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Elemis vs SK-II

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

Elemis and SK-II are established skincare houses that offer curated formulations spanning nourishing serums, rich moisturizers, gentle cleansers, refining toners, and rejuvenating masks. The British brand, founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019, weaves together glycerin and shea to suit dry skin and mature skin best, while the Japanese counterpart, founded in 1980 and owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991, anchors its offerings in signature pitera to suit acne-prone skin and dry skin best. While both feature standout solutions for dark spots, acne-prone skin, and mature skin, they differ because the former relies on deeply restorative qualities, whereas the latter gently nurtures delicate complexions with time-tested efficacy.

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

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 Elemis and SK-II products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Elemis vs SK-II products

People Say

ElemisSK-II
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “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
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Radiance and Glow Sometimes 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”
    • “healthy glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
  • Skin Smoothing and Exfoliation Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “non-stripping formula — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Smoother skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Prep Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “melts waterproof mascara — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “Sits nicely under make up... perfect base. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “Removes leftover dirt — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “Dissolves waterproof mascara, melts stubborn makeup, removes sunscreen easily. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
  • Scent and Fragrance Experience Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “smells like a spa — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “smells like a holiday — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “smells like a tropical cocktail — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “Subtle rose fragrance, spa-like scent, not overpowering. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
  • High Price Point Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “very expensive — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “expensive — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Scent and Fragrance Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “smell is too strong — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Underwhelming or Slow Results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “didn't see a difference — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “didn't see difference — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “Verdict still out. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Breakouts and Skin Reactions Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “blurry vision — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “tends to flake off — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “caused tiny red bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Small bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”

Elemis vs SK-II routines for dry skin

Buy Elemis routine · A$549.28 · 91% fitBuy SK-II routine · A$1,400.12 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Elemis vs SK-II routines for oily skin

Buy SK-II routine · A$1,436.99 · 89% fitBuy Elemis routine · A$653.08 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Elemis vs SK-II routines for combination skin

Buy SK-II routine · A$1,429.91 · 88% fitBuy Elemis routine · A$720.04 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Elemis or SK-II: which is better?

Both Elemis and SK-II are great choices, with Elemis achieving a Superior routine fit for mature skin and SK-II achieving a Superior fit for acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin. Reviewers find that SK-II delivers better results for radiance and glow, while every product on the SK-II page lists no fragrance compared to most Elemis products containing fragrance.

What is the difference between Elemis and SK-II?

Elemis is a UK-based brand founded in 1989 that focuses best on dry, mature, and dry sensitive skin, while SK-II is a Japanese brand founded in 1980 that fits acne-prone, dry, and oily acne-prone skin best. Reviewers note that every product on this SK-II page lists no fragrance, whereas many Elemis products contain fragrance and may sometimes cause skin irritation.

Elemis or SK-II for dry skin?

Both Elemis and SK-II achieve a superior routine fit level for dry skin. Reviewers note that products on this page for both brands help provide hydrating moisturizers.

Elemis or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

Elemis fits mature and dry skin best with its Pro-Collagen moisturizers, while SK-II features high fit levels for dry and acne-prone skin with its Facial Treatment Essence and Skinpower Advanced Cream. Reviewers often mention Elemis for its hydrating and luxurious moisturizers, whereas SK-II offers fragrance-free formulas across the products on this page.

Which is more affordable, Elemis or SK-II?

Both Elemis and SK-II are luxury skincare brands that share a high price point. Reviewers note that the high price point is a notable drawback for Elemis products on this page.

Which brand performs better for mature skin, Elemis or SK-II?

Elemis performs better for mature skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to SK-II's High fit on this page. Reviewers frequently mention Elemis for its hydrating and luxurious moisturizers, which helps support aging skin.

How do Elemis and SK-II differ in their fragrance options across products?

Elemis offers a mix of fragranced and fragrance-free choices, as 18 of the 22 products on this page list fragrance in their ingredients. In contrast, every product on this page for SK-II lists no fragrance.

Which brand has a better rating for radiance and glow according to reviewers?

SK-II has a better rating for radiance and glow according to reviewers.

Elemis or SK-II for oily skin?

Both Elemis and SK-II achieve a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that the products on this page from Elemis and SK-II offer similar results in texture and absorption.

Elemis or SK-II for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both Elemis and SK-II offer a High routine fit on this page. Every SK-II product on this page lists no fragrance, whereas most Elemis products contain fragrance, which helps shoppers with sensitivities choose accordingly.

Elemis or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, SK-II fits better because Lovi gives it a Superior routine fit compared to the High fit level for Elemis. Furthermore, every product on the SK-II page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, which may help shoppers avoid skin irritation.

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

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