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Avène vs SK-II

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

Avène and SK-II are established skincare brands originating from France and Japan respectively, offering distinct approaches to daily care. The French house is universally loved for its versatile moisturizers, reliable sunscreens, targeted serums, and gentle cleansers formulated with nourishing glycerin, while the Japanese counterpart is cherished for its luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, clarifying toners, and restorative masks anchored by signature pitera. Both suit acne-prone skin best, though the former also suits oily acne-prone skin with options like the Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm, and the latter additionally suits dry skin with standout solutions like the Genoptics Ultraura Essence. Ultimately, they differ through their key ingredients, as glycerin improves skin hydration and restores barrier function, whereas pitera actively improves pore area, roughness, and redness.

Avène is a French skincare brand founded in 1990 and owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre.

pierre-fabre.comavene.co.ukaveneusa.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 Avène and SK-II products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Avène vs SK-II products

People Say

AvèneSK-II
  • Texture and Absorption 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”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Saves my skin in winter — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “Thick but absorbs well eventually — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective 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 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”
    • “Skin looks brighter — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “immediate radiance boost — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
  • Gentle Formulation Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “leaves face clean but not dry — Avène Cleanance”
    • “no irritation at all — Avène Hydrance+”
    • “No irritation at all, even though it contains retinal - perfect for sensitive skin — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
    • “Watery consistency — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Skin Soothing and Barrier Repair Often MentionedNot noted
    • “Calmed my angry red skin overnight — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Nothing has ever worked to soothe or heal my skin like these before. — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
  • General Anti-Aging Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “skin instantly felt firmer — Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum”
    • “I've noticed a definite improvement in the fine lines around my eyes — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
    • “reducing the appearance of fine lines — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “My skin appeared more even toned. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
  • Price and Cost Concerns Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Its a bit pricey but so worth it!! — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “a bit pricey — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Tiny tube for the money — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Lack of Results or Performance Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “They have changed the formula recently, and it... is not as good. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “It absolutely couldn't remove anything on its own. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “no difference — Avène Antirougeurs Fort Relief Concentrate”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Strong Fragrance and Scent Issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “The fragrance is very present. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “smell is too strong — Avène Cleanance”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Causes Breakouts and Irritation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused tiny red bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Small bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “did break out some while adjusting — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “Woke up with tiny whiteheads all over — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”

Avène vs SK-II routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Avène vs SK-II routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Avène vs SK-II routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Avène or SK-II: which is better?

Both brands perform well on this page, but SK-II has superior routine fit levels across all skin types compared to Avene. Reviewers note that SK-II is better for texture, absorption, and radiance, while Avene is better for gentle formulation and soothing irritation.

What is the difference between Avène and SK-II?

Avène provides gentle formulations with thermal water that help soothe irritation, while SK-II uses Pitera to offer superior texture, absorption, and radiance across the products on this page. For routine fit, Avène is rated High for dry sensitive skin, whereas SK-II achieves a Superior rating.

Avène or SK-II for dry skin?

SK-II has a Superior routine fit for dry skin, while Avène has a High routine fit for dry skin on this page. SK-II provides better texture and absorption, whereas Avène offers better gentle formulation and skin soothing.

Avène or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

Both Avène and SK-II offer moisturizers like Avène's Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm and SK-II's Facial Treatment Essence, which help nourish the skin. Lovi gives Avène a High fit level for dry skin, while SK-II achieves a Superior routine fit for dry skin.

Which is more affordable, Avène or SK-II?

Avène may be more affordable, as price and cost concerns are noted as a negative review theme for Avène compared to SK-II.

Between Avène and SK-II, which brand is better for texture and absorption?

SK-II does better than Avène for texture and absorption. Every product on the SK-II page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Which brand performs better for skin soothing and barrier repair, Avène or SK-II?

Avène performs better for skin soothing and barrier repair. Reviewers note that Avène focuses on gentle formulation, skin soothing, and barrier repair, while every product on the SK-II page lists no fragrance.

How do the founding years and parent companies of Avène and SK-II compare?

Avène and SK-II were both founded in the same year, 1980. However, Avène is owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre in France, while SK-II has been owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

Avène or SK-II for oily skin?

For oily skin, Avène has a High routine fit and SK-II has a Superior routine fit. Thermal water and Glycerin are key ingredients across the products on this page for Avène, while Pitera is the key ingredient across SK-II.

Avène or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Both Avène and SK-II are rated High for sensitive skin on this page, with Avène noted for more gentle formulation and SK-II offering fragrance-free options across all its products. Glycerin helps provide moisture for sensitive skin types.

Avène or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Avène and SK-II both achieve a High routine fit on Lovi. Avène features targeted products like Cleanance Sunscreen, which has a High fit for acne-prone skin, while SK-II offers fragrance-free options that may help.

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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