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Shiseido vs SK-II

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

Shiseido and SK-II are Japanese skincare brands known for thoughtful moisturizers, cleansers, sunscreens, serums, masks, toners, and more. The former suits sensitive skin and mature skin best with key ingredients like glycerin, while the latter favors dry skin and combination skin through its signature ingredient pitera. While both offer targeted daily care, they differ in their specific formulations and exact skin type affinities.

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

corp.shiseido.comen.wikipedia.orgmarketscreener.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 Shiseido and SK-II products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Shiseido vs SK-II products

People Say

ShiseidoSK-II
  • Deep hydration Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Immediate sensation of comfort — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “Lightweight, silky, non-sticky, sinks in instantly. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels plump, soft and nourished, eliminates dryness, bouncy feel — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Radiant glow and radiance Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “gives a glass skin look — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “leaves me with a red carpet glow — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “My skin is glowing now. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
    • “Skin looks brighter, more radiant, and "glowy." — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
  • Luxurious texture Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “silky smooth, rich but non-greasy, absorbs quickly, melts into skin — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “Velvety, rich cream texture — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “Velvety texture — Shiseido FUTURE SOLUTION LX”
    • “silky texture that absorbs quickly — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Lightweight texture Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Absorbs into the skin quickly. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
    • “Absorbs quickly — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “Airy-soft texture — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • Smoother skin and texture Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Smoother skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “makes skin baby soft — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Cream Enriched”
  • Makeup compatibility and prep Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Removes leftover dirt — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “Dissolves waterproof mascara, melts stubborn makeup, removes sunscreen easily. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
    • “Great base for makeup — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • High price point Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Very expensive for the size — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “Expensive, pricey, high cost for the amount. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “expensive, investment piece, pricey for the amount, luxury cost — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Strong fragrance and scent Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “old lady smell — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
    • “overpowering scent, too perfumed, smell lingers, headache-inducing — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Lack of results Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “No change in deep wrinkles — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “No noticeable difference, not moisturizing enough on its own. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “no visible lifting, just a moisturizer, didn't erase deep wrinkles — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”

Shiseido vs SK-II routines for dry skin

Buy SK-II routine · CA$783.50 · 93% fitBuy Shiseido routine · CA$185.97 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Shiseido vs SK-II routines for oily skin

Buy SK-II routine · CA$1,101.33 · 91% fitBuy Shiseido routine · CA$313.33 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Shiseido vs SK-II routines for combination skin

Buy SK-II routine · CA$1,065.33 · 93% fitBuy Shiseido routine · CA$256.43 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Shiseido or SK-II: which is better?

Both brands perform well, but SK-II has a superior routine fit for dry, oily, combination, acne-prone, and dry sensitive skin types on this page. Shiseido features glycerin and hyaluronic acid across the products on this page, which helps provide deep hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between Shiseido and SK-II?

Shiseido is known for deep hydration and luxurious textures featuring glycerin and hyaluronic acid, whereas SK-II uses Pitera to deliver lightweight moisture and a radiant glow. The products on this page show that Shiseido features strong fragrance in most items, while SK-II lists no fragrance across all its products.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Shiseido or SK-II for dry skin?

For dry skin, Lovi rates SK-II as a Superior routine fit, while Shiseido is rated Average. SK-II features a focus on dry skin in its brand routines and includes products like the Facial Treatment Essence, whereas Shiseido's routine fit is lower despite offering key ingredients like hyaluronic acid for hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Shiseido or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

SK-II has a superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Shiseido, which has an average fit for dry skin. The products on this page for SK-II rely on key ingredients like Pitera and every product lists no fragrance, whereas Shiseido moisturizers feature key ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid along with strong fragrance.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Shiseido or SK-II?

Reviewers note that a high price point is a drawback for Shiseido among the products on this page.

Between Shiseido and SK-II, which brand is better suited for mature skin?

Both Shiseido and SK-II are well suited for mature skin, with Lovi fit levels rated as High for the products on this page. Shiseido focuses on firming and line-reducing moisturizers with key ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, while SK-II utilizes Pitera to support smoother skin and texture.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Do Shiseido or SK-II products contain added fragrance?

Shiseido products on this page frequently list fragrance, with only 5 out of 20 products being fragrance-free. In contrast, every SK-II product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

How do Shiseido and SK-II differ in their key signature ingredients?

Shiseido relies on key ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid across the products on this page to help provide deep hydration. In contrast, SK-II features Pitera as its signature ingredient to help deliver benefits for skin texture and radiance.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Shiseido or SK-II for oily skin?

For oily skin, SK-II is a better fit with a Superior routine fit level compared to Shiseido's High fit level. The products on this page for SK-II help provide lightweight hydration and a radiant glow without heavy fragrances.

Shiseido or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Both Shiseido and SK-II achieve a High Lovi fit level for sensitive skin. Reviewers note that Shiseido features strong fragrances across many products on this page, whereas every product on this page from SK-II lists no fragrance.

Shiseido or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

SK-II has a superior routine fit for acne-prone skin compared to Shiseido, which has a high routine fit. Every product on the SK-II page lists no fragrance, which helps reduce the risk of irritation.

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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