Shiseido Deep Cleansing Foam for skin with dark spots
Glycerin
Stearic Acid
Myristic Acid
Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Average
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for skin with dark spots; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate cleansing for your normal skin, as myristic acid and lauric acid effectively remove impurities while glycerin and betaine provide essential hydration.
- Rice germ oil contributes emollient properties, supporting overall skin comfort and balance.
- The formula is safe for your normal skin, with no harsh ingredients or irritation risks.
How to apply
- You can use this cleanser AM and PM every single day. Start slowly 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in your morning routine or the second step in your evening routine. Follow it with toner and moisturizer.
- Massage a small amount of cleanser gently onto your face using circular motions. Rinse well with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- For the best results, apply your cleanser directly to wet skin to help wash away dirt. Make sure your face is clean before you begin.
- Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes. Always do a quick patch test before using the product for the very first time.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers with oily and combination skin frequently praise this cleanser for its deep cleansing abilities, leaving skin feeling very clean and refreshed. A rich lather and high efficiency are also commonly noted positive aspects. However, a significant number of users with dry or sensitive skin report that the cleanser can be drying and stripping, sometimes leading to tightness or irritation.
Highlights
Deep cleansing effect Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels squeaky clean”
- “removes all makeup residue”
- “pores look cleaner”
Rich lather Often Mentioned
- “creates a rich foam”
- “lathers up quite nicely”
- “bubbles are silky”
Drying and stripping Often Mentioned
- “stripped me of moisture”
- “face felt tight”
- “too harsh for dry skin”
High efficiency Sometimes Noted
- “little bit goes a long way”
- “pea sized amount needed”
- “tube lasts for months”
Refreshing finish Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels fresh”
- “smooth to the touch”
- “polished away roughness”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused painful acne”
- “constant breaking out”
- “tore my skin up”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “stung a bit”
- “caused redness”
- “burning sensation”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “chemical smell”
- “strong fragrance”
- “smell wasn't off putting but...”
Sources: lovi.care, shiseido.com, macys.com, sephora.sg, influenster.com, well.ca, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Shiseido Deep Cleansing Foam work for skin with dark spots?
Shiseido Deep Cleansing Foam is an average fit for skin with dark spots because while it cleanses and hydrates your skin safely, it lacks the targeted brightening ingredients found in top-rated options. Skin with dark spots needs a cleanser that combines gentle cleansing with ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to effectively address pigmentation while maintaining moisture.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, glycerin, and betaine help cleanse and hydrate your skin while providing a moderate fit. For skin with dark spots, a cleanser of this type needs high-quality ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to effectively address pigmentation concerns while maintaining a safe, gentle, and balanced formulation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Pharmaceutics, 2024
What does Water do for skin with dark spots?
Water is unlikely to directly reduce dark spots on its own, but staying properly hydrated helps maintain overall skin health and supports the skin barrier. To effectively target dark spots, your skincare routine also needs specialized antioxidant substances and brightening ingredients like niacinamide.
What does Glycerin do for skin with dark spots?
Glycerin helps keep dry skin hydrated and supports a healthy skin barrier, which makes skin feel soft and smooth. While it does not directly fade dark spots on its own, it is often added to spot-fading products to keep the skin comfortable while other ingredients work.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the first cleansing step, or as the second step in the evening after makeup removal. To better address skin with dark spots, a cleanser of this type needs added brightening ingredients and gentle exfoliants that help fade discoloration.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine before applying retinol, as it gently removes impurities while keeping the skin hydrated. A cleanser for this skin type also needs targeted brightening ingredients to help fade dark spots.
How often should I use this cleanser?
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for skin with dark spots, as reviewers rarely report breakouts and the formula avoids harsh irritation risks. However, because some users experience drying and stripping, skin with dark spots generally benefits from cleansers featuring gentle hydrators and brighteners to maintain an even tone without stripping moisture.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the very thin skin directly around the eyes. The eyelids and surrounding areas are much thinner than other body regions and require specialized care to prevent irritation.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, linalool, geraniol, and citronellol).
What the research says
A combination of Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine in a 1:1 mass ratio synergistically increased aquaporin 3 expression by up to 380% in keratinocytes and safely improved skin hydration in healthy volunteers.
Molecules, 2024A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017L-ascorbic acid and betaine-based therapeutic deep eutectic system significantly enhanced transdermal delivery through porcine skin compared to ascorbic acid alone or physical mixture, and reduced aging markers while inducing an even skin tone in humans.
Pharmaceutics, 2024A topical xanthan gum nanogel containing gamma-oryzanol-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers and nanosized TiO2 and MBBT filters demonstrated high photoprotection with an SPF of 34 and no skin irritation or sensitization in a rat model.
Pharmaceuticals, 2023The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment disrupts the ordered intercellular lipid lamellar structure in hairless mouse stratum corneum, and immersion in a ceramide 3, cholesterol, and stearic acid mixture successfully reorganizes this ordered lamellar structure.
Biophysical Chemistry, 2001Partially purified paeoniflorin protected human keratinocytes and mouse skin from UV-induced DNA damage and reduced facial wrinkles in human volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2006Paeonia suffruticosa callus extract downregulated inflammatory factors, alleviated DNA damage, and increased total collagen content in in vitro and in vivo evaluations.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Topical application of Paeonia lactiflora root extract and paeoniflorin significantly decreases melanin content by 23% to 30% in reconstructed pigmented human epidermis compared to vehicle control.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2016
Why other cleansers fit skin with dark spots better
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002
Ingredients
Water, Stearic Acid, Peg-8, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Lauric Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sorbitol, Beeswax Cera Alba Cire Dabeille Cera, Sodium Lauryl Glycol Carboxylate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Parfum, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Disodium Edta, Menthol, Rice Germ Oil, Talc, Ethylcellulose, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Acrylates Copolymer, Ultramarines, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Silica, Betaine, Silk Powder Serica Poudre De Soie Powder, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tetrasodium Edta, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Benzoic Acid, Tocopherol
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score 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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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