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SK-II vs Allies of Skin

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

SK-II and Allies of Skin are two distinct skincare lines cherished globally for their luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, and targeted treatments. The Japanese brand founded in 1980 anchors its formulations in signature pitera, while the other relies on powerhouse ingredients like niacinamide. Both options suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best, though they differ through specialized offerings such as clarifying toners, restorative masks, and targeted eye products.

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 Allies of Skin products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular SK-II vs Allies of Skin products

People Say

SK-IIAllies of Skin
  • Improves skin texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “sinks easily into damp skin — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
    • “Woke up looking well-rested — Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream”
  • Hydration and balancing Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “nourished and hydrated — Allies of Skin Peptides & Omegas Firming Eye Cream”
    • “more like a spray serum — Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist”
  • Radiance and glow Mostly MentionedOften 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”
    • “gives skin an instant dewy glow — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
  • Lightweight and gentle absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Best retinol for sensitive skin — Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream”
    • “feels super soothing, doesn't trigger redness — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
    • “preps skin for better absorption — Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Calming redness and acne Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Redness is less noticeable — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
    • “Dramatic impact on acne — Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream”
    • “reduces appearance of redness — Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist”
  • Visible anti-aging and firming Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “fix the fine lines — Allies of Skin Peptides & Omegas Firming Eye Cream”
    • “Tightened the skin in just a few uses — Allies of Skin Peptides & Antioxidants Firming Daily Treatment”
    • “reducing the appearance of fine lines — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • High price Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “hard to justify $17 for one use — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Pricey — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
    • “price definitely hurts — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
  • Breakouts, purging, and skin reactions Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “caused tiny red bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “dried to a tacky finish — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “didn't like how sticky face feels — Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist”
    • “Slightly irritating... when I first started — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
  • Lack of results or effectiveness Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “still not impressed with the results — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
    • “Have not noticed improved skin quality yet — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
    • “Nothing significant — Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Unpleasant scent and fragrance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Distinct rancid smell — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
    • “gives a weird fermented stench — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
    • “makes me cough during application — Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”

SK-II vs Allies of Skin routines for dry skin

Buy Allies of Skin routine · $249.67 · 98% fitBuy SK-II routine · $591.97 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

SK-II vs Allies of Skin routines for oily skin

Buy Allies of Skin routine · $482.96 · 94% fitBuy SK-II routine · $713.54 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

SK-II vs Allies of Skin routines for combination skin

Buy Allies of Skin routine · $474.55 · 94% fitBuy SK-II routine · $714.65 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

SK-II or Allies of Skin: which is better?

Allies of Skin achieves a Superior routine fit for more skin types on this page, including oily, combination, sensitive, mature, skin with dark spots, dry sensitive, and oily acne-prone skin, compared to SK-II. Both brands share a Superior routine fit for dry and acne-prone skin.

What is the difference between SK-II and Allies of Skin?

Allies of Skin achieves a Superior routine fit for oily, combination, sensitive, mature, skin with dark spots, dry sensitive, and oily acne-prone skin, whereas SK-II reaches a High fit for those same skin types. Both brands reach a Superior routine fit for dry and acne-prone skin.

SK-II or Allies of Skin for dry skin?

Both brands are a Superior fit for dry skin on the products on this page.

SK-II or Allies of Skin: which moisturizer is better?

Allies of Skin features moisturizers like the Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist with a Superior Lovi fit for dry and acne-prone skin, whereas SK-II offers moisturizers like the Facial Treatment Essence with a High fit for dry skin. Allies of Skin relies on niacinamide, which helps reduce pigmentation, while SK-II products on this page rely on Pitera.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Which is more affordable, SK-II or Allies of Skin?

Reviewers mention a high price point equally for both SK-II and the products on this page from Allies of Skin.

What are the key ingredients used across SK-II and Allies of Skin products?

The products on this page from SK-II feature Pitera as their key ingredient, while Allies of Skin products rely on Niacinamide across their formulations.

Which brand performs better for calming redness and acne?

Allies of Skin performs better for calming redness and acne based on reviewer feedback on the products on this page.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of SK-II and Allies of Skin compare?

SK-II was founded in Japan in 1980 and has been owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991, whereas Allies of Skin was founded in 2016 and is owned by Allies Group Pte. Ltd.

SK-II or Allies of Skin for oily skin?

For oily skin, Allies of Skin is a better fit with a Superior routine rating, while SK-II holds a High fit on the products on this page.

SK-II or Allies of Skin for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, Allies of Skin is a better choice because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior, compared to High for SK-II. Reviewers mention that Allies of Skin provides gentle, effective moisturizers and calming serums, although initial irritation may sometimes occur.

SK-II or Allies of Skin for acne-prone skin?

Both brands are a strong match for acne-prone skin, with Lovi rating SK-II as Superior and Allies of Skin as Superior. The products on this page from SK-II feature Pitera, while Allies of Skin relies on Niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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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