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Olay vs Shiseido

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

Olay and Shiseido are beloved skincare lines offering thoughtful assortments of moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and more, formulated with key ingredients like glycerin. While the first brand features niacinamide and glycerin to suit sensitive and oily skin, the Japanese brand incorporates glycerin to support sensitive and mature skin. Both brands provide standout options for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin, yet they differ in their heritage and specific foundational compounds.

Shiseido is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1872 and owned by Shiseido Company, Limited.

corp.shiseido.comen.wikipedia.orgmarketscreener.com

This page compares some of the most popular Olay and Shiseido products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Olay vs Shiseido products

People Say

OlayShiseido
  • Texture and absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “silky smooth, rich but non-greasy, absorbs quickly, melts into skin — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “Airy-soft texture — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • Deep hydration and moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Immediate sensation of comfort — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “skin feels plump, soft and nourished, eliminates dryness, bouncy feel — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “Skin feels more hydrated — Shiseido Activating Essence”
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • Anti-aging and skin smoothing Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “hydrates the skin — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
    • “Smoothed out crow's feet — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Radiance and brightening Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “Skin looks brighter, more radiant, and "glowy." — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “faded pimple marks — Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Gel Cream”
  • Fragrance-free and gentle formula Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “No irritation at all — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “no scent — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “love that it's fragrance-free — Olay Retinol24”
    • “No irritation — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • Pleasant scent Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Pleasant floral fragrance, relaxing, luxurious smell. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “spa-like scent, high-quality packaging, little goes a long way — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “Fresh floral scent — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
    • “smells amazing — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
  • High price point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for drugstore — Olay Super Serum”
    • “Very expensive for the size — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Strong fragrance and scent issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Fragrance can be an irritant — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “floral scent — Olay Super Serum”
    • “smells like plastic — Olay Retinol24”
    • “old lady smell — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
  • Packaging concerns and flaws Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “heavy to travel — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
    • “Heavy bottle but plastic pump, cannot see remaining product, straw too short to get last drops. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “heavy jar, waste of plastic, faulty pump (on dispenser versions) — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”

Olay vs Shiseido routines for dry skin

Buy Olay routine · CA$156.85 · 82% fitBuy Shiseido routine · CA$185.97 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Olay vs Shiseido routines for oily skin

Buy Shiseido routine · CA$313.33 · 84% fitBuy Olay routine · CA$298.41 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Olay vs Shiseido routines for combination skin

Buy Shiseido routine · CA$256.43 · 83% fitBuy Olay routine · CA$250.43 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Olay or Shiseido: which is better?

Olay is better for dry skin and fragrance-free options, while Shiseido offers deeper hydration and luxurious textures. For dry skin routines, Olay provides High fit levels, whereas Shiseido averages Average fit levels. Both brands perform similarly well for other skin types.

What is the difference between Olay and Shiseido?

Olay features mostly fragrance-free products on this page and tends to be more affordable, whereas Shiseido offers luxurious textures and deep hydration while often coming at a higher price point. Olay is well-known for anti-aging and skin smoothing, while Shiseido excels in providing deep-cleansing and efficient cleansers.

Olay or Shiseido for dry skin?

Olay is a better choice for dry skin, as the products on this page achieve a High routine fit compared to Shiseido's Average fit. Shiseido also frequently features added fragrance across its range, whereas almost all Olay products are fragrance-free.

Olay or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

Olay is better for cleansers on this page because the products on this page help provide fragrance-free options and gentler formulas, whereas Shiseido is noted for strong fragrances and higher prices.

Which is more affordable, Olay or Shiseido?

Olay is more affordable than Shiseido, as Shiseido reviewers frequently note a high price point.

Olay or Shiseido: which brand offers more fragrance-free options?

Olay offers more fragrance-free options, as almost all products on this page list no fragrance, whereas most Shiseido products contain added fragrance.

Olay or Shiseido: which is better for anti-aging and skin smoothing?

Olay is better for anti-aging and skin smoothing compared to Shiseido based on reviewer feedback. The products on this page help improve skin texture and smooth fine lines with key ingredients like retinol and peptides.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005

Olay or Shiseido: which brand has more key ingredients like Niacinamide and Vitamin C?

Olay features more key ingredients like Niacinamide, Vitamin C, and peptides across the products on this page, whereas Shiseido focuses primarily on glycerin and hyaluronic acid. Niacinamide helps reduce skin pigmentation and aging, and Vitamin C assists with brightening and antioxidant defense.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Olay or Shiseido for oily skin?

Both Olay and Shiseido fit oily skin at a High level with their brand-focused routines. Reviewers find that Shiseido delivers deep hydration, whereas Olay provides fragrance-free options.

Olay or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

Olay is better for dry skin and anti-aging routines among the products on this page, as Olay offers High dry skin routine fit while Shiseido offers Average, and Olay does better for anti-aging and skin smoothing. Topical hyaluronic acid helps provide skin quality benefits and signs of aging improvements.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Olay or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both brands work well, as Lovi rates Shiseido's routine as High and Olay's routine as High. Reviewers note that Olay offers more fragrance-free and gentle formulas, while Shiseido is often noted for having a strong fragrance.

Olay or Shiseido: which sunscreen is better?

Olay offers better options for dry skin on this page, while Shiseido features sunscreens like Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Day Cream that provide a Superior fit for mature and sensitive skin. Hyaluronic acid helps provide anti-aging and moisturizing effects in these formulations.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Olay or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

Both Olay and Shiseido offer products on this page that achieve a High Lovi fit level for acne-prone skin. Olay helps by providing fragrance-free options and anti-aging benefits, while Shiseido provides deep-cleansing foams.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005

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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