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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 a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980, respectively. The Canadian brand offers serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more, built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the Japanese brand features luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, clarifying toners, and restorative masks anchored by pitera. Both brands suit dry skin best, though the former also fits dry sensitive skin, and the latter fits acne-prone skin as well. They differ in their targeted solutions, ingredient focus, and ownership, with The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. owning The Ordinary and The Procter & Gamble Company owning SK-II.

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 · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs SK-II routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% 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 brands are great options, as Lovi rates The Ordinary as Superior and SK-II as High or Superior across all skin types. Reviewers find that The Ordinary helps with value, acne clearing, and skin texture smoothing, while SK-II helps with instant glow, lightweight absorption, and hydration.

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

The Ordinary provides products on this page that are more affordable and better suited for acne-clearing and texture-smoothing, whereas SK-II offers options that tend to deliver better instant glow, hydration, and lightweight absorption.

The Ordinary or SK-II for dry skin?

Both brands achieve a Superior routine fit for dry skin, though they differ in price and formulation focus. The Ordinary relies on key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane to support dry skin, which helps improve hydration and texture.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

When comparing moisturizers, The Ordinary offers options with a Superior fit level for dry skin, while SK-II features popular hydrators like the Facial Treatment Essence which helps provide a glowing finish.

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

The Ordinary offers much better affordability, as reviewers frequently highlight the brand for providing great value serums compared to SK-II.

Which brand has products that are fragrance-free, The Ordinary or SK-II?

Both The Ordinary and SK-II have products on this page that list no fragrance in their ingredients.

How do the founding years and parent companies of The Ordinary and SK-II compare?

The Ordinary was founded in 2016 in Canada and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. In comparison, SK-II was founded earlier in 1980 in Japan and is owned by The Procter & Gamble Company.

Which brand is better for smoothing skin texture according to reviewer themes?

The Ordinary does better for skin texture smoothing according to reviewer themes.

The Ordinary or SK-II for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary offers a Superior Lovi fit level across the products on this page, whereas SK-II reaches a High level. Reviewers note that niacinamide helps reduce excess oil and clear blemishes effectively.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

The Ordinary or SK-II for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, The Ordinary reaches a Superior routine fit level while SK-II achieves a High fit level. Reviewers often praise the products on this page from The Ordinary for being gentle and non-irritating.

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

Both brands achieve a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin on Lovi. The Ordinary helps with acne clearing and blemish reduction according to reviewers, while SK-II offers lightweight absorption and hydration.

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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