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Clarins vs Shiseido

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

Clarins and Shiseido are renowned skincare houses originating from France and Japan respectively. Clarins offers nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, delicate eye products, and refreshing toners featuring soothing shea and replenishing squalane, whereas the Japanese brand provides a thoughtful array of moisturizers, cleansers, sunscreens, and serums formulated with glycerin. Both suit sensitive skin and mature skin best, delivering gentle yet effective care through natural elements and clinical formulations. Ultimately, the French brand differs by leaning into botanical extracts like shea and squalane for redness and collagen, while its counterpart relies on science-backed hydrators like glycerin.

Clarins is a French skincare brand founded in 1954 and owned by Famille C (Groupe Clarins).

groupeclarins.comen.wikipedia.orghappi.com

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 Clarins and Shiseido products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Clarins vs Shiseido products

People Say

ClarinsShiseido
  • Deep hydration and moisture Mostly 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”
    • “silky smooth, rich but non-greasy, absorbs quickly, melts into skin — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Luxurious and lightweight texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
    • “Lightweight, silky, non-sticky, sinks in instantly. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “Airy-soft texture — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • Anti-aging and firming results Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “neck feels smoother — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “visibly tighter, lifted skin — Clarins Super Restorative Night Cream”
    • “makes skin silky smooth — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”
    • “Smoothed out crow's feet — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Visible awakening and radiance effect Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin looks brighter immediately — Clarins Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask”
    • “Gives off the most stunning natural radiance I've ever come across. — Clarins Beauty Flash Balm”
    • “Skin looks brighter, more radiant, and "glowy." — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “faded pimple marks — Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Gel Cream”
  • Pleasant scent Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “smells luxurious — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “smells luxurious — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
    • “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”
  • Excellent makeup base Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “Perfect primer for any foundation, which all glide on smoothly. — Clarins Beauty Flash Balm”
    • “concealer sits better — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “Great base for makeup — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • High price point Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “too expensive for results — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “Very expensive for the size — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “Expensive, pricey, high cost for the amount. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
  • Strong fragrance and scent issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
    • “Smell was very off putting — Clarins Extra-Firming Day Cream”
    • “old lady smell — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
    • “Strong scent, alcohol smell, potential irritation for sensitive skin. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
  • Pump and bottle design issues 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”
    • “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Skin irritation and breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “caused redness — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “Caused some irritation — Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizing Cream”
    • “Caused burning and redness — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”

Clarins vs Shiseido routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Clarins vs Shiseido routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Clarins vs Shiseido routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Clarins or Shiseido: which is better?

Clarins is better for dry skin and anti-aging results among the products on this page, while Shiseido does better for deep hydration. Both brands offer equally luxurious textures and similar pricing.

What is the difference between Clarins and Shiseido?

Clarins delivers better anti-aging and firming results, while Shiseido provides deeper hydration and moisture. Lovi rates Clarins as a High fit for dry skin routines, compared to an Average fit for Shiseido.

Clarins or Shiseido for dry skin?

For dry skin, Lovi rates Clarins as High and Shiseido as Average. Clarins stands out for its hydrating and smoothing moisturizers, making it a better option for dry skin types.

Clarins or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

Lovi finds that Shiseido does better for deep-cleansing and efficient cleansers among the products on this page. Reviewers note that Shiseido cleansers provide deep-cleansing performance.

Which is more affordable, Clarins or Shiseido?

Both Clarins and Shiseido feature high price points as a commonly mentioned drawback for the products on this page, so neither brand is more affordable.

Clarins or Shiseido: which brand is better suited for mature skin?

Both Clarins and Shiseido offer products on this page that fit mature skin well, but Lovi rates Clarins as having higher routine fit overall for mature skin. Reviewers also mention that Clarins excels specifically in anti-aging and firming results compared to Shiseido.

How do the fragrance profiles of Clarins and Shiseido products compare?

Both Clarins and Shiseido products mostly contain fragrance, with reviews often noting strong scents for both brands. Specifically, 23 of the 24 Clarins products on this page list fragrance, while 15 of the 20 Shiseido products on this page include it.

Clarins or Shiseido: which is better for addressing dark spots?

Clarins fits dry skin better for dark spots, while Shiseido fits oily skin better. Both brands offer products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid that may help improve skin quality.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Clarins or Shiseido for oily skin?

Shiseido is a better choice for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as High compared to Clarins at Average. Shiseido features deep-cleansing and efficient cleansers that help manage oil, whereas the products on this page for Clarins tend to receive lower fit levels for oily skin.

Clarins or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, Clarins is better suited for dry skin with a High fit level, whereas Shiseido achieves an Average fit level for dry skin on this page. Shiseido features deep hydration as a primary benefit, while Clarins excels in anti-aging and firming results.

Clarins or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

Both Clarins and Shiseido offer an equal level of routine fit for sensitive skin. Lovi rates the routine fit for sensitive skin as High for both brands.

Clarins or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Lovi rates both Clarins and Shiseido as a High routine fit. The products on this page for both brands help address skin concerns, though peroxidated squalene in some formulas may induce inflammatory mediators in keratinocytes.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2006

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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