🇮🇪Ireland

Medik8 vs SK-II

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

Medik8 and SK-II are established skincare brands offering serums, moisturizers, toners, and more. The British brand relies on hyaluronic acid to suit dry skin and dry sensitive skin best, while the Japanese brand centers its luxurious formulations on pitera to support dry skin and acne-prone skin. Both differ in their targeted solutions, with the former featuring options like Surface Radiance Cleanse, Oxy-R Peptides, and Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream, and the latter presenting the Genoptics Ultraura Essence, Facial Treatment Essence, and Facial Treatment Clear Lotion.

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.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 Medik8 and SK-II products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Medik8 vs SK-II products

People Say

Medik8SK-II
  • Texture and lightweight feel Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Smoother skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
  • Brightening and glowing skin Often MentionedMostly 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”
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
  • Deep hydration and moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Gentleness and skin sensitivity Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “Great for sensitive — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
  • Plumping and smoothing effect Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “Reduces fine lines — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • High price point and value Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “very expensive for amount — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “hefty price tag — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Results timeline and effectiveness Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “no difference yet — Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Tackiness, oiliness, and finish Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “dried to a tacky finish — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “quite thick consistency — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “Need extra moisturizer — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “too oily for my combination skin — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
  • Unpleasant scent or fragrance issues Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”

Medik8 vs SK-II routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Medik8 vs SK-II routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Medik8 vs SK-II routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Medik8 or SK-II: which is better?

Both brands are great, but Medik8 is a better fit for dry, dry sensitive, and sensitive skin types, while SK-II leans toward dry, acne-prone, and oily skin. Medik8 is known for gentleness and plumping effects, whereas SK-II offers a lightweight texture and brightening glow.

What is the difference between Medik8 and SK-II?

Medik8 is founded in the UK and focuses heavily on gentle care and plumping effects, while SK-II originates from Japan and tends to perform better in texture, lightweight feel, and brightening. Both brands offer products on this page that help deliver deep hydration and moisture.

Medik8 or SK-II for dry skin?

Medik8 and SK-II provide an equal routine fit for dry skin with a Superior level. Both brands feature products that help deliver deep hydration, while Medik8 is noted by reviewers for gentleness and SK-II is noted for lightweight feel.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

Both brands offer moisturizers that help hydrate and nourish the skin well. Medik8 provides options like Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream, which features hyaluronic acid and achieves a High fit for dry and sensitive skin, while SK-II offers options like Skinpower Advanced Cream with a High fit for mature and dry skin.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or SK-II?

Reviewers note that both Medik8 and SK-II have a high price point, but Medik8 is specifically noted for a high price point and value issue.

Medik8 or SK-II for oily skin?

Both Medik8 and SK-II achieve a High routine fit for oily skin. SK-II does better for texture and lightweight feel, while Medik8 fits best for dry skin, dry sensitive skin, and sensitive skin.

Medik8 or SK-II for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, Medik8 fits better as a brand and is rated Superior, while SK-II is rated High. Reviewers note that Medik8 products on this page help provide gentleness and reduce skin sensitivity.

Medik8 or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

Both Medik8 and SK-II are good options for acne-prone skin, as the products on this page achieve a High fit level for this skin type.

Medik8 or SK-II for combination skin?

Medik8 has a Superior fit for combination skin, whereas SK-II has a High fit. Products on this page help provide deep hydration and moisture through key ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or SK-II for mature skin?

For mature skin, Medik8 fits best with a Superior routine level while SK-II reaches a High routine level. Medik8 is known for its plumping and smoothing effect, whereas SK-II stands out for texture and lightweight feel as well as brightening and glowing skin.

Medik8 or SK-II for dry sensitive skin?

For dry sensitive skin, Medik8 has a Superior routine fit on this page, while SK-II has a High routine fit. Medik8 reviewers note that its serums help provide gentleness and skin sensitivity.

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