SK-II vs Aēsop
SK-II and Aēsop are renowned skincare brands offering thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, nourishing serums, and restorative treatments designed to nurture various complexions. The Japanese brand is anchored by its signature ingredient, pitera, and suits acne-prone skin and dry skin best through targeted solutions like the Genoptics Ultraura Essence and the Facial Treatment Essence. Conversely, the botanical-driven brand suits balanced, combination, and sensitive skin best with gentle compositions like the B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel and the Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum. While both achieve overall skin health and resilience through regular application, they differ in their foundational ingredients and specific skin-type alignments.
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 SK-II and Aēsop products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular SK-II vs Aēsop products
People Say
Hydration and Balance Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “woke up with baby-soft skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
- “Intensely hydrating yet mattifying effect. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
- “Savior of my winter-fueled dry skin. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
- “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
- “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
- “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
- “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
- “absorbs well into the skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
Radiance and Glow Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
- “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 appears to be brighter, more radiant. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
Gentle Formula and Soothing Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
- “saved my skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
- “Reduces inflammation overnight. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
- “I used to have severe flaking... but after using this product, it's disappeared. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
- “Great for sensitive — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
Pleasant Scent Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “smells divine — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
- “Soft herbal scent that feels fresh and floral. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
- “Subtle rose fragrance, spa-like scent, not overpowering. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
Cleansing and Makeup Removal Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
- “Leaves my face feeling soft after cleansing. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
- “Dissolves waterproof mascara, melts stubborn makeup, removes sunscreen easily. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
High Price Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
- “quantity is too small — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
- “The price is quite steep. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
Skin Reactions and Breakouts Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “caused tiny red bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
- “dried to a tacky finish — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
- “Small bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
- “Thick, almost honey-like, and needs a moment to melt in. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
Scent and Fragrance Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
- “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
- “smells like carrots — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
- “Nasty smell... would not buy again. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
Lack of Results Often MentionedNot noted
- “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
Questions and answers
SK-II or Aēsop: which is better?
SK-II and Aēsop both perform well, with SK-II achieving a High fit for dry skin and Aēsop's Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum reaching a High fit across all skin types.
What is the difference between SK-II and Aēsop?
SK-II stands out for its high fit with dry, acne-prone, and oily acne-prone skin using products centered around Pitera, while Aēsop is recognized for its balancing moisturizers and deep hydration with options like the Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum.
SK-II or Aēsop: which moisturizer is better?
For moisturizers, SK-II fits dry skin and acne-prone skin with High Lovi levels across products on this page, while Aēsop offers non-greasy, balancing moisturizers that shoppers often praise for deep hydration. Lovi gives SK-II's Facial Treatment Essence a High fit for dry and acne-prone skin types.
Which is more affordable, SK-II or Aēsop?
A high price is mentioned as a negative for Aésop, whereas SK-II has no pricing data on this page.
Which causes fewer breakouts, SK-II or Aēsop?
Aēsop does better than SK-II for skin reactions and breakouts.
Between SK-II and Aēsop, which brand has been owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991?
SK-II has been owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.
Which products from SK-II and Aēsop contain fragrance in their ingredients?
Neither SK-II nor Aēsop features fragrance in the products on this page, as every single item lists no fragrance in its ingredients.
How does the Lovi fit level for dry skin compare between the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence and the Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment?
For dry skin, the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence achieves a High Lovi fit level, matching the High fit level of the Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment.
Research behind their key ingredients
The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer
The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Effect of Camellia japonica oil on human type I procollagen production and skin barrier function
Design and in vivo evaluation of emulgel formulations including green tea extract and rose oil
Highly efficient and compatible shampoo for use after hair transplant
Three clinical studies showing the anti-aging benefits of sodium salicylate in human skin
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Evolution of lipid composition in skin treated with blackcurrant seed oil
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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