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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 cherished for distinct formulations, with the former warmly loved for moisturizers, eye products, serums, and cleansers enriched with niacinamide and glycerin, while the latter is a Japanese brand known for luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, clarifying toners, and restorative masks anchored by pitera. Both suit acne-prone skin best, though the first brand also suits sensitive skin and the second suits dry skin. They differ primarily in their standout solutions and specific key ingredient benefits, as the first brand uses niacinamide and glycerin to improve wrinkles, pigmentation, skin aging, hydration, and barrier function, whereas the second brand uses pitera to actively improve pore area, roughness, and redness.

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 · $591.97 · 91% fitBuy Olay routine · $154.40 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Olay vs SK-II routines for oily skin

Buy SK-II routine · $713.54 · 89% fitBuy Olay routine · $296.19 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Olay vs SK-II routines for combination skin

Buy SK-II routine · $714.65 · 89% fitBuy Olay routine · $286.61 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Olay or SK-II: which is better?

Both Olay and SK-II are good choices, as Olay helps provide fragrance-free options and makeup compatibility among the products on this page, while SK-II does better with radiance and brightening. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry skin as High for Olay and Superior for SK-II.

What is the difference between Olay and SK-II?

Olay and SK-II are both owned by The Procter and Gamble Company, but Olay offers far more products on this page with many fragrance-free options, while SK-II relies heavily on its signature Pitera ingredient.

Olay or SK-II for dry skin?

SK-II has a superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Olay which has a high fit. Both brands offer products with high or superior hydration levels for dry skin.

Olay or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, Olay and SK-II are both great options depending on your specific skin needs. For dry skin, Lovi rates SK-II as Superior while Olay is High.

Which is more affordable, Olay or SK-II?

I cannot answer that question using the information provided on the page.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Olay or SK-II?

Olay has more fragrance-free products overall with twenty-six out of twenty-seven products on this page listing no fragrance, whereas SK-II has a smaller total product line on this page where every product lists no fragrance.

Olay or SK-II for oily skin?

Both Olay and SK-II are good options for oily skin, as the products on this page fit oily skin well. Lovi rates the routine fit for oily skin as High for Olay and High for SK-II.

Olay or SK-II for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both Olay and SK-II achieve a High routine fit on this page, with Olay standing out for fragrance-free formulations while SK-II offers completely fragrance-free products across its range.

Olay or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, both brands offer good choices, but SK-II has a Superior routine fit while Olay has a High routine fit on this page.

Olay or SK-II for mature skin?

For mature skin, Olay and SK-II are both a great choice, as Lovi rates their routines as High fit. Olay helps with anti-aging through ingredients like Niacinamide and Peptides, which are backed by studies to support skin elasticity and reduce fine lines.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Olay or SK-II for skin with dark spots?

Both Olay and SK-II are good options for skin with dark spots, with Olay providing fragrance-free options and SK-II delivering better radiance and brightening. Lovi rates the routine fit for skin with dark spots as High for Olay and High for SK-II. 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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