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Estée Lauder vs SK-II

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

Estée Lauder and SK-II are esteemed American and Japanese skincare brands, respectively, that offer comprehensive ranges of moisturizers, serums, and targeted solutions. The former relies on hydrating hyaluronic acid and glycerin to suit acne-prone and mature skin, while the latter is anchored by its signature ingredient, pitera, to support dry and acne-prone skin. Ultimately, the two brands differ through their distinct cultural heritages, founding years, and foundational ingredients that address individual skin needs.

Estée Lauder is an American skincare brand founded in 1946 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

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

Popular Estée Lauder vs SK-II products

People Say

Estée LauderSK-II
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up immediately — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “The formula is incredibly hydrating and leaves my skin feeling smooth. — Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv”
    • “texture is dreamy — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Skin texture improvement Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Smoother skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “skin feels like a baby's bottom — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
  • Radiance, glow and brightening Sometimes 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”
    • “gives me that glass skin look — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
  • Lightweight feel and 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”
    • “Absorbs quickly into the skin — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
  • Gentle and non-drying formula Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “doesn't strip the skin — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée”
    • “Doesn't strip my skin — Estée Lauder Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser”
    • “Leaves skin feeling soft and smooth — Estée Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion”
    • “Leaves skin soft, feels moisturized, does not dry out skin. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
  • Effective makeup removal and cleansing Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “removes all my makeup effortlessly — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée”
    • “Melts away Double Wear foundation instantly — Estée Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion”
    • “Leaves my skin very clean — Estée Lauder Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser”
    • “Dissolves waterproof mascara, melts stubborn makeup, removes sunscreen easily. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
  • High price point and expensive cost Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive for the size — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “too pricey — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
    • “Very expensive for the amount — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Unpleasant scent or fragrance issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Scent is too overpowering — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
    • “strong scent — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Lack of results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “didn't notice any difference — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “just expensive water — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
    • “Haven't seen the results yet. — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ Youth Power Eye Balm”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Bulky or poor packaging design Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “cotton is too thick and heavy — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “lid is hard to open — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée”

Estée Lauder vs SK-II routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Estée Lauder vs SK-II routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Estée Lauder vs SK-II routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Estée Lauder or SK-II: which is better?

Estée Lauder and SK-II both perform well, but Estée Lauder is better for deep hydration and gentle cleansing, while SK-II does better for skin texture improvement and radiance. For dry skin, Lovi rates SK-II as Superior and Estée Lauder as Average.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between Estée Lauder and SK-II?

Estée Lauder tends to do better for deep hydration, gentle cleansing, and makeup removal, while SK-II stands out for improving skin texture, radiance, and lightweight absorption. For dry sensitive skin, Lovi rates SK-II as High and Estée Lauder as Average, but both brands share equal High fit levels for oily, combination, sensitive, mature, dark spot, and oily acne-prone skin.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Estée Lauder or SK-II for dry skin?

SK-II is the better choice for dry skin because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior, whereas Estée Lauder achieves an Average rating. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration across the products on this page.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Estée Lauder or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

For moisturizers, Estée Lauder features options like Revitalizing Supreme+, which helps provide deep hydration, while SK-II offers choices like Skinpower Advanced Cream and Facial Treatment Essence. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry skin as Average for Estée Lauder and Superior for SK-II.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Estée Lauder or SK-II?

Reviewers note that high price points are an issue for Estée Lauder on this page.

Between Estée Lauder and SK-II, which brand offers a better routine fit for dry sensitive skin?

SK-II offers a better routine fit for dry sensitive skin, with Lovi rating it High compared to Estée Lauder's Average rating. The products on this page from SK-II also list no fragrance, which helps minimize irritation for sensitive skin types.

Which brand performs better for radiance, glow and brightening according to reviewer themes?

SK-II performs better for radiance, glow and brightening according to reviewer themes.

How do the founding years and corporate ownerships of Estée Lauder and SK-II compare?

Estée Lauder was founded in 1946 in the United States and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., while SK-II was founded in 1980 in Japan and has been owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

Estée Lauder or SK-II for oily skin?

For oily skin, both Estée Lauder and SK-II achieve a High routine fit on Lovi. Reviewers note that Estée Lauder offers a gentle and non-drying formula, while SK-II delivers a lightweight feel and fast absorption.

Estée Lauder or SK-II for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, Estée Lauder and SK-II offer similar benefits, with Lovi giving both brands a High fit. Estée Lauder's products on this page often help provide deep hydration and gentle cleansing, while SK-II features fragrance-free formulas across the board.

Estée Lauder or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, SK-II achieves a Superior routine fit compared to the High fit of Estée Lauder. Reviewers find that SK-II delivers a more lightweight feel and better skin texture improvement, while Estée Lauder offers gentler and non-drying cleansing formulas.

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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