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CeraVe vs SK-II

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

CeraVe and SK-II are prominent skincare brands originating from America and Japan, respectively. The American brand is universally loved for its thoughtful array of moisturizers, cleansers, serums, sunscreens, and more, all formulated with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Meanwhile, the Japanese brand is deeply adored for its thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, nourishing serums, rejuvenating masks, refreshing toners, and more, all anchored by its signature ingredient, pitera. Both suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best, though they differ as one relies on barrier-restoring compounds while the other nurtures delicate complexions through time-tested efficacy.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.com

SK-II is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

en.wikipedia.orgdiscoversk-ii.wixsite.comglossy.co

This page compares some of the most popular CeraVe and SK-II products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular CeraVe vs SK-II products

People Say

CeraVeSK-II
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Fragrance and Gentle Formula Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Watery consistency — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Brightening, Radiance, and Glow Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “gives a glass skin look — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “leaves me with a red carpet glow — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Skin looks brighter — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “skin is literally glowing — CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum”
  • Acne and Oil Control Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “dialed back oiliness — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “Never breaks me out — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “helped to stop my breakout in its tracks — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
    • “Controls T-zone oil — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Value and Pricing Often MentionedNot noted
    • “reasonably priced — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “Huge tub lasts forever — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Great everyday moisturizer — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
  • Price Point Complaints Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive Vaseline — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Slow or Underwhelming Results Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “takes a few months — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “meh — CeraVe Hydrating Toner”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Texture and Application Issues Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “cotton is too thick and heavy — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “dried to a tacky finish — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “quite thick consistency — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “feels like washing with conditioner — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
  • Breakouts and Purging Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “caused tiny red bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Small bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “did break out some while adjusting — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “Gave me cystic acne — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”

CeraVe vs SK-II routines for dry skin

Buy SK-II routine · A$1,400.12 · 90% fitBuy CeraVe routine · A$226.69 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

CeraVe vs SK-II routines for oily skin

Buy SK-II routine · A$1,436.99 · 89% fitBuy CeraVe routine · A$392.56 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

CeraVe vs SK-II routines for combination skin

Buy SK-II routine · A$1,429.91 · 88% fitBuy CeraVe routine · A$347.16 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or SK-II: which is better?

CeraVe and SK-II are both good options, with CeraVe standing out for value and oil control and SK-II performing better for brightening. Both brands offer fragrance-free products on this page and achieve equal fit levels for many skin types.

What is the difference between CeraVe and SK-II?

CeraVe and SK-II are both well-known skincare brands, with CeraVe offering budget-friendly options featuring ceramides and niacinamide, while SK-II focuses on luxury products powered by Pitera. Review themes indicate that CeraVe does better for acne and oil control as well as fragrance and gentle formulas, whereas SK-II excels in brightening, radiance, and glow.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

CeraVe or SK-II for dry skin?

Both brands are a strong fit for dry skin, with CeraVe offering a High routine fit and SK-II offering a Superior routine fit. CeraVe features products on this page formulated with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin to help restore moisture, while SK-II relies on Pitera.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

CeraVe or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

CeraVe offers moisturizers on this page that help with hydration and moisture, featuring key ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid that support skin barrier repair. SK-II also provides effective moisturizers, but CeraVe scores better for value and pricing as well as fragrance-free formulas.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or SK-II?

CeraVe does better than SK-II for value and pricing, making it the more affordable option. Review themes also note price point complaints specifically for CeraVe.

Between CeraVe and SK-II, which brand performs better for brightening, radiance, and glow?

SK-II performs better for brightening, radiance, and glow on the products on this page. Its key ingredient, Pitera, helps improve skin glow.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of CeraVe and SK-II compare?

CeraVe was founded in the United States in 2005 and has been owned by L'Oreal since 2017. In contrast, SK-II was founded earlier in Japan in 1980 and has been owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

Which brand uses Pitera as a key ingredient across its products, and which uses ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid?

SK-II uses Pitera as a key ingredient across the products on this page, while CeraVe uses ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

CeraVe or SK-II for oily skin?

Both CeraVe and SK-II achieve a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that CeraVe does better for acne and oil control among the products on this page.

CeraVe or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Both CeraVe and SK-II are good options for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates the routine fit for both brands as High. CeraVe does better for fragrance and gentle formula because every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients and reviewers mostly mention gentle, non-stripping cleansers.

CeraVe or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

Both CeraVe and SK-II are good options for acne-prone skin, with Lovi fit levels of High and Superior respectively. CeraVe offers effective cleansers for acne and oil, while SK-II features products like Genoptics Ultraura Essence.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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