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Olay vs SK-II

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

Olay and SK-II are popular skincare lines offering targeted moisturizers, serums, and eye treatments designed for specific skin concerns. Olay is beloved for its thoughtful selection of products formulated with niacinamide and glycerin, which suit mature skin and acne-prone skin best. SK-II is a Japanese skincare brand cherished across the globe for its luxurious formulations anchored by its signature ingredient, pitera, which suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best. While both brands address varied needs with gentle efficacy, they differ in their primary active ingredients and the specific skin types they serve most comprehensively.

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

Popular Olay vs SK-II products

People Say

OlaySK-II
  • Texture and Smoothness Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Radiance and Brightening 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”
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “My skin feels so hydrated and plump. — Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “fragrance-free — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Absorbs quickly — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
  • Fragrance-Free Formulations Often MentionedNot noted
    • “No irritation at all — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “no scent — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “love that it's fragrance-free — Olay Retinol24”
  • Makeup Compatibility Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
    • “acts as primer — Olay Super Serum”
    • “concealer sits better — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “Removes leftover dirt — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Fragrance and Scent Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Fragrance can be an irritant — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “floral scent — Olay Super Serum”
    • “smells like plastic — Olay Retinol24”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Lack of Results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “no difference — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “didn't see a difference — Olay Retinol24”
    • “No difference in lines — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”

Olay vs SK-II routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Olay vs SK-II routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Olay vs SK-II routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Olay or SK-II: which is better?

Olay and SK-II are both effective skincare brands, with Olay providing superior options for mature skin and SK-II offering superior routine fit for dry skin. Reviewers note that Olay performs better for fragrance-free formulations and makeup compatibility, while SK-II delivers better results for radiance and brightening.

What is the difference between Olay and SK-II?

Olay and SK-II are both owned by The Procter and Gamble Company, but Olay offers a wider variety of affordable moisturizers and cleansers while SK-II focuses on luxury formulas centered around Pitera. For dry skin, Lovi rates SK-II as Superior and Olay as High, though both brands perform equally well for acne-prone, sensitive, and oily skin.

Olay or SK-II for dry skin?

Both Olay and SK-II work well for dry skin, with SK-II achieving a Superior routine fit and Olay reaching a High fit. SK-II provides dedicated hydration options like the Facial Treatment Essence, while Olay offers products featuring hyaluronic acid that helps deliver moisture to dry skin.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Olay or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

Olay and SK-II both offer effective moisturizers on this page, with Olay standing out for mature skin while SK-II achieves a superior fit level for dry skin routines. The products on this page from both brands help deliver intense hydration and smooth skin texture using key ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Drug Delivery, 2017

Which is more affordable, Olay or SK-II?

The provided page facts and studies do not contain pricing information to determine whether Olay or SK-II is more affordable.

Which brand has better fragrance-free formulations, Olay or SK-II?

Olay has better fragrance-free formulations, as review themes on this page show it does better in that category. The products on this page for Olay list no fragrance in 26 of 27 items, while SK-II lists no fragrance across all of its products.

Olay or SK-II for oily skin?

Both Olay and SK-II are a High fit for oily skin. The products on this page help provide good hydration without a heavy feel.

Olay or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Both Olay and SK-II are good options for sensitive skin, as the products on this page for both brands fit this skin type well. Reviewers note that Olay offers fragrance-free options and good fragrance-free formulations, while SK-II lists no fragrance across every product on this page.

Olay or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

Both Olay and SK-II are good options for acne-prone skin, as the products on this page help deliver strong overall results for this skin type. Lovi rates the routine fit for acne-prone skin as High for both brands.

Olay or SK-II for mature skin?

Olay is a better choice for mature skin because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to SK-II's High level. Olay features key anti-aging ingredients like niacinamide, peptides, and retinol, which helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and stimulates collagen accumulation in aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Olay or SK-II for skin with dark spots?

Both Olay and SK-II are good options for skin with dark spots, as the products on this page for both brands generally achieve a High fit level for this skin concern. Olay also features niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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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