Is The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner a dupe for The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution?
It sure looks like it. Like The Ordinary, The Inkey List aims to give us actives that work at the cheapest possible price. Heck, the brand even took inspiration from The Ordinary’s black and white packaging!
But are they as good as the original? When it comes to their Glycolic Acid Toner at least, The Inkey List has fallen off the mark. Here’s why:
- What Do The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution And The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner Have In Common?
- What Else Is In The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution & The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner?
- What’s The Texture Like?
- What’s The Packaging Like?
- How To Use Them
- Which Of The Two Should You Go For?
- Availability
- Is The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner A Dupe For The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution?
What Do The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution And The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner Have In Common?
GLYCOLIC ACID TO EXFOLIATE SKIN
Derived from sugar cane, Glycolic acid is the most famous member of the Alpha Hydroxy Acid family, a group of exfoliating acids. It has several superpowers:
- It exfoliates skin: It dissolves the glue that holds skin cells together so they can slough off
- It boosts collagen: It firms skin and helps treats sun damage (only at 10%+ concentrations)
- It hydrates skin: It draws water into it from the environment
Sounds too good to be true? Well, there’s a catch… Or two:
- Irritation:Â Everything that removes dead skin cells can irritate skin. The lower the dose of GA, the lower the chance of irritation (and its effectiveness).
- pH: A high pH neutralises GA, making it useless.
Both The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution and The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner have a pH of 3.6 – the sweet spot that makes this acid exfoliate at its best.
The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner does the job a little better. It has a slightly higher concentration of glycolic acid (10% vs 7%) that makes it a little more powerful… and irritating.
Related: The Complete Guide To Glycolic Acid: What It Is, What It Does & How To Use It
If you’re feeling completely intimidated and overwhelmed by The Ordinary skincare I recommend taking Extraordinary Skin With The Ordinary. A The Ordinary speed training created by my scientist friend Cheryl Woodman. Cheryl’s helped hundreds of ladies see real-life results, first hand. Click here to find out more about the course and see their reviews. (affiliate link)
What Else Is In The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution & The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner?
GINSENG AND TASMANIAN PEPPERBERRY TO PREVENT PREMATURE AGING AND SOOTHE SKIN
Both The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution and The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner have simple formulas that let the acid do the bulk of the work.
But The Ordinary has added in a couple of extracts that are very beneficial for your skin:
- Ginseng: A staple in Korean skincare, it has antioxidant properties that help reduce wrinkles formation and protect skin from UV rays-induced damage.
- Tasmanian Pepperberry: Has soothing properties that reduce redness and irritation, helping every skin type better tolerate glycolic acid.
Well played, The Ordinary.
Related: 4 Things I Learned From Korean Skincare
WITCH HAZEL AND ALCOHOL TO ENHANCE PENETRATION
Glycolic Acid apart, there’s not much else in The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner that benefits skin. But there are a couple of irritants that could spell trouble…
Alcohol and witch hazel. Or should I say, alcohol and alcohol. Witch hazel is so problematic because it’s often distilled in alcohol… All this alcohol is here to help glycolic acid better penetrate skin so it works at its best.
But is alcohol bad? Not if you moisturise well afterwards. Skip this step, and it can dry out and irritate your skin.
Alcohol isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be. I’m just disappointed that The Inkey List hasn’t added anything to their toner to counteract its drying effect.
Related: The Truth About Alcohol-Free Skincare Products
What’s The Texture Like?
They both have a liquidy, watery texture.
What’s The Packaging Like?
The Ordinary Glycolic And 7% Toning Solution comes in a see-through bottle with a pointed tip for ease of use.
The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner comes in a black and white bottle with a little opening at the top. Be careful when you use it or you could pour out too much product.
How To Use Them
Every other night, after cleansing. Don’t use them on nights you’re exfoliating.
Want more affordable dupes for expensive skincare products? Download your FREE “Skincare Dupes” cheatsheet and start saving money (without compromising on results) today:
Which Of The Two Should You Go For?
Sorry, The Inkey List! The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution wins hands down here.
It may be a little less powerful, but it exfoliates skin more gently AND has soothing and hydrating properties to boot.
Remember: when it comes to exfoliation, gentler is better than powerful.
Related: How To Choose The Right Exfoliant For Your Skin Type
Availability
The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner (£6.99): Available at Cult Beauty and Feel Unique
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution (£6.75): Available at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, Escentual and Feel Unique
Is The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner A Dupe For The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution?
I wouldn’t call them dupes. It may be hard to believe, but The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner is an even more basic version of The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. Unfortunately, it’s more irritating, too.
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution Ingredients:
Aqua (Water), Glycolic Acid, Rosa damascena flower water, Centaurea cyanus flower water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Aminomethyl Propanol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Aspartic Acid, Alanine, Glycine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glutamic Acid, Arginine, PCA, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Urea, Hexyl Nicotinate, Dextrin, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Gellan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Chloride, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol.
The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner Ingredients:
Aqua (Water), Glycolic Acid, Propanediol, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Alcohol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Betaine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Hi Gio,
I had a bad reaction to The ordinary toner. After few days of using at night, I woke up with big red puffy eyes and some kind of peeling. And I didn’t even use it on my eyes! That why it took me a long while before I found out it was the toner and also I don’t have a sensitive skin really.
Thank you for your good work
Hi Gio,
Thank you so much for all the knowledge you share with us!
I am binge reading your posts now but the reason I actually started reading your blog is my research about the The Ordinary products.
I have gone through several posts and listed down what I believe would work for me. I think I have got a combination type of skin, 32yo.
Products that I think would be good for me are
Squalane cleanser
Glycolic acid 7%
Salicylic Acid 2% for T zone
Natural moisturizing factors +HA
EUK 0.1 %
Niacinamide 10% + zinc
Hyaluronic Acis 2% + B5
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate 20% + Vit F
Retinol 1% in Sqalane
I don’t know if I should get them all? Or some? And how to make a routine using them, their order, AM and PM?
Would you be able to help me with that ? That would be awesome, as I don’t want to get in trouble wiith my skin, I want to help her glow 😊
Hi Ali, I hope you find the blog useful.
I’d love to help you create the best skincare routine for your skin. 🙂 You can book your consultation here: https://www.beautifulwithbrains.com/skincare-consultation/
thank you!!! for the information Your page is awesome
Hi,
Im newbie here, and in skincare world as well. I’m going to go for this ordinary product. I have been using its aha bha peeling solution andb it works well. Fyi, the ahabha is my first chemical exfoliate (i known its crazy). However my skin can tolerate it well (no burning, even i directly used it in10minutes at first & now i use it twice a week). As i want to go for a gentler option, I decided to try this one. Sorry too long intro. My actual question is can I use the laneige clear c advanced effector after this exfoliant? I read this laneigeproduct does have vit c.. or maybe i have to avoid using both in a row? Thanks s in advance:)