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 well suited for oily skin, with Lovi rating the SK-II-focused routine Superior for this skin type. The SK-II products on this page are fragrance-free, and the key ingredient Pitera helps keep oily skin balanced.
Is SK-II worth it?
SK-II is worth considering for dry, acne-prone, and oily skin, where Lovi rates its brand-focused routines as Superior. The SK-II products on this page are formulated without fragrance and feature Pitera as a key ingredient, which helps improve facial texture and pore appearance.
What are SK-II's best products?
SK-II offers several standout products, with Genoptics Ultraura Essence rated Superior for acne-prone skin and Facial Treatment Essence rated High for dry skin. Lovi rates the SK-II-focused routines as Superior for both dry and acne-prone skin.
Which SK-II moisturizer is best for dry skin?
Facial Treatment Essence is the best choice for dry skin, and Skinpower Advanced Cream is another strong option. Lovi rates both products High for dry skin.
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, calm complexion. Lovi rates the SK-II-focused routine Superior for acne-prone skin.
Is SK-II fragrance-free?
Yes, the SK-II products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients. This helps keep the skincare gentle.
What are the key ingredients in SK-II products?
The key ingredient across the SK-II products on this page is Pitera, which helps improve various skin concerns. Lovi notes that this ingredient supports overall skin vitality.
How do I build a SK-II skincare routine?
To build an SK-II skincare routine for dry skin, apply the Facial Treatment Essence and the Facial Treatment Mask. Lovi rates the SK-II-focused routine for dry skin as Superior. The SK-II products on this page list no fragrance.
Where can I buy SK-II, and how much does it cost?
SK-II products are available on Lovi with prices on the page ranging from €89.99 to €235.61 for stores in Germany. The SK-II products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients.
What are good alternatives to SK-II?
Good alternatives to SK-II on Lovi include brands like Biore, Hada Labo, Shiseido, Shiseido Senka, DHC, and Pair. Lovi rates Biore as High for dry and oily skin, and Superior for combination skin. These alternative brands offer similar skincare options for shoppers.
SK-II vs Biore: which is better?
Lovi rates the SK-II-focused routines as better for dry, oily, and acne-prone skin, while Biore-focused routines score higher for combination skin. The SK-II products on this page are fragrance-free and rely on Pitera as a key ingredient.
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 well suited for dry skin, and Lovi rates the SK-II-focused routine for dry skin as Superior. The SK-II products on this page list no fragrance, and the brand features key ingredients like Pitera that help maintain soft skin.
Is SK-II good for sensitive skin?
Yes, SK-II is well suited for sensitive skin, and Lovi rates the SK-II-focused routine High for sensitive skin. The SK-II products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients, which helps prevent irritation.
Is SK-II good for acne-prone skin?
Yes, SK-II is well suited for acne-prone skin, and Lovi rates the SK-II-focused routine Superior for this skin type. The key ingredient Pitera helps improve skin condition and balance.
Is SK-II good for skin with dark spots?
Yes, SK-II helps with skin with dark spots, as the SK-II products on this page use Pitera to improve uneven skin tone. Lovi rates Facial Treatment Essence High for skin with dark spots, while Genoptics Spot Essence is rated Average.
Is SK-II good for mature skin?
Yes, SK-II is good for mature skin, and Lovi rates the Facial Treatment Essence and Skinpower Advanced Cream High for mature skin. The SK-II products on this page help keep the skin soft and smooth with Pitera.
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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