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CeraVe vs SK-II

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

CeraVe and SK-II are prominent skincare brands that offer distinct approaches to daily care. The American brand, founded in 2005, is known for thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and sunscreens utilizing hydrating hyaluronic acid and glycerin, whereas the Japanese brand, founded in 1980, is cherished for luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, clarifying toners, and restorative masks anchored by its signature ingredient, pitera. Both suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best, though they differ through CeraVe focusing on essential barrier restoration and SK-II actively improving pores, roughness, and redness.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.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 CeraVe and SK-II products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular CeraVe vs SK-II products

People Say

CeraVeSK-II
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Fragrance and Gentle Formula Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Watery consistency — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Brightening, Radiance, and Glow 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”
    • “skin is literally glowing — CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum”
  • Acne and Oil Control Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “dialed back oiliness — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “Never breaks me out — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “helped to stop my breakout in its tracks — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
    • “Controls T-zone oil — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Value and Pricing Often MentionedNot noted
    • “reasonably priced — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “Huge tub lasts forever — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Great everyday moisturizer — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
  • Price Point Complaints Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive Vaseline — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Slow or Underwhelming Results Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “takes a few months — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “meh — CeraVe Hydrating Toner”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Texture and Application Issues Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “cotton is too thick and heavy — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “dried to a tacky finish — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “quite thick consistency — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “feels like washing with conditioner — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
  • Breakouts and Purging Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “caused tiny red bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Small bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “did break out some while adjusting — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “Gave me cystic acne — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”

CeraVe vs SK-II routines for dry skin

Buy SK-II routine · £225.40 · 91% fitBuy CeraVe routine · £78.52 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

CeraVe vs SK-II routines for oily skin

Buy SK-II routine · £339.53 · 88% fitBuy CeraVe routine · £185.98 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

CeraVe vs SK-II routines for combination skin

Buy CeraVe routine · £145.74 · 87% fitBuy SK-II routine · £308.34 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or SK-II: which is better?

CeraVe offers better value and pricing on the products on this page, while SK-II does better for brightening, radiance, and glow.

What is the difference between CeraVe and SK-II?

CeraVe provides fragrance-free products with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide that help dry, acne-prone, and mature skin. SK-II uses Pitera across its products on this page to help support skin texture and radiance.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

CeraVe or SK-II for dry skin?

For dry skin, CeraVe and SK-II both have a High routine fit on Lovi, while SK-II achieves a Superior fit. CeraVe offers fragrance-free moisturizers with key ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid that help repair the skin barrier and provide deep hydration.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

CeraVe or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

Both CeraVe and SK-II offer moisturizers with a High routine fit for dry skin, while CeraVe also achieves a Superior routine fit for acne-prone, mature, and combination skin types. Reviewers note that CeraVe provides lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers with superior healing and texture.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or SK-II?

CeraVe does better than SK-II for value and pricing. Reviewers note price point complaints for CeraVe, but it remains the more affordable option.

Between CeraVe and SK-II, which brand does better for brightening, radiance, and glow?

SK-II does better for brightening, radiance, and glow. The products on this page help improve skin radiance with ingredients like Pitera.

Which brand has products that are fragrance-free according to their ingredient lists?

Both CeraVe and SK-II have products that are fragrance-free, as every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

What are the main key ingredients found across CeraVe products compared to SK-II?

CeraVe products feature key ingredients such as ceramide, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, niacinamide, ceramide ap, dimethicone, and salicylic acid. In contrast, SK-II products feature pitera as their key ingredient.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

CeraVe or SK-II for oily skin?

Both CeraVe and SK-II achieve a High routine fit for oily skin on Lovi. CeraVe tends to do better for acne and oil control among the products on this page.

CeraVe or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Both CeraVe and SK-II achieve a High routine fit for sensitive skin. CeraVe does better for fragrance and gentle formula, as every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

CeraVe or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

CeraVe fits acne-prone skin with a Superior routine level, whereas SK-II offers a High routine fit 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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