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Pixi vs SK-II

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

Pixi and SK-II are a British brand founded in 1999 and a Japanese brand founded in 1980, respectively. Pixi is beloved for its balanced toners, serums, eye products, and moisturizers that suit mature and oily skin, while SK-II is cherished for luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, clarifying toners, and restorative masks anchored by pitera to suit dry and acne-prone skin. The British brand offers gentle, reliable daily care with formulas like the Glow Tonic, Glow Peel Pads, and Retinol Tonic, whereas the Japanese brand actively improves pore area, roughness, and redness through standout solutions like the Genoptics Ultraura Essence, Facial Treatment Essence, and Facial Treatment Clear Lotion. Ultimately, they differ in their signature ingredients, targeted concerns, and regional origins.

Pixi is a British skincare brand founded in 1999.

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

Popular Pixi vs SK-II products

People Say

PixiSK-II
  • Radiance and Glow Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “gives instant glow — Pixi Glow Tonic”
    • “Skin is noticeably brighter — Pixi Glow Peel Pads”
    • “healthy radiance — Pixi Glow Mist”
    • “gives a glass skin look — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Deep Hydration and Plumping Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Instant surge of hydration — Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist”
    • “deeply hydrates and balances — Pixi Antioxidant Tonic”
    • “leaves under-eyes super soft — Pixi DetoxifEYE Depuffing Eye Patches”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorption Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Absorbs quickly — Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist”
    • “Absorbs fairly quickly into the skin. — Pixi Vitamin-C Serum”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Absorbs into the skin quickly. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
  • Texture and Smoothness Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Removes leftover dirt — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “Skin feels incredible, so smooth — Pixi Glow Peel Pads”
  • Cooling, Soothing and Calming Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “instantly cooling upon application — Pixi DetoxifEYE Depuffing Eye Patches”
    • “calms my redness instantly — Pixi Rose Tonic”
    • “Smells fresh — Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist”
    • “Watery consistency — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Pleasant Scents Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “smells like fresh roses — Pixi Rose Oil Blend”
    • “lovely subtle rose scent — Pixi Rose Tonic”
    • “refreshing rose smell — Pixi Glow Mist”
    • “Subtle rose fragrance, spa-like scent, not overpowering. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
  • Price and Value Concerns Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Bottle is too small — Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist”
    • “Slight downside is the price — Pixi Glow Peel Pads”
    • “bottle is very small — Pixi Rose Oil Blend”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Scents and Fragrance Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smell is overpowering — Pixi Glow Tonic”
    • “Scent is too strong — Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Packaging and Application Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “cotton is too thick and heavy — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “slippery and won't stay put — Pixi DetoxifEYE Depuffing Eye Patches”
  • Residue and Texture Feel Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “dried to a tacky finish — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “quite thick consistency — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “too greasy — Pixi Glow Mist”

Pixi vs SK-II routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Pixi vs SK-II routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Pixi vs SK-II routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Pixi or SK-II: which is better?

Pixi is the better choice for shoppers seeking radiance, deep hydration, and soothing care, as it matches SK-II with a Superior fit for dry skin and outperforms it across all other skin types on this page. Reviewers frequently praise Pixi for its deep hydration and brightening effects, though some note potential issues with sticky residue or strong fragrance.

What is the difference between Pixi and SK-II?

Pixi offers a wide selection of products with key ingredients like aloe vera and hyaluronic acid, whereas SK-II relies on its signature ingredient, Pitera, across its fragrance-free range. Reviewers note that Pixi excels in radiance, deep hydration, and soothing benefits, while SK-II performs better in texture and smoothness. Lovi rates Pixi as having a Superior routine fit for dry skin, and SK-II as also having a Superior fit for dry skin.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences, 2019

Pixi or SK-II for dry skin?

Both Pixi and SK-II achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for dry skin routines. The products on this page help deliver deep hydration and radiance.

Pixi or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

For moisturizers on this page, Pixi features options like its Rose Oil Blend while SK-II offers items such as the Facial Treatment Essence and Skinpower Advanced Cream. Reviewers note that Pixi helps provide deep hydration and radiance, whereas SK-II uses key ingredients like Pitera across its fragrance-free formulas.

Which is more affordable, Pixi or SK-II?

Pixi is more affordable, though reviewers on the products on this page note price and value concerns for the brand.

Which brand has more products containing fragrance, Pixi or SK-II?

Pixi has more products containing fragrance on this page, with seven products listing fragrance, whereas every product on the SK-II page lists no fragrance.

What are the founding years and countries of origin for Pixi and SK-II?

Pixi was founded in 1999 in the United Kingdom, while SK-II was founded in 1980 in Japan.

Which brand performs better for radiance and glow according to reviewers?

According to reviewers, Pixi performs better than SK-II for radiance and glow.

Pixi or SK-II for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi rates Pixi as Superior and SK-II as High. Pixi offers products like Retinol Tonic that fit oily skin well, though reviewers note it may sometimes cause sticky residue or fragrance issues.

Pixi or SK-II for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, Lovi rates Pixi as a Superior fit and SK-II as a High fit. Reviewers note that Pixi offers gentle and soothing toners, although the brand also features products with strong fragrance.

Pixi or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

Pixi is the better choice for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to SK-II's High level. Pixi's Retinol Tonic and Glow Tonic provide Superior fits for this skin type, while key ingredients like Aloe vera help with skin healing.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences, 2019

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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