SK-II skincare
SK-II is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.
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Skincare enthusiasts across the globe cherish SK-II for its luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, clarifying toners, and restorative masks, all anchored by its signature ingredient, pitera. Its products suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best, thanks to formulations designed to address imbalances. To target specific concerns, the brand offers standout solutions such as the Genoptics Ultraura Essence for acne-prone skin, the Facial Treatment Essence for skin with dark spots, and the Facial Treatment Clear Lotion for mature skin. Through regular application, its key ingredients actively improve pore area, roughness, and redness.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021
Pitera
This page covers some of the most popular SK-II products; for the whole SK-II range, with a fit score for every product, use the Lovi app.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 21.8k+ reviewsReviewers most often praise SK-II for hydrating formulas, radiant glow, and improved skin texture. The most common complaints are high prices and skin irritation or breakouts.
Sources: lovi.care, sk-ii.com, influenster.com, macys.com, bloomingdales.com, sephora.sg, and more
Questions and answers
Is SK-II good for oily skin?
Yes, SK-II is good for oily skin and the SK-II-focused routine for oily skin has a High fit. Lovi rates the SK-II products on this page High for oily skin, and Pitera helps keep skin balanced. The SK-II products on this page list no fragrance.
Is SK-II worth it?
SK-II is worth considering because Lovi rates the SK-II-focused routine Superior for dry skin and acne-prone skin, and High for oily skin. The SK-II products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients, and Pitera helps improve skin texture and reduce pore appearance.
What are SK-II's best products?
SK-II's best products are Genoptics Ultraura Essence and Facial Treatment Essence, which Lovi rates High or Superior across most skin types including dry, acne-prone, and oily skin. The SK-II products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients and rely on Pitera as a key ingredient.
Which SK-II moisturizer is best for dry skin?
Facial Treatment Essence is the best for dry skin, and Skinpower Advanced Cream also works well.
Does SK-II cause breakouts?
SK-II is unlikely to cause breakouts, as the SK-II products on this page list no fragrance and feature Pitera to help maintain a balanced skin barrier. Lovi rates SK-II-focused routines Superior for acne-prone skin.
Is SK-II fragrance-free?
Yes, every one of the SK-II products on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.
What are the key ingredients in SK-II products?
The key ingredient across the SK-II products on this page is Pitera, a ferment filtrate that helps improve skin texture. Lovi notes that Pitera-containing formulas such as the Facial Treatment Essence and Facial Treatment Clear Lotion support smoother skin.
How do I build a SK-II skincare routine?
To build an SK-II skincare routine for dry skin, start your morning with the Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil if needed, followed by the Facial Treatment Essence and Genoptics Ultraura Essence, and repeat the essence and serum steps in the evening alongside the Facial Treatment Mask once a week. Lovi rates the SK-II-focused routine for dry skin as Superior. The SK-II products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients.
Where can I buy SK-II, and how much does it cost?
You can buy SK-II on Amazon US, where the SK-II products on this page are priced from $75.00 to $265.00, with most falling between $80.00 and $255.00.
What are good alternatives to SK-II?
Good alternatives to SK-II include Biore, Hada Labo, Shiseido, Shiseido Senka, DHC, and Pair, which all have dedicated pages on Lovi. Lovi rates the Biore-focused routines as Superior for dry skin, oily skin, sensitive skin, combination skin, and acne-prone skin.
SK-II vs Biore: which is better?
SK-II and Biore both perform well, with Lovi rating the SK-II-focused routine Superior for dry skin and acne-prone skin, while Biore-focused routines reach Superior across dry, oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin types.
Who owns SK-II, and where is it from?
SK-II is a Japanese brand founded in 1980, owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.
Is SK-II cruelty-free?
PETA, Leaping Bunny, and Cruelty Free International, the registries Lovi checks, do not list SK-II as cruelty-free.
Is SK-II good for dry skin?
Yes, SK-II is good for dry skin because Lovi rates the brand-focused routine for dry skin as Superior and the SK-II products on this page list no fragrance. Pitera helps provide moisture benefits, and the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence has a High fit for dry skin.
Is SK-II good for sensitive skin?
Yes, SK-II fits sensitive skin well with a High Lovi routine fit, and the SK-II products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients. Lovi rates the Facial Treatment Essence and Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil High for sensitive skin, while the Facial Treatment Mask and Facial Treatment Clear Lotion rate Average and Caution respectively.
Is SK-II good for acne-prone skin?
Yes, SK-II is well-suited for acne-prone skin, with Lovi rating the SK-II-focused routine Superior for this skin type. The products help keep skin balanced through the inclusion of key ingredients like Pitera. Furthermore, the SK-II products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients.
Is SK-II good for skin with dark spots?
SK-II is a good choice for skin with dark spots, as Lovi rates products like the Genoptics Ultraura Essence and Facial Treatment Essence High for this concern. The SK-II products on this page help improve skin tone while remaining fragrance-free.
Is SK-II good for mature skin?
Yes, SK-II is good for mature skin, and Lovi rates the routine Superior for dry skin and High for other mature skin needs. The SK-II products on this page are fragrance-free and feature Pitera, which helps maintain a smooth, soft texture.
Research behind SK-II's key ingredients
The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Behind these ratings
Lovi rates every product from its 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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