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Olay vs SK-II

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

Olay and SK-II are skincare collections known for moisturizers, serums, and targeted solutions. The former relies on niacinamide and glycerin to suit sensitive and oily skin, while the Japanese brand centers on pitera for dry and combination skin. They differ primarily in their foundational ingredients and the skin types they serve best.

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

Popular Olay vs SK-II products

People Say

OlaySK-II
  • Texture and Smoothness Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Radiance and Brightening 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”
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “My skin feels so hydrated and plump. — Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “fragrance-free — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Absorbs quickly — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
  • Fragrance-Free Formulations Often MentionedNot noted
    • “No irritation at all — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “no scent — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “love that it's fragrance-free — Olay Retinol24”
  • Makeup Compatibility Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
    • “acts as primer — Olay Super Serum”
    • “concealer sits better — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “Removes leftover dirt — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Fragrance and Scent Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Fragrance can be an irritant — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “floral scent — Olay Super Serum”
    • “smells like plastic — Olay Retinol24”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Lack of Results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “no difference — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “didn't see a difference — Olay Retinol24”
    • “No difference in lines — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”

Olay vs SK-II routines for dry skin

Buy SK-II routine · CA$783.50 · 93% fitBuy Olay routine · CA$156.85 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Olay vs SK-II routines for oily skin

Buy SK-II routine · CA$1,101.33 · 91% fitBuy Olay routine · CA$298.41 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Olay vs SK-II routines for combination skin

Buy SK-II routine · CA$1,065.33 · 93% fitBuy Olay routine · CA$250.43 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Olay or SK-II: which is better?

Both Olay and SK-II are great options depending on your skin type, with Olay offering more fragrance-free choices and SK-II standing out for radiance and brightening. Reviewers often mention that Olay products help improve texture and smoothness while providing intense hydration.

What is the difference between Olay and SK-II?

Olay delivers strong everyday hydration and texture benefits with ingredients like niacinamide and peptides, while SK-II leans on its signature Pitera to give the products on this page an edge in radiance and brightening. Reviewers note that Olay excels in fragrance-free options and makeup compatibility, whereas SK-II offers superior routine fit for dry, oily, combination, and acne-prone skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005

Olay or SK-II for dry skin?

Both Olay and SK-II help with dry skin, as the products on this page offer suitable options for hydration. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry skin as High for Olay and Superior for SK-II.

Olay or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

Both Olay and SK-II offer moisturizers with great benefits, but Olay stands out for its wide variety of fragrance-free options like the Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, while SK-II features iconic formulas centered around Pitera like the Facial Treatment Essence. Niacinamide in Olay products helps reduce skin pigmentation, and hyaluronic acid helps improve skin moisture and aging signs.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Drug Delivery, 2017

Which is more affordable, Olay or SK-II?

The products on this page do not provide pricing information, so it is not possible to determine whether Olay or SK-II is more affordable.

Olay or SK-II for fragrance-free formulations?

Olay does better for fragrance-free formulations among the products on this page. Niacinamide helps brighten skin tone and reduce pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Olay or SK-II for oily skin?

For oily skin, SK-II helps with a Superior routine fit, while Olay provides a High routine fit on this page.

Olay or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Olay and SK-II are both a High fit for sensitive skin. Reviewers note that Olay offers more fragrance-free options on this page, while SK-II features formulas completely free of added fragrance.

Olay or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

Both Olay and SK-II are good options for acne-prone skin, with the products on this page offering high to superior routine fit levels. SK-II tends to do better for radiance and brightening, while Olay provides more fragrance-free options and makeup compatibility.

Olay or SK-II for mature skin?

Both Olay and SK-II are great options for mature skin, as both brands achieve a High routine fit for this skin type. Olay offers specific products like Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream that feature a Superior fit level for mature skin, helping improve texture and smoothness.

Olay or SK-II for skin with dark spots?

Both Olay and SK-II are good options for skin with dark spots, as the products on this page for both brands fit this skin type at a High level. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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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