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The Ordinary vs SK-II

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

The Ordinary and SK-II are distinct skincare brands offering targeted serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more. The Canadian brand is built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry sensitive skin and dry skin best, while the Japanese brand is anchored by its signature ingredient, pitera, and suits acne-prone skin and dry skin best. Both brands differ in their founding origins, key formulations, and specific solutions for concerns like acne, dark spots, and aging.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular The Ordinary vs SK-II products

People Say

The OrdinarySK-II
  • Instant glow and radiance 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”
    • “tight, bright and shiny — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes 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”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Value and affordability Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
  • Skin texture smoothing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “skin looks smoother and brighter — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Lightweight 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”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Acne clearing and blemish reduction Often MentionedNot noted
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “faded dark spots — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
  • High price Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive for Ordinary — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Slow or ineffective results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “no change in pigment — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “not a miracle worker overnight — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “Didn't do anything special — The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Pilling and makeup issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “dried to a tacky finish — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like vinegar — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “smell is unbearable — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “has a slight chemical smell — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”

The Ordinary vs SK-II routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs SK-II routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs SK-II routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or SK-II: which is better?

Both The Ordinary and SK-II are great choices, with The Ordinary offering better affordability and acne-clearing benefits while SK-II delivers superior instant glow and hydration. For routine fit, The Ordinary is rated Superior for dry sensitive skin, whereas SK-II achieves a High fit level for that skin type.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and SK-II?

The Ordinary offers budget-friendly products with key strengths in value and skin texture smoothing, while SK-II leans toward premium pricing with a focus on instant glow and lightweight absorption. Both brands achieve a Superior routine fit for dry skin.

The Ordinary or SK-II for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and SK-II achieve a Superior fit for dry skin on Lovi. The products on this page for both brands feature key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin that help hydrate and plump the skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, both The Ordinary and SK-II offer effective options, with Lovi rating their routines for dry skin as Superior for both brands. The Ordinary delivers great value and hydration through formulas featuring ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin quality.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or SK-II?

The Ordinary offers better value and affordability among the products on this page compared to SK-II. Reviewers frequently note that The Ordinary provides affordable and great value serums.

Which brand performs better for mature skin?

Both The Ordinary and SK-II provide a High fit for mature skin. Review themes indicate that SK-II is better for instant glow and radiance, while The Ordinary offers better skin texture smoothing.

The Ordinary or SK-II for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary fits better with a Superior routine level compared to SK-II's High level. The products on this page help manage oil and provide great value.

The Ordinary or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Lovi shows that The Ordinary is a Superior fit for sensitive skin, while SK-II is a High fit. Reviewers mention that the products on this page from The Ordinary provide affordable value and skin texture smoothing.

The Ordinary or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, SK-II fits best because it achieves a Superior routine fit, whereas The Ordinary reaches a High fit level.

The Ordinary or SK-II for skin with dark spots?

The Ordinary is Lovi's top pick for skin with dark spots because the products on this page achieve a Superior fit level for this skin type, compared to SK-II's High fit level. Niacinamide helps reduce pigmentation by suppressing melanosome transfer, making these formulas effective for brightening uneven skin tone.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

The Ordinary or SK-II for dry sensitive skin?

The Ordinary offers a Superior routine fit for dry sensitive skin, making it a better match than SK-II, which provides a High fit level.

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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