SK-II and A+ are distinct skincare brands founded in Japan and India, respectively, that offer thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, nourishing serums, rejuvenating masks, and refreshing toners. The first brand is anchored by its signature ingredient, pitera, while the second is widely beloved for its gentle moisturizers and mild composition. Both brands suit acne-prone skin best, though the Japanese line also suits dry skin, while the Indian line is ideal for sensitive skin. They differ primarily in their standout solutions and targeted active ingredients, ranging from the Genoptics Ultraura Essence and Facial Treatment Essence to the 345 Relief Cream.
SK-II is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.
This page compares some of the most popular SK-II and A+ products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
SK-II is the better choice on this page because the products on this page achieve High to Superior Lovi fit levels across multiple skin types, whereas A+ only has one product with an Average or lower fit. Every product from both brands is fragrance-free.
What is the difference between SK-II and A+?
SK-II has multiple products on this page with High and Superior Lovi fit levels across skin types, whereas A+ has only one moisturizer whose products on this page rate as Average to Low. SK-II's key ingredient is Pitera, and none of the products on this page from either brand list any fragrance in their ingredients.
SK-II or A+: which moisturizer is better?
For moisturizers, SK-II offers options like Facial Treatment Essence and Skinpower Advanced Cream with a High Lovi fit for dry skin, whereas A+'s 345 Relief Cream has an Average fit for dry skin.
Which is more affordable, SK-II or A+?
This page does not contain pricing information, so a comparison of affordability between SK-II and A+ cannot be made.
Which causes fewer breakouts, SK-II or A+?
SK-II has products on this page that rate High or Superior for acne-prone skin, while A+ only has one moisturizer that rates Average for acne-prone skin. Lovi rates SK-II as a better fit for acne-prone skin overall.
Between SK-II and A+, which brand has products that contain fragrance?
Neither SK-II nor A+ has products that contain fragrance, as every product listed on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.
Which brand has been around longer, SK-II or A+?
SK-II has been around longer, having been founded in Japan in 1980, whereas A+ was founded in India in 1990.
Which brand is owned by an independent company, SK-II or A+?
A+ is owned by an independent company, whereas SK-II is owned by The Procter & Gamble Company.
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.
