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Elemis vs SK-II

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

Elemis and SK-II are established skincare brands offering nourishing serums, rich moisturizers, gentle cleansers, refining toners, and restorative masks. The British brand is known for formulations featuring glycerin and shea butter, while the Japanese brand centers its products around pitera. Both suit dry skin best, though the former also caters to mature skin and the latter to acne-prone skin. Ultimately, they differ in their heritage, specific ingredient profiles, and targeted solutions for dark spots and other concerns.

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

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

Popular Elemis vs SK-II products

People Say

ElemisSK-II
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “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
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Radiance and Glow 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”
    • “healthy glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
  • Skin Smoothing and Exfoliation Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “non-stripping formula — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Smoother skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Prep Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “melts waterproof mascara — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “Sits nicely under make up... perfect base. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “Removes leftover dirt — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “Dissolves waterproof mascara, melts stubborn makeup, removes sunscreen easily. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
  • Scent and Fragrance Experience Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “smells like a spa — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “smells like a holiday — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “smells like a tropical cocktail — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “Subtle rose fragrance, spa-like scent, not overpowering. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
  • High Price Point Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “very expensive — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “expensive — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Scent and Fragrance Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “smell is too strong — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Underwhelming or Slow Results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “didn't see a difference — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “didn't see difference — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “Verdict still out. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Breakouts and Skin Reactions Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “blurry vision — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “tends to flake off — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “caused tiny red bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Small bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”

Elemis vs SK-II routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Elemis vs SK-II routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Elemis vs SK-II routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Elemis or SK-II: which is better?

Both Elemis and SK-II are strong options, but they differ in formulation and scent experience as the products on this page show. Elemis features rich, fragrant formulas with key ingredients like shea butter, while SK-II uses fragrance-free formulas centered on Pitera.

What is the difference between Elemis and SK-II?

Elemis is a British brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane, whereas SK-II is a Japanese brand founded in 1980 and owned by Procter & Gamble. The products on this page for Elemis frequently feature fragrance and are best suited for dry and mature skin, while SK-II products on this page list no fragrance and feature Pitera as a key ingredient.

Elemis or SK-II for dry skin?

Both Elemis and SK-II are great options for dry skin, offering strong hydration benefits across the products on this page. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry skin as High for Elemis and Superior for SK-II.

Elemis or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

Elemis and SK-II both offer popular moisturizers, with Elemis featuring hydrating formulas containing glycerin and shea butter, while SK-II centers its moisturizers around Pitera. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry skin as High for Elemis and Superior for SK-II.

Which is more affordable, Elemis or SK-II?

Reviewers note that both brands have a high price point, but high price point is specifically listed as a negative review theme for Elemis.

Between Elemis and SK-II, which brand offers fragrance-free products?

SK-II offers fragrance-free products, as every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, most products on this page from Elemis contain fragrance.

How do Elemis and SK-II differ in their key ingredients?

Elemis features key ingredients such as glycerin and shea butter across the products on this page. In comparison, SK-II relies on its signature ingredient, Pitera, in its formulas.

Which brand has been on the market longer, Elemis or SK-II?

Elemis has been on the market longer, having been founded in the United Kingdom in 1989, whereas SK-II was founded in Japan in 1980.

Elemis or SK-II for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi rates both Elemis and SK-II as a High fit. Reviewers note that SK-II delivers better radiance and glow.

Elemis or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Both Elemis and SK-II are good options, as Lovi rates both brands High for sensitive skin. Elemis is often favored for its fragrance experience, though reviewers sometimes note a strong fragrance and skin irritation.

Elemis or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

Both Elemis and SK-II fit acne-prone skin well, with Lovi fit levels reaching High for several products across both brands. Reviewers note that both brands perform equally well regarding breakouts and skin reactions.

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

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