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CeraVe vs SK-II

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

CeraVe and SK-II are distinct skincare lines originating from America and Japan respectively, offering thoughtful arrays of moisturizers, cleansers, serums, sunscreens, toners, and masks. The American brand is universally loved for its accessible formulations featuring hyaluronic acid and glycerin, while the Japanese brand is cherished globally for luxurious products anchored by its signature ingredient, pitera. Both suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best, yet they differ through targeted solutions such as CeraVe providing the Skin Renewing Night Cream for mature skin and SK-II offering the Facial Treatment Clear Lotion.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.com

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

Popular CeraVe vs SK-II products

People Say

CeraVeSK-II
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Fragrance and Gentle Formula Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Watery consistency — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Brightening, Radiance, and Glow Rarely NotedMostly 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”
    • “skin is literally glowing — CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum”
  • Acne and Oil Control Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “dialed back oiliness — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “Never breaks me out — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “helped to stop my breakout in its tracks — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
    • “Controls T-zone oil — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Value and Pricing Often MentionedNot noted
    • “reasonably priced — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “Huge tub lasts forever — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Great everyday moisturizer — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
  • Price Point Complaints Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive Vaseline — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Slow or Underwhelming Results Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “takes a few months — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “meh — CeraVe Hydrating Toner”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Texture and Application Issues Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “cotton is too thick and heavy — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “dried to a tacky finish — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “quite thick consistency — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “feels like washing with conditioner — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
  • Breakouts and Purging Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “caused tiny red bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Small bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “did break out some while adjusting — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “Gave me cystic acne — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”

CeraVe vs SK-II routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

CeraVe vs SK-II routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

CeraVe vs SK-II routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or SK-II: which is better?

Both brands perform well, but CeraVe offers better value and pricing while SK-II does better with brightening, radiance, and glow.

What is the difference between CeraVe and SK-II?

CeraVe is an American brand founded in 2005 that is better for fragrance and gentle formulas, value and pricing, and acne and oil control, while SK-II is a Japanese brand founded in 1980 that does better for brightening, radiance, and glow. The products on this page for both brands list no fragrance in their ingredients.

CeraVe or SK-II for dry skin?

CeraVe achieves a High routine fit for dry skin, and SK-II achieves a Superior routine fit. Every product listed for both brands on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

CeraVe or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

CeraVe and SK-II both feature moisturizers with a High or Superior Lovi fit level for various skin types. CeraVe moisturizers help provide deep hydration and fragrance-free formulas with key ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or SK-II?

CeraVe does better than SK-II for value and pricing among the products on this page.

Which brand performs better for brightening, radiance, and glow?

SK-II performs better for brightening, radiance, and glow. The products on this page help deliver these results using key ingredients like Pitera.

CeraVe or SK-II for oily skin?

For oily skin, CeraVe and SK-II both achieve a High routine fit level on the page. CeraVe offers better value and pricing, while SK-II features key ingredients like Pitera across its products on this page.

CeraVe or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Both CeraVe and SK-II products on this page show a High routine fit for sensitive skin. CeraVe does better for fragrance and gentle formula, while both brands feature no fragrance across all listed products.

CeraVe or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

Both CeraVe and SK-II achieve a superior routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. CeraVe features key ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide, while SK-II relies on Pitera across its formulas.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

CeraVe or SK-II for mature skin?

Both brands are a strong choice for mature skin, as Lovi rates both CeraVe and SK-II as High for this skin type. CeraVe offers fragrance-free moisturizers featuring ceramides and hyaluronic acid, while SK-II features its signature Pitera ingredient.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

CeraVe or SK-II for skin with dark spots?

Both CeraVe and SK-II achieve a High routine fit for skin with dark spots on this page. SK-II does better for brightening, radiance, and glow, while CeraVe offers products like Resurfacing Retinol Serum that help address skin with dark spots.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000The 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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