# Shu Uemura vs Taro Page: https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/shu-uemura-vs-taro The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for the United States. Shu Uemura and Taro are two distinctive skincare choices known for their carefully crafted formulas and specialized offerings. The former brand is deeply loved for its transformative makeup removers, including a cleansing oil ideal for acne-prone skin, while the latter is warmly embraced for its targeted [serums](https://lovi.care/skincare/ingredients/serum), featuring a [Tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/ingredients/tretinoin) Cream for acne-prone skin. Both options suit different complexions, with the Japanese line fitting all skin types best due to its gentle, effective nature, and the alternative suiting sensitive, dry, and combination skin best. They differ primarily in their standout product types, yet each maintains skin comfort and provides reliable daily care for modern routines. Shu Uemura is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1967 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2003. [loreal-finance.com](https://www.loreal-finance.com/eng/2024-universal-registration-document/en/article/12/) [pitchbook.com](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/168869-71) [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shu_Uemura) [sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/vprr/0303/03037595.pdf) This page compares some of the most popular Shu Uemura and Taro products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, [use the Lovi app](https://app.pora.ai/vqqJ/j1xj2b6o?af_sub2=compare&af_sub3=selection_note&af_sub4=pge6dee1ec4e). ### Popular Shu Uemura vs Taro products #### Taro - [Tretinoin Cream](https://lovi.care/skincare/p/taro/tretinoin-cream/for/combination-skin) — High fit #### Shu Uemura - [cleansing oil](https://lovi.care/skincare/p/shu-uemura/cleansing-oil/for/dry-sensitive-skin) — Average fit — [$50.00 at Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DNJKPSB8?tag=lovi-care-web-product-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) ## Questions and answers ### Shu Uemura or Taro: which is better? Taro offers a High fit for combination and acne-prone skin because its [Tretinoin](https://lovi.care/skincare/ingredients/tretinoin) Cream helps treat acne and photoaging, whereas Shu Uemura cleansing oil has Average or lower fit levels across these skin types on this page. [The New England Journal of Medicine, 1993](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8336752/) [Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2020](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32210603/) ### What is the difference between Shu Uemura and Taro? Taro offers products like Tretinoin Cream that help with acne-prone skin with a High Lovi fit, whereas Shu Uemura features items like cleansing oil that have Average or lower fits for those concerns. Both brands include no fragrance in the products on this page. [Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2020](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32210603/) [Archives of Dermatological Research, 2022](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34146120/) ### Which is more affordable, Shu Uemura or Taro? Neither Shu Uemura nor Taro can be compared for affordability on this page, as pricing information is not listed for either brand. ### Which causes fewer breakouts, Shu Uemura or Taro? Shu Uemura products on this page get a Low to Caution fit for acne-prone skin, while Taro gets a High fit because its Tretinoin Cream helps treat acne. [The New England Journal of Medicine, 1993](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8336752/) [Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2020](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32210603/) ### How does the Lovi fit level of Shu Uemura cleansing oil compare to Taro Tretinoin Cream for acne-prone skin? For acne-prone skin, Taro Tretinoin Cream achieves a High Lovi fit, whereas Shu Uemura cleansing oil reaches only a Low fit. [The New England Journal of Medicine, 1993](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8336752/) [Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2020](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32210603/) ### Which brand has been owned by its parent company for a longer period of time, Shu Uemura or Taro? Taro has been owned by its parent company for a longer period, since 2010, whereas Shu Uemura has been owned by its parent company since 2003. ### Do any of the products featured from Shu Uemura or Taro contain fragrance in their ingredients? Every product on this page from both Shu Uemura and Taro lists no fragrance in its ingredients. ## Research behind their key ingredients - [Restoration of collagen formation in photodamaged human skin by tretinoin (retinoic acid)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8336752/) Tretinoin · The New England Journal of Medicine, 1993 - [Peroxidated squalene induces the production of inflammatory mediators in HaCaT keratinocytes: a possible role in acne vulgaris](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16778793/) Squalane · The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2006 - [Final report on the safety assessment of BHT(1)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12396675/) Butylated hydroxytoluene · International Journal of Toxicology, 2002 - [Effect of Camellia japonica oil on human type I procollagen production and skin barrier