Knowledge Is Skin & Hair Care Power (Win!)

Founded by Colette Laxton and Mark Curry, The Inkey List was born from a belief that, when it comes to skincare, better knowledge powers better decisions. Their motto: “Skincare is a journey and we are in it together.” From cleansers, to creams to kits and even to newly launched haircare, all available at Sephora, we chatted with the duo to find out more about the knowledge-powered products they say will change they way you see your skin. —Noa Nichol

Hello Colette and Mark! Please tell us a bit about yourselves to start.

Colette Laxton, Co-founder and CEO: On top of being a complete beauty fanatic, I’m really invested in everything that surrounds the consumer. I’ve worked in brand, marketing and product development in the beauty industry before we launched The INKEY List.

Mark Curry, Co-founder and CEO: I decided to apply both my background in science as a virologist and my experiences in retail buying to formulate innovative and effective skincare products at an affordable price point.

When and why did you launch The Inkey List? What niche were/are you aiming to fill?

We founded The Inkey List in 2018 with the belief that knowledge powers better decisions. We saw how confused people could be when perusing the world of beauty and skincare, so we wanted to help them understand more about their skin in order to make informed decisions.

Before we get into the products themselves, tell us about the philosophy that knowledge is the key ingredient in skin (and hair) care.

We believe that knowledge is the key to unlocking your best self; you can have all the products in the world, but the power is in you understanding your skin/scalp/hair and what ingredients are right for YOU, and then how to use them to get the best out of them. Knowledge first, always!

The idea that skincare is personal is also at the heart of your brand. Please tell us more about that?

We are completely transparent about the fact that not all ingredients will work for everyone. Skincare is a journey and we want to be on that journey with you. By breaking down different skincare concerns, we aim to make it easier to understand what your skin needs and how to achieve those goals.

On to the products! What do you currently offer, and what makes The Inkey List skin and hair products unique?

The Inkey List has always offered skincare products, but we have now extended our mission to democratize beauty to hair and scalp care! What makes our products unique is that they’re incredibly simple but effective. Our approach is about making quality ingredients and formulations easy to understand and use. The packaging details everything there is to know about the product, from how to pronounce the key ingredients to what they do and who they’re best suited to.

What did you launch with, and what are some of your current bestsellers?

We launched with skincare, with a range of 15 ingredients to start people on their learning journey. We wanted to ensure everyone has access to the products, and the ability to be able to incorporate them into their routine, whether a beginner or a complete skincare fanatic. Our best seller has always been our Hyaluronic Acid serum—it’s a product for ALL, which not only supports our mantra that hydrated skin is healthy skin, but also helps your skincare to absorb further into the skin to work harder. Our customers LOVE the results (and the affordable price is just a huge bonus!).

How do you support customers in their skin/self-care journey?

Community is everything at The Inkey List! We are IN with you and want to support you on your skincare journey. This is why we offer our free askINKEY service, powered by humans; skincare advisers that are here for you when you need them, to answer your questions 24/7, 365 days a year.

What is the “recipe builder” on your site? Who is it for, and what does it do?

The Recipe Builder is our method of putting you in control of your skin and hair care. By answering a few simple questions that centre your wants and needs, we will give you all the ingredient knowledge you need to take care of your skin. It is a part of our myINKEY service, which lets you track your progress and gives you access to experts to support you on your skin and haircare journey.

What’s currently trending in hair and scalp care, specifically? Top products from The Inkey List in this category?

The “skinification” of hair has been having a moment, as people are starting to understand that healthy hair starts at the roots. You can address many hair concerns by taking care of your scalp. Lately, our customers have been loving our Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment, which aims to balance oil production and reduce scalp irritation with its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

Where and how do we find and purchase The Inkey List products?

The full collection is always available on our Canadian website, and a select range of products is available at Sephora Canada in stores and online. Most recently, we launched four new hair and scalp products at Sephora Canada!

Finally, what do your personal current skin and hair products lineups regimes look like?

Colette: My skin struggles with the winter so I am focused on getting as hydrated as possible with our new Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser and Omega Water cream. I also love our PHA Toner for gently exfoliating my skin without irritation, creating a smooth base to add makeup (I add our Polyglutamic Acid to my liquid foundation for a glowy base, too!).

Mark: I keep it simple with my skincare, using Salicylic acid cleanser for my combo skin, along with our two stars: Hyaluronic Acid serum (always) and Retinol serum (in the eve). My fave Inkey product right now is our Salicylic Acid Scalp Treatment—I suffer from a flakey scalp—and believe me, this product is a daily must-have!

ca.theinkeylist.com

Win! An Inkey List Prize Pack!

Congrats Tiffany L. of Toronto, ON, who will receive a prize pack from The Inkey List, including two of each of the following products, available from Sephora:

SALICYLIC ACID EXFOLIATING SCALP TREATMENT – $18.99 | 150ML 
PEPTIDE VOLUMIZING HAIR TREATMENT – $14.99 | 100ML
HYALURONIC ACID HYDRATING HAIR TREATMENT – $11.99 | 100ML
PCA BOND REPAIR HAIR TREATMENT – $14.99 | 100ML

Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadaily.ca. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.