Skintific vs SK-II
Skintific and SK-II are distinct skincare lines, with the former loved for its moisturizers, serums, and sunscreens featuring effective formulas, and the latter cherished for its luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, clarifying toners, and restorative masks anchored by pitera. Skintific suits all skin types best, offering standout solutions like the All Day Light Sunscreen Mist for acne-prone skin, the 5X Ceramide Barrier Moisture Gel for skin with dark spots, and the MUGWORT for mature skin. Conversely, the Japanese brand suits dry skin and acne-prone skin best, featuring formulations to address imbalances, with standout products like the Genoptics Ultraura Essence for acne-prone skin, the Facial Treatment Essence for skin with dark spots, and the Facial Treatment Clear Lotion for mature skin. Through regular application, SK-II's key ingredients actively improve pore area, roughness, and redness, highlighting how both differ significantly in their approach to targeted skincare.
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 Skintific and SK-II products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Skintific vs SK-II products
People Say
Lightweight texture and absorption Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly — Skintific 5X Ceramide Barrier Moisture Gel”
- “super light and leaves a radiant glow — Skintific All Day Light Sunscreen Mist”
- “light as air — Skintific MATE FIT”
- “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
Brightening, radiance and glow Sometimes 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”
- “Tampak lebih cerah — Skintific AHA BHA PHA LHA Peeling Solution”
Skin texture improvement and smoothing Sometimes NotedMostly 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”
- “Kulit terasa lebih halus — Skintific AHA BHA PHA LHA Peeling Solution”
Application and cleansing features Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “mess-free application — Skintific MUGWORT”
- “skin feels fresh — Skintific MUGWORT”
- “didn't dry out skin — Skintific MUGWORT”
- “Dissolves waterproof mascara, melts stubborn makeup, removes sunscreen easily. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
Balancing and hydration Not notedMostly Mentioned
- “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
- “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
- “Leaves skin soft, feels moisturized, does not dry out skin. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
Calming, soothing and barrier repair Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “calm my acne instantly — Skintific MUGWORT”
- “redness berkurang — Skintific 5X Ceramide Barrier Moisture Gel”
- “healed my skin barrier — Skintific 5X Ceramide Barrier Moisture Gel”
High price point Not notedMostly Mentioned
- “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
Scent and fragrance complaints Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “scent is actually quite strong — Skintific All Day Light Sunscreen Mist”
- “Bau jamu/rempah — Skintific AHA BHA PHA LHA Peeling Solution”
- “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
- “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
Lack of visible changes Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “Gada perubahan apapun — Skintific AHA BHA PHA LHA Peeling Solution”
- “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
Questions and answers
Skintific or SK-II: which is better?
SK-II stands out for brightening and hydration, whereas Skintific is favored for calming and lightweight texture. Every product from both brands on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.
What is the difference between Skintific and SK-II?
Skintific is a newer brand founded in 2021, while SK-II is a Japanese heritage brand founded in 1980 that features Pitera across its products on this page. Reviewers note that Skintific excels at calming, soothing, and barrier repair, whereas SK-II does better for brightening, balancing, and hydration.
Skintific or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?
When choosing between moisturizers from the two brands, SK-II delivers better balancing and hydration, while Skintific provides better calming, soothing, and barrier repair.
Which is more affordable, Skintific or SK-II?
SK-II is generally the more affordable option, as Skintific faces complaints regarding a high price point for the products on this page.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Skintific or SK-II?
When it comes to breakout-prone skin, SK-II features products on this page like Genoptics Ultraura Essence that reach a Superior fit level for acne-prone skin, whereas Skintific products on this page generally achieve an Average or High fit. Both brands list no fragrance in their ingredients.
Which brand is better for calming, soothing, and barrier repair, Skintific or SK-II?
Skintific does better for calming, soothing, and barrier repair among the products on this page. The brand features barrier-focused ingredients like ceramides, which help support skin health.
Scientific Reports, 2022International Journal of Dermatology, 2008
Between Skintific and SK-II, which brand was founded earlier and in which country?
SK-II was founded earlier than Skintific, originating in Japan in 1980.
Which brand features products containing Pitera as a key ingredient?
SK-II is the brand that features Pitera as a key ingredient across its products on this page.
Research behind their key ingredients
The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Microneedling by dermapen and glycolic acid peel for the treatment of acne scars: Comparative study
In vivo and in vitro evaluation of octyl methoxycinnamate liposomes
Three clinical studies showing the anti-aging benefits of sodium salicylate in human skin
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Retrospective Review of Dermal Safety Studies of Organic Sunscreens
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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