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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 well-regarded skincare collections known for their thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and targeted treatments. Olay relies on nourishing niacinamide and glycerin to suit sensitive and acne-prone skin, while Shiseido is a Japanese brand founded in 1872 that utilizes glycerin to best support sensitive and mature skin. Although both offer gentle daily care, they differ in their specific ingredient profiles and standout formulations designed to address distinct concerns like dark spots, wrinkles, and hydration.

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 · $154.40 · 83% fitBuy Shiseido routine · $393.62 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Olay vs Shiseido routines for oily skin

Buy Shiseido routine · $581.17 · 85% fitBuy Olay routine · $296.19 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Olay vs Shiseido routines for combination skin

Buy Shiseido routine · $550.65 · 84% fitBuy Olay routine · $286.61 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Olay or Shiseido: which is better?

Olay is better for those seeking fragrance-free formulas and anti-aging benefits, while Shiseido offers deeper hydration with luxurious textures. Both brands provide high routine fits across most skin types on the products on this page.

What is the difference between Olay and Shiseido?

Olay offers more fragrance-free options and does better for anti-aging, while Shiseido provides deeper hydration with luxurious textures and pleasant scents. Reviewers note that Olay has a lower price point, whereas Shiseido products come at a higher price and are more prone to strong fragrance issues.

Olay or Shiseido for dry skin?

Olay is the better choice for dry skin, as the products on this page achieve a High routine fit compared to Shiseido's Average fit. Olay also offers more fragrance-free options and is noted for delivering effective hydration without heavy scents.

Olay or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

Olay offers better cleansers on this page because the products on this page help provide fragrance-free and gentle formulas, whereas Shiseido cleansers often feature strong fragrance and skin irritation.

Which is more affordable, Olay or Shiseido?

Olay is more affordable than Shiseido, as Shiseido's high price point is a mostly mentioned drawback by reviewers on the page. Olay also benefits from having lower pricing compared to Shiseido's luxury positioning.

Between Olay and Shiseido, which brand offers more fragrance-free options?

Olay offers more fragrance-free options, as nearly all the products on this page list no fragrance. In comparison, most Shiseido products on this page contain fragrance.

How do Olay and Shiseido compare in terms of anti-aging and skin smoothing benefits?

Olay does better than Shiseido for anti-aging and skin smoothing according to the products on this page. Ingredients like niacinamide help reduce signs of aging and improve skin texture.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Which brand performs better for deep hydration and moisture according to review themes?

Shiseido performs better for deep hydration and moisture according to review themes. Reviewers mostly mention deep hydration for Shiseido, which helps provide rich moisture across the products on this page.

Olay or Shiseido for oily skin?

Both Olay and Shiseido offer a High routine fit for oily skin. The products on this page help provide effective hydration and oil management.

Olay or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

Olay is better for moisturizers on this page because the products on this page provide superior anti-aging results and offer more fragrance-free options compared to Shiseido.

Olay or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

Olay is a better choice for sensitive skin because the products on this page are mostly fragrance-free and offer gentle formulas, whereas Shiseido frequently uses added fragrance and reviewers sometimes note skin irritation. For sensitive skin, Lovi rates Olay as having a High routine fit.

Olay or Shiseido: which sunscreen is better?

Olay offers better sunscreen options on this page for dry skin with its Complete All Day Moisturizer SPF 15, while Shiseido features options like Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Day Cream that may suit mature skin well.

Olay or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

Both Olay and Shiseido offer products on this page that fit acne-prone skin well, with equal routine fit levels. Olay is generally a better choice for shoppers seeking fragrance-free formulas, as almost all the products on the page are fragrance-free.

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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