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Medicube vs SK-II

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

Medicube and SK-II are esteemed skincare brands originating from Korea and Japan, respectively. Enthusiasts adore the former for its moisturizers, serums, toners, and masks featuring niacinamide, collagen, and hyaluronic acid, while the latter is celebrated for its moisturizers, serums, masks, toners, and signature pitera formulations. Both brands suit dry skin best, though the first also caters to oily acne-prone skin, and the second accommodates dry sensitive skin. They primarily differ in their geographic origins, founding years, ownership, and core active ingredients.

Medicube is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by APR Corp..

medicubereviews.co.ukglossy.co

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

Popular Medicube vs SK-II products

People Say

MedicubeSK-II
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels bouncier and hydrated — Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum”
    • “glass skin — Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Packaging, Convenience and Lather Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Mochi-like foam — Medicube Zero Foam Cleanser”
    • “feels amazing and cooling — Medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Mud Mask”
    • “dries super fast — Medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Mud Mask”
    • “Removes leftover dirt — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Skin Texture Improvement Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “gives my skin a smooth, glass-like finish — Medicube Zero Pore Pad”
    • “skin feels smoother — Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum”
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Radiance and Glow Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “gave me instant glass skin — Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream”
    • “woke up with glowing skin — Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask”
    • “gives a glass skin look — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “leaves me with a red carpet glow — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Gentle and Soothing Formulation Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “refreshing sensation — Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask”
    • “Did not cause any irritation — Medicube Red Foam Cleanser”
    • “no tingling or burning — Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum”
    • “Watery consistency — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Brightening and Fading Spots Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin looks brighter — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “My skin is glowing now. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
    • “Reduced sun spots — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “Dark spots go away faster — Medicube Deep Vita C Pad”
  • High Price and Cost Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “tube is tiny for the price — Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask”
    • “price is steep — Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask”
    • “price is a bit steep — Medicube Red Succinic Acid Peeling Pad”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Unpleasant Fragrance or Scent Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “slightly fishy smell — Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum”
    • “smells like old lady perfume — Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Product Design, Quantity and Application Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “cotton is too thick and heavy — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “messy — Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask”
  • Irritation and Breakouts Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “caused redness and sensitivity — Medicube Zero Pore Pad”
    • “woke up with whiteheads — Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask”
    • “caused tiny red bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Small bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Sticky and Heavy Residue Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “dried to a tacky finish — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “quite thick consistency — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “hair sticks to my face — Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream”

Medicube vs SK-II routines for dry skin

Buy SK-II routine · S$606.78 · 93% fitBuy Medicube routine · S$127.51 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Medicube vs SK-II routines for oily skin

Buy SK-II routine · S$820.58 · 88% fitBuy Medicube routine · S$223.62 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Medicube vs SK-II routines for combination skin

Buy SK-II routine · S$716.48 · 89% fitBuy Medicube routine · S$223.62 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Medicube or SK-II: which is better?

Both brands perform well on this page, but Medicube is a better fit for dry sensitive skin with a High Lovi level compared to SK-II's Superior level. For dry skin, oily skin, combination skin, sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, mature skin, and skin with dark spots, both brands offer equal routine fits.

What is the difference between Medicube and SK-II?

Medicube is a South Korean brand founded in 2016 that focuses on key ingredients like niacinamide and collagen, while SK-II is a Japanese brand founded in 1980 that centers its formulas around Pitera. For dry sensitive skin, Lovi rates SK-II as Superior and Medicube as High, whereas both brands achieve equal fit levels for most other skin types on the products on this page.

Medicube or SK-II for dry skin?

Both Medicube and SK-II achieve a Superior routine fit for dry skin among the products on this page. Reviewers note that Medicube products help provide deep hydration and a radiant glow, while utilizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid which helps support skin quality as noted in the literature.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medicube or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

Both brands offer moisturizers for different skin needs, with Medicube products on this page frequently cited for deep hydration and SK-II featuring unique formulations like the Facial Treatment Essence. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry skin as Superior for both brands, while SK-II achieves a Superior fit for dry sensitive skin compared to Medicube's High fit.

Which is more affordable, Medicube or SK-II?

Medicube is more affordable than SK-II, though high price and cost is noted as a negative review theme for the products on this page.

Which brand has a higher percentage of fragrance-free products, Medicube or SK-II?

SK-II has a higher percentage of fragrance-free products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance. Medicube also offers many fragrance-free options, though 2 of its 25 products on the page contain fragrance.

Which brand does better in terms of brighting and fading spots?

SK-II does better in terms of brightening and fading spots compared to Medicube based on the review themes.

What are the key ingredients used across SK-II products?

The products on this page from SK-II feature Pitera as their key ingredient.

Medicube or SK-II for oily skin?

Both Medicube and SK-II are a High fit for oily skin. Review themes show they provide equal results for hydration and moisture, skin texture improvement, and radiance and glow.

Medicube or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Both Medicube and SK-II are a High fit for sensitive skin on Lovi. Medicube features fragrance-free options across most of the products on this page and is often noted for a soothing and gentle formulation.

Medicube or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

Both Medicube and SK-II achieve a High routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Niacinamide helps reduce inflammation and control skin aging, which may benefit acne-prone complexions.

Antioxidants, 2021

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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