I placed an order with The Inkey List online quite a while back. I was worried about whether there would be any customs or duties, but they ship the orders from Canada and the sale was done in Canadian funds, so it was a super easy process.
Now I am a huge fan of The Inkey List, I was at their Canadian launch 4 years ago and have been using their skincare ever since.
Now they don't offer shampoo and conditioners, but they do have hair and scalp treatments. I picked up the Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Hair Treatment, Peptide Volumizing Hair Treatment, Shea Oil Nourishing Hair Treatment, Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment, and the Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub. A few items I wanted to try were sold out.
First off, I really do love that The Inkey List makes the whole figuring out where the product fits in your routine easy with their packaging. In this case, I am a little confused because a few of the items give the option to "Boost your Shampoo/Conditioner", but do not give any instructions for it and don't list it for those products on their website.
Secondly, I really like that their hair products are easily distinguished from their skincare products by being a different colour, but hate that it is black plastic. While there are claims that it is recyclable and non-carbon, my city, and many others do not take black plastic.
Finally, I love that the brand gives all the info you need on the box and inside it. Nothing is hidden and I really enjoy that.
So with that, here is a review of all the products I got.
Finally, I love that the brand gives all the info you need on the box and inside it. Nothing is hidden and I really enjoy that.
So with that, here is a review of all the products I got.
This is a scrub in a bottle with a nice tip to help apply it right to the scalp without any mess. It has both chemical and physical exfoliators. Apply it wet or dry before washing your hair and let it sit for 10 minutes. The result is an exfoliated scalp and a protected microbiome. All this is supposed to help with hair growth, scalp health and hair volume.
I fully reviewed this in my Scalp Scrub Showdown Part 3, and let's just say it isn't the best Scrub. I do enjoy using it, but know it's not really lifting much.
When I first bought it, it retailed for CAD 16.99, it went up $3 in two years.
I fully reviewed this in my Scalp Scrub Showdown Part 3, and let's just say it isn't the best Scrub. I do enjoy using it, but know it's not really lifting much.
When I first bought it, it retailed for CAD 16.99, it went up $3 in two years.
This is very similar to the Glycolic Acid Scrub but without the physical exfoliators. It uses just chemical ones to help remove buildup and help with itchiness of the scalp. This one is particularly good for those with excessive oil production. There are other ingredients to help hydrate the scalp and reduce redness.
I also reviewed this in Scalp Scrub Showdown Part 3, it also failed to remove buildup.
When I first bought it was sold for CAD 18.99, it went up $3 in two years.
This is a basic hair oil made up of Shea Oil. Shea is so well-loved for hair care so having a liquid version seemed pretty amazing to me. Shake the bottle and apply a little to your hands and then to your hair, wet or dry.
The formula is quite thin, which I was not expecting when I first applied it. I used far too much because it just poured out into my hands. My hair as a result was a little too oily. Since then I have been very careful not to apply too much and have seen great results. I really love how easy it is to add to my routine to make my hair softer and healthier.
After over a year of reaching for this, I will say I wasted about half the bottle because of the huge whole and liquid texture. This is its biggest failure. I still don't love the scent, but I like to use it post shower lightly or pre-shower heavily as an oil treatment. You can't go wrong with Shea for your hair so I would buy it again but maybe put another lid on it.
This product is no longer sold by The Inkeylist, which makes me feel a whole lot better about my feelings on it. The bottle's opening was too big, it was too runny and it smelt strange. That being said, it worked well, it was shea oil.
The formula is quite thin, which I was not expecting when I first applied it. I used far too much because it just poured out into my hands. My hair as a result was a little too oily. Since then I have been very careful not to apply too much and have seen great results. I really love how easy it is to add to my routine to make my hair softer and healthier.
After over a year of reaching for this, I will say I wasted about half the bottle because of the huge whole and liquid texture. This is its biggest failure. I still don't love the scent, but I like to use it post shower lightly or pre-shower heavily as an oil treatment. You can't go wrong with Shea for your hair so I would buy it again but maybe put another lid on it.
This product is no longer sold by The Inkeylist, which makes me feel a whole lot better about my feelings on it. The bottle's opening was too big, it was too runny and it smelt strange. That being said, it worked well, it was shea oil.
I still can't really get this to work for me. I don't know what it is about it, but it's just another step that doesn't result in anything great for my hair.
It says you can use it to boost your wash, I tweeted the brand and was told to use it while conditioning. It didn't really do much.
When I first got this it was CAD 11.99, it went up $3 in 2 years.
A lightweight serum for your hair that helps with thickness and volume. Like many of the other hair treatments, it is meant to be used wet or dry but recommended post-washing.
I once again didn't really end up with great results from this one. I don't know if I'm using it right or if my hair is just too long. It's ok at best for me.
When I bought it, it was CAD 14.99, so it went up by $4 in two years.
I picked this one up a bit later. It is a spray that you add to damp hair to help strengthen it. It uses Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid to help bond repair your hair and other conditioners to make it a leave-in to help keep your hair strong.
This is definitely my favourite in the lineup. I like using it daily and find my hair is responding well to it. It has almost no scent to it. My only complaint is the pump, it is strange for some reason and you need a lot of finger strength to use it.
My Thoughts:
Pros:
- High-quality products
- Reasonably priced
- Packaging lets you know quickly it is not their skincare line
Cons:
- Had to order online (is now in Sephora stores in Canada though)
- Black plastic (no recyclable)
- Products didn't work great for my hair type (wavy, dry-damaged)
Overall, I really enjoyed adding these products to my hair routine. It was nice to try a new brand without spending an arm and a leg (although the prices did go up since I ordered them so long ago). The Salicylic and Glycolic acids were so easy to apply to my hair, which is refreshing when most scrubs are messy to use. I just wish they were more effective at lifting my degree off my scalp.
When it comes to repurchasing, I don't know. I don't think I would get any right now. I still have the PCA repair, and would probably repurchase it when I run out. I am currently trying The Ordinary's glycolic peel for a scalp scrub. I do think they are comparable.
I think, if you like The Inkey List, try it out, but don't expect the world. There is a good reason on Sephora the line has mixed reviews.
In the end, I like the brand, but most of these weren't for me.
*I purchased everything with my own money. There are some affiliate links in this post. I appreciate your support of the blog.
