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SK-II vs La Prairie

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

SK-II and La Prairie are luxury skincare houses offering thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, nourishing serums, rejuvenating masks, refreshing toners, and exquisite eye products. The Japanese pioneer relies on its signature ingredient, pitera, to suit acne-prone skin and dry skin best, while the Swiss brand elevates its sophisticated formulas to suit dry sensitive skin and mature skin best. Ultimately, the two differ through their heritage and proprietary complexes, delivering time-tested efficacy for a balanced and serene appearance.

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

La Prairie is a Swiss skincare brand founded in 1978 and owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA since 2003.

en.wikipedia.orgreports.beiersdorf.combeiersdorf.com

This page compares some of the most popular SK-II and La Prairie products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular SK-II vs La Prairie products

People Say

SK-IILa Prairie
  • Improves texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “feels like liquid silk — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
    • “absorbs instantly — La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift”
  • Hydration and balance Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “gentle yet effective moisturizing — La Prairie Cellular Softening and Balancing Lotion”
    • “softens skin noticeably — La Prairie Cellular Softening and Balancing Lotion”
  • Radiance and glow Mostly MentionedOften 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”
    • “gave my face a soft glow — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
  • Anti-aging and firming Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “felt skin tighten immediately — La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift”
    • “opened my eyes — La Prairie Skin Caviar Eye Lift”
    • “jawline genuinely looks lifted — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
    • “reducing the appearance of fine lines — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Packaging and convenience Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “fancy design — La Prairie Skin Caviar Eye Lift”
    • “lasts forever — La Prairie Cellular Softening and Balancing Lotion”
    • “Pump dispenser is convenient. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
  • High price Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “eye-wateringly expensive — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
    • “prohibitively expensive — La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift”
  • Underwhelming or slow results Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “No visible difference — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “just a good moisturizer — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
    • “didn't see a huge difference — La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift”
  • Strong fragrance Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “smells like a rich grandma — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
  • Breakouts and skin reactions Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “caused congestion — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
    • “caused breakouts — La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift”
    • “caused tiny red bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Unpleasant scent Often MentionedNot noted
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”

SK-II vs La Prairie routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

SK-II vs La Prairie routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

SK-II vs La Prairie routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

SK-II or La Prairie: which is better?

SK-II and La Prairie are both good brands, with SK-II having a High fit for dry skin and La Prairie having a Superior fit for dry skin. Reviewers note that the products on this page for SK-II list no fragrance, whereas most products on this page for La Prairie contain fragrance.

What is the difference between SK-II and La Prairie?

SK-II and La Prairie differ primarily in their formulation focus and fragrance profile, as the products on this page by SK-II feature Pitera and no added fragrance, while La Prairie features Ginseng with four out of five products containing fragrance. Lovi finds SK-II has a superior fit for acne-prone skin, whereas La Prairie has a superior fit for mature skin.

SK-II or La Prairie for dry skin?

For dry skin, Lovi rates SK-II as having a superior routine fit while La Prairie has a high routine fit. The products on this page from SK-II rely on Pitera as a key ingredient, whereas La Prairie relies on ginseng.

SK-II or La Prairie: which moisturizer is better?

SK-II has a High fit level for moisturizers like the Facial Treatment Essence and Skinpower Advanced Cream on this page, while La Prairie offers a Superior fit with the Skin Caviar Luxe Cream for mature skin. Reviewers note that the products on this page for La Prairie feature lifting effects and luxurious textures, whereas SK-II formulas are fragrance-free.

Which is more affordable, SK-II or La Prairie?

La Prairie products are known for exorbitant prices, while SK-II offers products on this page with no fragrance listed in their ingredients.

Which brand has a stronger fragrance, SK-II or La Prairie?

La Prairie is the brand with a stronger fragrance, whereas SK-II lists no fragrance in the products on this page.

SK-II or La Prairie for anti-aging and firming?

La Prairie does better than SK-II for anti-aging and firming based on reviewer feedback for the products on this page. Lovi rates La Prairie as having a Superior routine fit for mature skin.

SK-II or La Prairie for oily skin?

For oily skin, both SK-II and La Prairie are a High fit on this page. Reviewers note that the products on this page from SK-II list no fragrance, whereas 4 of 5 La Prairie products on this page contain fragrance.

SK-II or La Prairie for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both SK-II and La Prairie are great options since Lovi rates each brand's routine fit as High. The products on this page from SK-II list no fragrance in their ingredients, while most La Prairie products contain fragrance, which may cause potential irritation.

SK-II or La Prairie for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, SK-II is a better choice because Lovi gives the products on this page a superior fit level for this skin type compared to La Prairie. Reviewers also note that La Prairie may cause breakouts and skin reactions, whereas every product on this page from SK-II lists no fragrance.

SK-II or La Prairie for mature skin?

For mature skin, Lovi rates La Prairie as Superior and SK-II as High. La Prairie features anti-aging and firming benefits, though the products on this page often list strong fragrance, whereas SK-II lists no fragrance across its products.

Journal of Ginseng Research, 2017

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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