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Estée Lauder vs SK-II

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

Estée Lauder and SK-II are esteemed skincare brands from America and Japan, respectively, that offer comprehensive ranges of moisturizers, serums, and more. The American brand is beloved for formulas featuring hydrating hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which suit acne-prone and mature skin best, while the Japanese brand is deeply adored for its signature ingredient, pitera, which suits acne-prone and dry skin best. Both brands differ through their unique formulations and origins, yet both provide targeted solutions for concerns like dark spots. Ultimately, these time-tested offerings deliver distinct nourishment to help reveal a balanced and serene appearance.

Estée Lauder is an American skincare brand founded in 1946 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

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

Popular Estée Lauder vs SK-II products

People Say

Estée LauderSK-II
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up immediately — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “The formula is incredibly hydrating and leaves my skin feeling smooth. — Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv”
    • “texture is dreamy — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Skin texture improvement Often MentionedMostly 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 feels like a baby's bottom — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
  • Radiance, glow and brightening 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”
    • “gives me that glass skin look — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
  • Lightweight feel and absorption Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Absorbs into the skin quickly. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
    • “Absorbs quickly — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “Absorbs quickly into the skin — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
  • Gentle and non-drying formula Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “doesn't strip the skin — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée”
    • “Doesn't strip my skin — Estée Lauder Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser”
    • “Leaves skin feeling soft and smooth — Estée Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion”
    • “Leaves skin soft, feels moisturized, does not dry out skin. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
  • Effective makeup removal and cleansing Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “removes all my makeup effortlessly — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée”
    • “Melts away Double Wear foundation instantly — Estée Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion”
    • “Leaves my skin very clean — Estée Lauder Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser”
    • “Dissolves waterproof mascara, melts stubborn makeup, removes sunscreen easily. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
  • High price point and expensive cost Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive for the size — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “too pricey — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
    • “Very expensive for the amount — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Unpleasant scent or fragrance issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Scent is too overpowering — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
    • “strong scent — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Lack of results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “didn't notice any difference — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
    • “just expensive water — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
    • “Haven't seen the results yet. — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ Youth Power Eye Balm”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Bulky or poor packaging design Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “cotton is too thick and heavy — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “lid is hard to open — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée”

Estée Lauder vs SK-II routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Estée Lauder vs SK-II routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Estée Lauder vs SK-II routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Estée Lauder or SK-II: which is better?

SK-II reaches a Superior routine fit for dry and acne-prone skin on the products on this page, whereas Estée Lauder achieves a High fit for those same types. Reviewers note that SK-II does better for skin texture, radiance, and lightweight feel, while Estée Lauder stands out for deep hydration and gentle cleansers.

What is the difference between Estée Lauder and SK-II?

Estée Lauder offers better deep hydration and gentle cleansers among the products on this page, whereas SK-II stands out for skin texture improvement and a lightweight feel.

Estée Lauder or SK-II for dry skin?

For dry skin, SK-II offers a Superior routine fit on this page, while Estée Lauder offers a High routine fit.

Estée Lauder or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

SK-II achieves a Superior routine fit for dry skin on this page, whereas Estée Lauder achieves a High fit. Estée Lauder's moisturizers feature hyaluronic acid and glycerin, helping provide deep hydration, while SK-II features Pitera.

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

Which is more affordable, Estée Lauder or SK-II?

Reviewers note that a high price point is a drawback for Estée Lauder on the products on this page.

Between Estée Lauder and SK-II, which brand is better for skin texture improvement?

SK-II is better for skin texture improvement than Estée Lauder based on the review themes on this page.

Which brand offers better fragrance-free options across all its products, Estée Lauder or SK-II?

SK-II offers better fragrance-free options across the products on this page, as every SK-II product lists no fragrance. In contrast, Estée Lauder includes fragrance in two of its products on this page, while the rest list no fragrance.

How do the morning routines for dry skin compare between Estée Lauder and SK-II?

For dry skin, the morning routine for Estée Lauder features a cleanser, hydrating toner, moisturizer, and SPF, whereas SK-II uses a gentle cleanser, hydrating toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen.

Estée Lauder or SK-II for oily skin?

For oily skin, SK-II achieves a High routine fit on the products on this page, whereas Estée Lauder reaches an Average fit. SK-II also performs better for lightweight feel and absorption.

Estée Lauder or SK-II for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both brands do well, as Lovi rates Estée Lauder High and SK-II High. Reviewers note that Estée Lauder provides gentle and non-drying cleansers, while SK-II lists no fragrance across the products on this page.

Estée Lauder or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, SK-II achieves a Superior routine fit on this page, while Estée Lauder reaches a High fit. Reviewers note that SK-II delivers better results for skin texture improvement and a lightweight feel, whereas Estée Lauder provides stronger deep hydration and gentle cleansers.

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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