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Medik8 vs SK-II

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

Medik8 and SK-II are established skincare brands offering serums, moisturizers, eye products, toners, and masks built around hyaluronic acid and signature pitera formulations. The British brand suits acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin best through targeted items like the Surface Radiance Cleanse, Oxy-R Peptides, and Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream, while the Japanese brand excels with dry and dry sensitive skin using nourishing solutions such as the Genoptics Ultraura Essence, Facial Treatment Essence, and Facial Treatment Clear Lotion. Both lines rely on distinct active components, with the former utilizing hyaluronic acid to lengthen toxin wrinkle effect duration and the latter employing pitera to improve pore area, roughness, and redness for a balanced complexion.

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.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 Medik8 and SK-II products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Medik8 vs SK-II products

People Say

Medik8SK-II
  • Texture and lightweight feel Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Smoother skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
  • Brightening and glowing skin Often MentionedMostly 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”
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
  • Deep hydration and moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Gentleness and skin sensitivity Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “Great for sensitive — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
  • Plumping and smoothing effect Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “Reduces fine lines — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • High price point and value Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “very expensive for amount — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “hefty price tag — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Results timeline and effectiveness Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “no difference yet — Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Tackiness, oiliness, and finish Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “dried to a tacky finish — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “quite thick consistency — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “Need extra moisturizer — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “too oily for my combination skin — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
  • Unpleasant scent or fragrance issues Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”

Questions and answers

Medik8 or SK-II: which is better?

Medik8 and SK-II each perform better in different areas, with SK-II doing better for texture, lightweight feel, brightening, and glowing skin, while Medik8 does better for gentleness, skin sensitivity, plumping, and smoothing effects. Both brands deliver deep hydration and moisture equally.

What is the difference between Medik8 and SK-II?

Medik8 stands out for providing gentler care and a plumping effect, whereas SK-II tends to do better with texture, lightweight feel, and brightening. Both brands offer equal benefits for deep hydration and moisture.

Medik8 or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

For moisturizers, both Medik8 and SK-II are strong options, with Medik8 offering high fit levels for dry and mature skin and SK-II featuring products like Facial Treatment Essence that help provide deep hydration. Topical hyaluronic acid, a key ingredient found in these products, helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or SK-II?

Reviewers note that both Medik8 and SK-II have a high price point, so neither brand is more affordable.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Medik8 or SK-II?

When it comes to breakouts, neither brand is explicitly noted for causing them, but Medik8 offers cleansers and serums that Lovi rates as Superior or High for acne-prone skin.

Which brand offers better options for sensitive skin, Medik8 or SK-II?

Medik8 does better for gentleness and skin sensitivity compared to SK-II. Reviewers mostly mention that Medik8 offers gentle and non-irritating serums.

How do the country of origin and parent companies of Medik8 and SK-II compare?

Medik8 was founded in 2009 in the United Kingdom and has been owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025. In comparison, SK-II was founded in 1980 in Japan and has been owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

Which brand's products contain fragrance, Medik8 or SK-II?

Medik8 offers products that contain fragrance, specifically the Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream. In contrast, SK-II lists no fragrance in any of the products on this page.

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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