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Medik8 vs SK-II

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

Medik8 and SK-II are established skincare houses representing British and Japanese formulations, respectively. The British brand focuses on serums, moisturizers, eye products, toners, and more, built around hyaluronic acid, fitting dry skin and dry sensitive skin best. Meanwhile, the Japanese brand offers thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, nourishing serums, rejuvenating masks, refreshing toners, and more, all anchored by its signature ingredient, pitera, to suit acne-prone skin and dry skin best. Both differ through distinct heritages and targeted solutions, such as Medik8 addressing specific concerns with the Surface Radiance Cleanse, Oxy-R Peptides, and Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream, while SK-II utilizes the Genoptics Ultraura Essence, Facial Treatment Essence, and Facial Treatment Clear Lotion.

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.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 Medik8 and SK-II products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Medik8 vs SK-II products

People Say

Medik8SK-II
  • Texture and lightweight feel Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Smoother skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
  • Brightening and glowing skin Often MentionedMostly 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”
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
  • Deep hydration and moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Gentleness and skin sensitivity Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “Great for sensitive — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
  • Plumping and smoothing effect Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “Reduces fine lines — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • High price point and value Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “very expensive for amount — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “hefty price tag — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Results timeline and effectiveness Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “no difference yet — Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Tackiness, oiliness, and finish Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “dried to a tacky finish — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “quite thick consistency — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “Need extra moisturizer — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “too oily for my combination skin — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
  • Unpleasant scent or fragrance issues Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”

Medik8 vs SK-II routines for dry skin

Buy Medik8 routine · A$283.59 · 97% fitBuy SK-II routine · A$1,400.12 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Medik8 vs SK-II routines for oily skin

Buy Medik8 routine · A$409.86 · 94% fitBuy SK-II routine · A$1,436.99 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Medik8 vs SK-II routines for combination skin

Buy Medik8 routine · A$444.44 · 93% fitBuy SK-II routine · A$1,429.91 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Medik8 or SK-II: which is better?

Both brands are great choices, as Medik8 is a superior fit for dry, combination, sensitive, and mature skin types, while SK-II offers excellent results in texture, lightweight feel, and brightening. Additionally, hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration and plumping for the skin on these pages.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between Medik8 and SK-II?

Medik8 and SK-II are both well-rounded skincare lines, with Medik8 offering a strong focus on gentle, plumping serums and moisturizers, while SK-II leans toward lightweight textures and brightening formulas. Both brands feature products that help maintain deep hydration and improve skin quality over time.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or SK-II for dry skin?

Both Medik8 and SK-II achieve a Superior routine fit for dry skin among the products on this page. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration, and topical application supports skin moisture and anti-aging effects.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

Medik8 provides a moisturizer with high fit for dry and dry sensitive skin, and helps deliver deep hydration using hyaluronic acid. SK-II also features moisturizers with high fit for dry skin, and every product on this page lists no fragrance.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or SK-II?

Medik8 is generally considered to have a high price point, which reviewers often mention, while the provided page details higher pricing concerns primarily for Medik8 without making a direct comparative affordability claim against SK-II.

Between Medik8 and SK-II, which brand offers better options containing no fragrance across all its listed products?

SK-II offers better options containing no fragrance because every single product on its page lists no fragrance, whereas Medik8 has fragrance in its Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of Medik8 and SK-II compare?

Medik8 was founded in 2009 in the United Kingdom and is owned by L'Oréal Groupe, while SK-II was founded in 1980 in Japan and is owned by The Procter & Gamble Company.

Which brand performs better when it comes to gentleness and skin sensitivity according to reviewers?

Medik8 performs better when it comes to gentleness and skin sensitivity according to reviewers. The products on this page help provide gentle care, and reviewers often mention that its serums are gentle and non-irritating.

Medik8 or SK-II for oily skin?

Medik8 is the better fit for oily skin because it achieves a Superior routine fit compared to SK-II's High fit on this page.

Medik8 or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Both Medik8 and SK-II are great options for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates Medik8 as Superior and SK-II as High for this skin type. Reviewers note that Medik8 does better for gentleness and skin sensitivity, and 11 of the 12 products on this page list no fragrance.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

Medik8 and SK-II are both a Superior fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Topical hyaluronic acid, found across the products on this page, helps provide skin quality benefits and signs of skin aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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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