The Inkey List is an active ingredient-centric, ‘knowledge-driven’ brand that builds individual skincare routines. But how do they make effective, cruelty-free, and even vegan products at a low cost?
The Inkey List is cruelty-free. It doesn't conduct animal testing on its products, nor does it distribute its cosmetics where animal testing is required by law. The Inkey List does offer some vegan products, but it is not considered a vegan brand.
The Inkey List is built on the ethos that “knowledge powers better decisions – and we agree! In 2018, the brand launched to demystify skincare and help people in the process.
After four years, they attribute their success to making formulas with active base ingredients. They also provide ample customer information on how to find the products best suited to their needs and layer them correctly.
What’s most impressive is that you can get a 4-step skincare regime from The Inkey List for under $40. How do they manage to keep costs so low and ethics so high?
Before deciding what to buy, here's what you need to know about The Inkey List's current animal testing policies, vegan ranges, formulation, and sustainability.
Is The Inkey List Cruelty-Free and Vegan?
The Inkey List is 100% Cruelty-Free
It does not:
The Inkey List is proudly cruelty-free with certification from Leaping Bunny – the only internationally recognized certificate that guarantees a brand is cruelty-free.
While the brand is privately owned, Unilever and John Mills Ltd have invested in them. Both companies are known to be associated with animal testing.
This brings us to our next point:
The Inkey List is Not Vegan
Although the brand is not entirely vegan, The Inkey List has an extensive range of vegan skincare options.
You’re more likely to find a vegan item than not!
Luckily, it’s also very easy to spot whether something is vegan once you’re on its product page. You’ll see a vegan “stamp” underneath its picture:
Some of the most common animal-derived ingredients that The Inkey List uses are:
If you're interested in which products are vegan or finding vegan brand alternatives – keep reading or click on this link: The Inkey List Vegan Products.
Animal Testing Policy and History
The Inkey List confirms that they have been committed to creating effective skincare that’s also cruelty-free since it was founded.
Cruelty-Free Status in 2022
Here is a screenshot of The Inkey List’s official statement regarding its cruelty-free policies and vegan products.
(Taken from a direct email conversation.)
Certification
The Inkey List recently became Leaping Bunny certified and is in the process of adding the logo to its packaging.
While you might know PETA very well – it surprisingly doesn't hold the strictest cruelty-free regulations. It seems only to require a brand's written consent that abides by the PETA code of conduct.
Certification from Leaping Bunny is ideal because it holds rigorous standards and does regular audits to ensure they are upheld.
The Leaping Bunny association is very strict and reliable, which ensures that:
If you see a bunny stamp on the back of your product bottle – that's an excellent sign. But don't let the image itself fool you. A lot of brands are using fake logos to deceive consumers.
Do your homework and see which products are genuinely cruelty-free first. This article will help you: Which Cruelty-Free Logos Can You Trust?
Is The Inkey List Sold Where Animal Testing is Required By Law?
The Inkey List does not distribute any of its products in retail stores in mainland China or any country that requires animal testing on cosmetics by law.
China has a shocking track record. It is the country with the most animal testing globally, with over 20 million animals used per year.
However, if you live in China or are concerned about its cruel beauty policies, there are a couple of loopholes.
Here's how to find cruelty-free cosmetics in China: Are Cosmetics Made in China Cruelty-Free?
Which Products From The Inkey List's Are Vegan?
The Inkey List has an extensive range of vegan products that continues to grow.
All their vegan products are also marked clearly on their website, so it should be easy to find what you want.
To save you some time, here are some of The Inkey List's most popular and award-winning products to choose from:
Unfortunately, The Inkey List does not have a dedicated page for its vegan products, nor does it have a ‘vegan’ search filter.
So if you want an extensive list of vegan products – your best bet is to reach out to the brand directly via their askInkey online chat.
Vegan Alternatives to The Inkey List
We love the vegan product options that The Inkey List has released. What’s even better is that they do their best to be transparent with their consumers.
They know what it takes to get modern skincare advocates on their side!
Unfortunately, if you won’t support a brand that isn’t 100% vegan or if The Inkey List isn’t available near you – there are some similar alternatives you can definitely try instead:Is The Inkey List Natural and Organic?
The Inkey List is not considered natural or organic. However, it claims to use safe, simple, clean ingredients.
The brand will always use synthetic ingredients where it’s best for the formula and consumers (like you).
Its whole ethos is to make clean formulas and products that work for specific needs.
Clean vs. Natural Ingredients
The term "natural" is not regulated for cosmetics and skincare. In other words, it doesn't hold one specific meaning.
Usually, it means a product is free of certain more toxic synthetic ingredients, including parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and more. But people also interpret "natural" to mean ingredients of immediate plant origin.
Here's the thing: "natural" is not necessarily good. Just because an ingredient is natural (take olive oil, for example) doesn't mean you should rub it on your skin and sit in the sun to fry yourself like a chicken breast!
All products use a certain amount of synthetic ingredients in their formulas. The Inkey List is no exception – but it does choose to use better or clean synthetics.
If a synthetic ingredient is "clean," it means it is safe and non-toxic for us. Its purpose is to preserve the stability of a beauty formulation.
Does The Inkey List Use Safe Ingredients?
According to Skin Safe, The Inkey List has an 82- 100% allergen-free ranking across 42 products.
The Inkey List products are all free of parabens, nickel, soy, dye and gluten. They also avoid common preservatives, propylene glycol, and irritants and fragrances.
Reading the ingredient list is crucial because The Inkey List is not 100% hypoallergenic or non-comedogenic, and they do not claim to be.
The EU/UK Have Stricter Ingredient Regulations
We don’t want to scare you, but you HAVE to read up on any product’s ingredient list before you make a purchase – especially if you live within the United States. The reason why will shock you.
The FDA has only banned or restricted 11 harmful chemicals from cosmetics within the country. Europe and the UK, on the other hand, have banned 1,328!
Given The Inkey List is a UK-based brand with strict ingredient policies – you don't need to worry too much.
For good measure, here are some of the ingredients you really want to avoid with skincare:
Are Cruelty-Free Ingredients Safe?
If you’re worried about how safe it is to use cosmetics not tested on animals – please relax and take a sigh of relief.
There is no reason why cruelty-free products shouldn’t be as safe as anything tested on animals.
Not only is it easy to test ingredients without using animals altogether, but there are so many pre-approved ingredients you can use to make cosmetics that there is no need.
If you’re interested, here’s more on the subject: Are Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Safe?
Is The Inkey List Sustainable and Ethical?
The Inkey List has some sustainability and ethical initiatives as it ties in with the company values.
They want to be transparent with customers regarding their ingredient sourcing, social justice projects, environmental policies, and packaging standards.
As it stands, the brand:
It's no secret that the world has a huge waste problem, and cosmetic brands only make it worse by using unsustainable packaging and harmful ingredients.
Some of the ways The Inkey List is taking strong environmental accountability is by:
Final Thoughts
The Inkey List is a well-developed skincare range that considers various ethical factors. The fact that they are cruelty-free is a step towards a more sustainable future in cosmetics.
We appreciate that it has a transparent supply chain and is open to the public about its testing, purchasing, and distribution policies.
Of course, since The Inkey List is only 93% vegan – it might not be the best choice for activists who go the extra mile. Especially since the brand also uses palm oil as an ingredient. (And gives no word on whether it's sustainably sourced.)
But we wouldn't shut it down so quickly if we were you. This young brand is developing and listening to your needs, so keep following its movements.