🇬🇧United Kingdom

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, toners, and more. The British brand relies on hyaluronic acid to suit dry skin and dry sensitive skin best, while the Japanese brand centers its luxurious formulations on pitera to support dry skin and acne-prone skin. Both differ in their targeted solutions, with the former featuring options like Surface Radiance Cleanse, Oxy-R Peptides, and Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream, and the latter presenting the Genoptics Ultraura Essence, Facial Treatment Essence, and Facial Treatment Clear Lotion.

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”

Medik8 vs SK-II routines for dry skin

Buy Medik8 routine · £187.36 · 97% fitBuy SK-II routine · £225.40 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Medik8 vs SK-II routines for oily skin

Buy Medik8 routine · £285.55 · 89% fitBuy SK-II routine · £339.53 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Medik8 vs SK-II routines for combination skin

Buy Medik8 routine · £261.28 · 92% fitBuy SK-II routine · £308.34 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Medik8 or SK-II: which is better?

Both Medik8 and SK-II achieve a Superior fit for dry skin, with Medik8 standing out for gentleness and SK-II performing better for a lightweight feel and brightening.

What is the difference between Medik8 and SK-II?

Medik8 is generally known for its gentle formulas that help improve texture and plumping, while SK-II tends to offer a lightweight feel and brightening effects. Both brands provide good options for hydration, though Medik8 features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid across the products on this page.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or SK-II for dry skin?

Both Medik8 and SK-II achieve a Superior fit for dry skin on this page. Medik8 features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid to provide deep hydration and plumping, which may help improve dry skin conditions.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

Medik8 is a great choice for moisturizers, as the products on this page help deliver deep hydration with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or SK-II?

Both brands feature a high price point, but reviewers note high price and value more frequently as a negative for Medik8 than for SK-II.

Between Medik8 and SK-II, which brand performs better for mature skin?

Medik8 is the better choice for mature skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to the High fit level for SK-II. The products on this page for Medik8 include targeted options like Oxy-R Peptides and CRYSTAL RETINAL 3, which help address aging concerns.

How do the founding years and corporate owners 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 contrast, SK-II was founded earlier in 1980 in Japan and has been owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

Which brand has more fragrance-free options, Medik8 or SK-II?

Both brands offer entirely fragrance-free options among the products on this page, as every single SK-II product and 11 out of 12 Medik8 products list no fragrance in their ingredients.

Medik8 or SK-II for oily skin?

For oily skin, both Medik8 and SK-II achieve a High Lovi fit level on the products on this page. Reviewers report that SK-II tends to do better for texture and lightweight feel.

Medik8 or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Medik8 is a better fit for sensitive skin, earning a Superior routine fit compared to SK-II's High fit on this page. Reviewers note that Medik8's gentle, non-irritating serums help deliver deep hydration without causing discomfort.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Medik8 is noted for being gentle, while SK-II features products like Genoptics Ultraura Essence which has a Superior fit level for this skin type.

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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