🇪🇸Spain

Cetaphil vs SK-II

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

Cetaphil and SK-II are established skincare brands offering distinct approaches to daily care, with the American brand founded in 1947 and the Japanese brand originating in 1980. Cetaphil is widely loved for its thoughtful lineup of cleansers, moisturizers, serums, sunscreens, and more featuring glycerin, niacinamide, and panthenol, while SK-II is deeply appreciated for its luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, rejuvenating masks, clarifying toners, and other meticulously crafted formulas powered by pitera. Both brands suit combination skin and oily acne-prone skin best, though the Japanese brand also accommodates normal and dry complexions. They differ primarily in their ingredient focus and sensory experience, where the first brand provides essential care through barrier-restoring compounds, and the second brand bestows a refined complexion through botanical science.

Cetaphil is an American skincare brand founded in 1947 and owned by Galderma Group AG.

en.wikipedia.orgcetaphil.co.uk

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

Popular Cetaphil vs SK-II products

People Say

CetaphilSK-II
  • Hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “cleared up flaky skin — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “healed my dry patches — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “The only thing my reactive skin tolerates. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “No breakouts since switching to this. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “cleans without stripping — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “Watery consistency — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Absorbs quickly into skin without residue — Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Absorbs into the skin quickly. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
  • Skin smoothing and softening Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Smoother skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “Skin felt softer after one use — Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser”
  • Improves texture and radiance Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “gives a glass skin look — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “leaves me with a red carpet glow — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Brightening and complexion Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin looks brighter — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “My skin is glowing now. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
    • “Reduced sun spots — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “skin looks more radiant — Cetaphil Vitamin C Serum”
  • High price point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for drugstore — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Lack of results Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Formula changes and irritation Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “Contains fragrance, methylparaben, and benzyl alcohol. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
    • “Caused breakouts, small bumps, redness/irritation, fungal acne trigger. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
    • “Face burns — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “New version burns my face. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
  • Chemical or unusual smell Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “has a slight chemical scent — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “Smell is too strong like chemical extract — Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub”
    • “Smells like hospital soap. — Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”

Questions and answers

Cetaphil or SK-II: which is better?

Cetaphil is better for gentle, budget-friendly care and sensitive skin, while SK-II performs better for skin smoothing, softening, and improving radiance. Both brands provide equal hydration and lightweight moisture.

What is the difference between Cetaphil and SK-II?

Cetaphil is an American brand founded in 1947 that focuses on gentle, non-stripping cleansers and hydrating moisturizers containing key ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide, whereas SK-II is a Japanese brand founded in 1980 that highlights its signature ingredient Pitera. Review themes indicate that Cetaphil performs better for being gentle on sensitive skin, while SK-II does better for skin smoothing, softening, improving texture, radiance, brightening, and complexion. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Cetaphil or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, Cetaphil offers options like its Rich Hydrating Night Cream, which helps with dry skin at a Superior fit level. SK-II provides moisturizers such as the Facial Treatment Essence, which achieves a High fit for dry skin, acne-prone skin, and mature skin.

Which is more affordable, Cetaphil or SK-II?

Cetaphil is more affordable than SK-II, which carries a high price point.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Cetaphil or SK-II?

Cetaphil products on this page help support acne-prone skin with an average-to-superior Lovi fit across its range, whereas SK-II offers targeted options like Genoptics Ultraura Essence with a superior fit for acne-prone skin.

When was Cetaphil founded compared to SK-II?

Cetaphil was founded in the United States in 1947, whereas SK-II was founded later in Japan in 1980.

Which brand uses Pitera as a key ingredient across its products?

SK-II uses Pitera as a key ingredient across the products on this page.

How many products does Cetaphil list that contain fragrance?

Cetaphil lists 1 product with fragrance out of the 27 products on this page.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play