function](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17386986/) Camellia japonica seed oil · Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007 - [Clinical Assessment of New Topical Cream Containing Two Essential Oils Combined with Tretinoin in the Treatment of Acne](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32210603/) Tretinoin · Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2020 - [Efficacy assessments of tretinoin-loaded nano lipid carriers in acne vulgaris: a double blind, split-face randomized clinical study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34146120/) Tretinoin · Archives of Dermatological Research, 2022 - [Topical tretinoin for treating photoaging: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35620028/) Tretinoin · International Journal of Women's Dermatology, 2022 - [Nanogel Containing Gamma-Oryzanol-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers and TiO2/MBBT: A Synergistic Nanotechnological Approach of Potent Natural Antioxidants and Nanosized UV Filters for Skin Protection](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37242453/) Xanthan gum · Pharmaceuticals, 2023 - [Squalane as a Promising Agent Protecting UV-Induced Inhibition of Collagen Biosynthesis and Wound Healing in Human Dermal Fibroblast](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40363772/) Squalane · Molecules, 2025 - [Topical application of highly concentrated water-in-oil emulsions: Physiological skin parameters and skin penetration in vivo - A pilot study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31525444/) Isopropyl myristate · International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2019 ## The brands - Japanese skincare: [Shu Uemura](https://lovi.care/skincare/brands/shu-uemura) - Skincare: [Taro](https://lovi.care/skincare/brands/taro) ## More comparisons - [SKIN1004 vs Shu Uemura](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/skin1004-vs-shu-uemura) - [SKIN1004 vs Taro](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/skin1004-vs-taro) - [Anua vs Shu Uemura](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/anua-vs-shu-uemura) - [Anua vs Taro](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/anua-vs-taro) - [Medicube vs Shu Uemura](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/medicube-vs-shu-uemura) - [Medicube vs Taro](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/medicube-vs-taro) - [The Ordinary vs Shu Uemura](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/the-ordinary-vs-shu-uemura) - [The Ordinary vs Taro](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/the-ordinary-vs-taro) - [Beauty of Joseon vs Shu Uemura](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/beauty-of-joseon-vs-shu-uemura) - [Beauty of Joseon vs Taro](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/beauty-of-joseon-vs-taro) - [COSRX vs Shu Uemura](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/cosrx-vs-shu-uemura) - [COSRX vs Taro](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/cosrx-vs-taro) - [CeraVe vs Shu Uemura](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/cerave-vs-shu-uemura) - [CeraVe vs Taro](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/cerave-vs-taro) - [La Roche-Posay vs Shu Uemura](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/la-roche-posay-vs-shu-uemura) - [La Roche-Posay vs Taro](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/la-roche-posay-vs-taro) - [Dr. Althea vs Shu Uemura](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/dr-althea-vs-shu-uemura) - [Dr. Althea vs Taro](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/dr-althea-vs-taro) - [Some By Mi vs Shu Uemura](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/some-by-mi-vs-shu-uemura) - [Some By Mi vs Taro](https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/some-by-mi-vs-taro) ## About the Lovi Fit Lovi: Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes. Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules its 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. Levels from best to worst: Superior, High, Average, Low, Caution, Warning. Behind this comparison: Nadia Kapleva, MS (Co-founder, Medical Director); Alexey Shagraev, PhD (Co-founder, CEO and CTO); Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc (Medical Board); Aishani Shah, MD (Medical Board); Asya Zubkova, MS (Medical Board); Hanna Kurets, MD (Medical Board, Medical Advisor); Elina Nazarenko, MD (Medical Board); Victoria Derkova, MS (Medical Board). Page built Nov 8, 2026. More from Lovi: https://lovi.care/skincare/llms.txt ## This page in other countries - United States: https://lovi.care/skincare/compare/shu-uemura-vs-taro (this page) - United Kingdom: https://lovi.care/skincare/uk/compare/shu-uemura-vs-taro - Ireland: https://lovi.care/skincare/ie/compare/shu-uemura-vs-taro - Germany: https://lovi.care/skincare/de/compare/shu-uemura-vs-taro - France: https://lovi.care/skincare/fr/compare/shu-uemura-vs-taro - Italy: https://lovi.care/skincare/it/compare/shu-uemura-vs-taro - Netherlands: https://lovi.care/skincare/nl/compare/shu-uemura-vs-taro - Spain: https://lovi.care/skincare/es/compare/shu-uemura-vs-taro - Canada: https://lovi.care/skincare/ca/compare/shu-uemura-vs-taro - Australia: https://lovi.care/skincare/au/compare/shu-uemura-vs-taro - Singapore: https://lovi.care/skincare/sg/compare/shu-uemura-vs-taro - Saudi Arabia: https://lovi.care/skincare/sa/compare/shu-uemura-vs-taro - United Arab Emirates: https://lovi.care/skincare/ae/compare/shu-uemura-vs-taro