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The Ordinary vs SK-II

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

The Ordinary and SK-II are distinct skincare lines, with the Canadian brand featuring serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the Japanese brand offers luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, clarifying toners, and restorative masks anchored by pitera. Both labels suit dry skin, though the former fits sensitive skin best and the latter also suits acne-prone skin. The brands differ in their formulations and key ingredients, as the former relies on compounds like niacinamide, mandelic acid, and lactic acid to target specific concerns, whereas the latter utilizes its signature ingredient to actively improve pore area, roughness, and redness.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular The Ordinary vs SK-II products

People Say

The OrdinarySK-II
  • Instant glow and radiance 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”
    • “tight, bright and shiny — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “Leaves skin soft, feels moisturized, does not dry out skin. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Value and affordability Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
  • Skin texture smoothing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “skin looks smoother and brighter — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Absorbs into the skin quickly. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
    • “Absorbs quickly — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Acne clearing and blemish reduction Often MentionedNot noted
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “faded dark spots — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
  • High price Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive for Ordinary — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Slow or ineffective results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “no change in pigment — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “not a miracle worker overnight — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “Didn't do anything special — The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Pilling and makeup issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “dried to a tacky finish — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like vinegar — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “smell is unbearable — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “has a slight chemical smell — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”

The Ordinary vs SK-II routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs SK-II routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs SK-II routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or SK-II: which is better?

Both The Ordinary and SK-II achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for dry skin, oily skin, acne-prone skin, dry sensitive skin, and oily acne-prone skin, while The Ordinary reaches a Superior Lovi fit level for combination skin, sensitive skin, mature skin, and skin with dark spots where SK-II reaches a High level. Reviewers note that SK-II does better for instant glow, hydration, and lightweight absorption, whereas The Ordinary does better for affordability, skin texture smoothing, and acne clearing.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and SK-II?

The Ordinary provides great value and focuses on affordability, skin texture smoothing, and acne clearing, while SK-II delivers instant glow, hydration, and lightweight absorption. Lovi rates both brands as having a Superior routine fit for dry, oily, acne-prone, and dry sensitive skin, but The Ordinary has a Superior fit for combination, sensitive, mature skin, and skin with dark spots, where SK-II has a High fit.

The Ordinary or SK-II for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and SK-II achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for dry skin. The Ordinary features key hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin across its products on this page, while SK-II utilizes Pitera.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and SK-II offer moisturizers with a Lovi fit level of Superior for dry skin. The Ordinary features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane, while SK-II utilizes Pitera across the products on this page.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or SK-II?

The Ordinary provides better value and affordability than SK-II.

Which brand is better for skin texture smoothing, The Ordinary or SK-II?

The Ordinary does better for skin texture smoothing. The products on this page help smooth skin texture with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which brand performs better for hydration and plumping, The Ordinary or SK-II?

SK-II performs better for hydration and plumping. Topical hyaluronic acid, found across the products on this page, helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which brand is better for mature skin, The Ordinary or SK-II?

For mature skin, Lovi rates The Ordinary as having a Superior routine fit, while SK-II has a High fit. The products on this page for The Ordinary offer benefits like texture-smoothing serums and dark spot fading serums.

The Ordinary or SK-II for oily skin?

Both The Ordinary and SK-II offer a Superior routine fit for oily skin. The products on this page help provide great value and effective lightweight absorption.

The Ordinary or SK-II for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, Lovi rates The Ordinary as having a Superior routine fit, while SK-II achieves a High fit level.

The Ordinary or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and SK-II achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for acne-prone skin. The products on this page for The Ordinary offer standout benefits like acne-clearing serums.

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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