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Neutrogena vs SK-II

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

Neutrogena and SK-II are prominent skincare brands that offer thoughtfully crafted moisturizers, sunscreens, cleansers, toners, serums, and masks. The American brand relies on key ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and dimethicone, while the Japanese brand is anchored by its signature ingredient, pitera. Both suit dry skin best, though the former is particularly well-suited for sensitive skin and the latter for acne-prone skin. They ultimately differ in their formulation approaches and foundational elements, as the former respects delicate moisture barriers while the latter addresses imbalances.

Neutrogena is an American skincare brand founded in 1930 and owned by Kimberly-Clark Corporation since 2026.

investor.kimberly-clark.comen.wikipedia.orginvestors.kenvue.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 Neutrogena and SK-II products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Neutrogena vs SK-II products

People Say

NeutrogenaSK-II
  • Deep and intense hydration Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin looked plumper and radiant — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
    • “It also hydrates my skin. This cream has been so easy to add to my routine. — Neutrogena Retinol Regenerating Cream”
    • “Quenches dry skin instantly — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy texture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Absorbs instantly without sticky residue — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “absorbs instantly — Neutrogena COLLAGEN BANK Moisturizer”
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue. — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Gentle and sensitive skin safe Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “leaves skin soft and balanced — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “love that it has no scent — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “calms my acne prone skin — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “Watery consistency — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Skin texture improvement and anti-aging Sometimes NotedOften 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 is looking smoother — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
  • Soft skin and radiant glow 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”
    • “My skin is glowing now. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
    • “Face felt baby soft afterwards — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask”
  • Makeup compatibility and primer qualities Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Foundation glides right over it — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “Concealer doesn't cake or get stuck in crevices — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-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”
  • Price versus quantity and high cost Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Jar is too small for the price — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “Runs out quickly — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
    • “Tube is tiny for the cost — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Strong fragrance and scent issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smell is too overpowering and lingering — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “Scent is so off-putting — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Lack of immediate or underwhelming results Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Did nothing for wrinkles — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Packaging and design concerns Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “cotton is too thick and heavy — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Eye holes are too small — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask”

Neutrogena vs SK-II routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Neutrogena vs SK-II routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Neutrogena vs SK-II routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Neutrogena or SK-II: which is better?

Neutrogena is better for deep and intense hydration as well as lightweight and non-greasy texture, whereas SK-II does better for skin texture improvement and anti-aging. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry skin as High for Neutrogena and Superior for SK-II. Retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between Neutrogena and SK-II?

Neutrogena is an American brand founded in 1930 that offers a wide range of products featuring ingredients like glycerin and retinol, while SK-II is a Japanese brand established in 1980 that centers its formulas around Pitera. Reviewers note that Neutrogena delivers deep hydration and lightweight textures, whereas SK-II excels at improving skin texture and imparting a radiant glow.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

Neutrogena or SK-II for dry skin?

Neutrogena is a great choice for dry skin, as the products on this page achieve a High routine fit level and feature hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid which helps improve moisture and skin quality. SK-II also achieves a Superior routine fit level for dry skin on this page, offering rich options like the Facial Treatment Essence.

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

Neutrogena or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

Neutrogena offers a wider range of deeply hydrating moisturizers that reviewers mention for their lightweight and non-greasy feel, while SK-II leans toward skin texture improvement and a radiant glow. Both brands provide options with high Lovi fit levels for dry skin.

Which is more affordable, Neutrogena or SK-II?

Neutrogena is more affordable than SK-II, as reviewers note that the products on this page have price versus quantity and high cost issues primarily for Neutrogena, yet SK-II is widely recognized as a luxury brand with a much higher price point.

Neutrogena or SK-II: which brand offers better options for addressing skin texture and anti-aging?

SK-II offers better options for addressing skin texture and anti-aging, as the products on this page outperform Neutrogena in skin texture improvement and anti-aging results. Retinol, found in Neutrogena products, helps stimulate collagen accumulation and improves naturally aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Neutrogena or SK-II?

Neutrogena has more fragrance-free products on this page, with 35 options, whereas every SK-II product on this page lists no fragrance.

Neutrogena or SK-II: which brand is better suited for mature skin?

Neutrogena and SK-II are both well suited for mature skin, with Lovi fit levels of High for the products on this page. Neutrogena helps improve mature skin with ingredients like retinol, which stimulates collagen accumulation in naturally aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

Neutrogena or SK-II for oily skin?

Both Neutrogena and SK-II achieve a high routine fit for oily skin, with Neutrogena offering a wider variety of specialized cleansers and sunscreens on this page.

Neutrogena or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Neutrogena is a strong choice for sensitive skin, as the products on this page are well-suited and Lovi rates its fit as High. Retinol in the formulas helps address aging, while hyaluronic acid supports hydration.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

Neutrogena or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

Both Neutrogena and SK-II are a High fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Neutrogena is particularly gentle, while SK-II helps provide a radiant glow.

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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