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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 options offering thoughtful arrays of moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and more, all formulated with key ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide. Olay suits acne-prone and mature skin best through targeted products like the Super Eyes Daily Eye Serum, Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream, and Brightening Eye Cream, using niacinamide to improve wrinkles, pigmentation, and aging, while glycerin enhances hydration and barrier function. Conversely, the Japanese brand Shiseido suits sensitive and mature skin best with meticulous choices like the Treatment Softener, Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Day Cream, and Essential Energy Hydrating Cream, relying on glycerin to significantly improve stratum corneum hydration. While both brands feature gentle care suited to complex needs, they differ in their heritage, specific formulations, and primary ingredient combinations.

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

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Olay vs Shiseido routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Olay vs Shiseido routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Olay or Shiseido: which is better?

Olay is better for fragrance-free options and anti-aging results, while Shiseido is better known for deep hydration and luxurious textures. Reviewers note that Olay offers better prices and gentler formulas, whereas Shiseido often comes at a higher price point with stronger fragrances.

What is the difference between Olay and Shiseido?

Olay is better for fragrance-free options and anti-aging, while Shiseido stands out for deep hydration and luxurious textures. Reviewers note that Olay has a lower price point, whereas Shiseido often comes with a high price tag and stronger scents.

Olay or Shiseido for dry skin?

Olay is a better choice for dry skin because Lovi rates its routine as High, compared to Average for Shiseido. The products on this page for Olay often feature hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, and reviewers frequently mention intense hydration.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Olay or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

Olay is better for sensitive and fragrance-free needs, as the products on this page are mostly fragrance-free and Olay cleansers avoid the strong scents often reported in Shiseido cleansers. Shiseido cleansers are noted for deep-cleansing efficiency and luxurious textures, though reviewers mention a higher price point.

Which is more affordable, Olay or Shiseido?

Olay is more affordable than Shiseido, as Shiseido's high price point is a mostly mentioned concern among reviewers.

Olay or Shiseido: which brand has more fragrance-free products?

Olay has more fragrance-free products on the page, with 26 out of 27 products listing no fragrance, compared to only 5 out of 20 for Shiseido.

Olay or Shiseido for oily skin?

Olay and Shiseido both fit oily skin well, with a High routine fit for the products on this page. Olay reviewers often mention a lightweight feel and fast absorption, whereas Shiseido reviewers note deep-cleansing and efficient cleansers.

Olay or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

Olay is better for moisturizers as the products on this page offer superior anti-aging and skin smoothing along with fragrance-free options, while Shiseido has a high price point and frequent strong fragrance issues. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Olay or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

Olay is a better choice for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Shiseido's High. Reviewers also note that Olay does better with fragrance-free and gentle formulas.

Olay or Shiseido: which sunscreen is better?

Olay is better for sunscreens on this page because its routine fit for sensitive skin is Superior compared to Shiseido's High fit level, and nearly all Olay products are fragrance-free.

Olay or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

Olay fits acne-prone skin better, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Shiseido's High fit.

Olay or Shiseido for mature skin?

Olay is the better choice for mature skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Shiseido's High fit. Reviewers also note that Olay does better for anti-aging and skin smoothing.

Olay or Shiseido for skin with dark spots?

Both Olay and Shiseido provide effective options for skin with dark spots, with the products on this page achieving an equal high level of fit. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and manage skin aging.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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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