, swatching and sampling various serums and creams, casually adding $100-per-ounce products to my basket, and happy-dancing at the checkout counter when I discover I have enough rewards points to snag a free sample. But here’s the thing: my luxury skincare routine was costing me hundreds of dollars.
Since I don’t necessarily want to go broke trying to finance my skincare regimen (my daily latte habit is already bad enough), I decided it was high time for an overhaul of my product lineup. I had long heard rave reviews about The INKEY List for not only the sheer effectiveness of their products but also their amazingly affordable price points. When I realized I could build an *entire* skincare routine for less than $70 (we’re talking a complete five-step routine, ladies), I was skeptical, but now I’m truly a believer that price doesn’t necessarily equal quality. After solely using The INKEY List products for a few weeks, I’m spilling the tea on how well they stacked up to my pricier products.
My skincare goals:
My skin is fairly close to being a textbook example of combination skin—it’s oily in my T-zone and tends to be normal-to-dry on my cheeks. I’ll get an occasional hormonal blemish here and there, but at the age of 45, I’m largely concerned with keeping my skin well-hydrated and delaying the ever-evolving effects of gravity (i.e. loss of firmness and smoothness). I’m also actively aiming to improve the fine lines and wrinkles that used to appear on my forehead and around my eyes whenever I smiled but now (maddeningly) seem to linger even when I’m not. In a nutshell, the biggest overall priority in my skincare routine is anti-aging.
The skincare routine I followed:
Okay, let’s get into it, shall we? I thought it was important to stick to the same basic five steps that I used in my previous routine, in order to get a really good head-to-head comparison of The INKEY List products. I was pleasantly surprised to see how extensive their skincare collection is, and it was easy to find a suitable equivalent for each of my high-end products. Below is the exact night-time routine that I followed (my AM routine is largely the same except it omits retinol and also includes sunblock):
Step 1: Oat Cleansing Balm ($13.00)
While I have used cleansing oils in the past, I had never tried a balm before. This cleanser is thick, almost like a beeswax, but it completely melts into my skin once I start rubbing it in. It is super effective at removing every stitch of makeup off of my face. Plus, it leaves my skin feeling clean, smooth, and moisturized—something I really appreciate since my normal gel cleanser sometimes left my skin feeling tight.
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Step 2: Hyaluronic Acid Serum ($10.00)
My skin reallllly drinks up this lightweight serum, and I can see why it’s their #1 bestseller. It provides a boost of hydration before I apply my retinol, and I feel like it really plumps up my skin nicely. What I also love is that it doesn’t feel sticky or tacky on my face, which I’ve experienced with other hyaluronic acid products before, and it gives my complexion a nice dewy glow.
the inkey list
Step 3: Retinol Serum ($15.00)
Since I’ve only used this product for a short time, I can’t make any claims that it improved my fine lines and wrinkles just yet. But one thing that I always look for in the early stages of testing out a new retinol product is whether or not it irritates my skin—and this serum did not result in any dryness, redness, or flaking. I like that it’s specially formulated with a slow release to help mitigate any potential irritation. It also contains squalane to help smooth and hydrate the skin.
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Step 4: Caffeine Eye Cream ($11.00)
Waking up with puffy eyes is legitimately the bane of my existence, so I always tend to seek out eye creams that contain caffeine. I have to say, this eye cream is fabulous. It is so effective at depuffing my eye bags (like within mere seconds), and it has a wonderful cooling sensation that I find to be super refreshing. What also makes this product so good is that it has Matrixyl 3000™ Peptide, which is really great for smoothing out wrinkles and firming up the undereye area (hence why I use this both morning and night).
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Step 5: Bio-Active Ceramide Moisturizer ($20.00)
This is The INKEY List’s newest product, and it’s been getting a lot of buzz in the beauty industry—for good reason. The thing that sets it apart from other products that contain traditional ceramides is that it has bio-active ceramides, which can protect and repair the skin through multiple layers. I adore the velvety, luxe texture of this moisturizer. It’s thick and incredibly hydrating, but it doesn’t leave my skin feeling greasy at all. When I wake up in the morning, my skin has such a lovely radiant glow and it feels amazingly smooth and plump. If it’s this smooth after only a few weeks of use, I can’t wait to see what the results will be like after using it for a longer period. This product is truly a GEM!
the inkey list
The verdict
After using The INKEY List products in my skincare routine for a few weeks, I am completely blown away by how good they are. I didn’t find myself missing any of my exorbitantly-priced products, and I honestly found them to be just as effective. My skin is visibly smoother, plumper, firmer, and glowing—all for a grand total of $70. Considering I used to shell out upwards of $300 to get these kinds of results, I am shook.
Another reason The INKEY List products are quickly becoming staples in my skincare regimen? They are certified as “clean,” so I don’t have to worry about them containing any harmful chemicals like parabens, phthalates, or sulfates. Clean products that don’t break the bank and actually deliver real results—where have you been all my life, The INKEY List? No more cringing at my bank account after a trip to Sephora, I now have an affordable skincare routine that I can count on.
This post is sponsored by The INKEY List, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.