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Medik8 vs Shiseido

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

Medik8 and Shiseido are prominent skincare brands, with the British pioneer founded in 2009 and the Japanese house established in 1872. Medik8 offers serums, moisturizers, eye products, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, suiting dry skin and dry sensitive skin best, while Shiseido provides nourishing moisturizers, gentle cleansers, protective sunscreens, potent serums, and versatile glycerin formulations that suit mature skin and sensitive skin best. The first brand relies on hyaluronic acid to lengthen the toxin wrinkle effect duration, whereas both through rigorous study findings utilize ingredients like glycerin to significantly improve stratum corneum hydration. Ultimately, they differ in their origin, founding eras, and signature ingredient approaches for specific skin concerns.

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.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 Medik8 and Shiseido products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Medik8 vs Shiseido products

People Say

Medik8Shiseido
  • Deep hydration and moisturization 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”
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Lightweight and elegant texture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “silky smooth, rich but non-greasy, absorbs quickly, melts into skin — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “Airy-soft texture — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly — Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Gel Cream”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
  • Acne clearing and glowing skin Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Skin looks brighter, more radiant, and "glowy." — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “faded pimple marks — Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Gel Cream”
  • Skin plumping, smoothing, and firming Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “Reduces fine lines — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Smoothed out crow's feet — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “tighter jawline, lifted appearance, improved elasticity, less sagging — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
  • Gentle formulation and no irritation Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “No irritation — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • Hydrating texture and 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”
    • “sinks in beautifully — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
  • High price point and value Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “very expensive for amount — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “hefty price tag — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Very expensive for the size — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Strong fragrance and alcohol content Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “old lady smell — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
  • Packaging issues and fragility Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Glass bottle breaks easily — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “hard to get last bit — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “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”

Medik8 vs Shiseido routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Medik8 vs Shiseido routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Medik8 vs Shiseido routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Medik8 or Shiseido: which is better?

Medik8 is better for dry skin and sensitive skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Shiseido's Average fit for dry skin and High fit for sensitive skin. Shiseido features more fragranced products on this page and is often noted for strong fragrance, while 11 of 12 Medik8 products list no fragrance.

What is the difference between Medik8 and Shiseido?

Medik8 stands out for gentle formulations and a superior fit for dry sensitive skin, while Shiseido does better for deep hydration and luxurious textures. Both brands provide effective options for oily skin and acne-prone skin, though Medik8 tends to be fragrance-free across nearly all products on this page compared to Shiseido.

Medik8 or Shiseido for dry skin?

Medik8 is better suited for dry skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior while Shiseido is rated Average. Topical hyaluronic acid, a key ingredient across Medik8 products, helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

Medik8 stands out for its cleanser on this page, achieving a High to Superior fit for acne-prone, oily, and dark spot skin types. Shiseido's cleansers often receive mixed reviews regarding potential skin irritation and varying fit levels across sensitive skin types.

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or Shiseido?

Medik8 is more affordable compared to Shiseido, as high price point and value are noted as drawbacks for Medik8 while Shiseido faces strong reviewer feedback regarding its high price point.

Medik8 or Shiseido: which brand has more fragrance-free products?

Medik8 offers more fragrance-free products on this page, as 11 of its 12 products list no fragrance compared to only 5 of 20 Shiseido products.

Medik8 or Shiseido for oily skin?

Both Medik8 and Shiseido offer products on this page that are well-suited for oily skin. Lovi rates the routine fit for oily skin as High for both brands.

Medik8 or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

For dry sensitive skin, Medik8 is better because Lovi gives its moisturizers a High fit level compared to Shiseido's Average fit level. Topical hyaluronic acid, a key ingredient found across the products on this page, helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, Medik8 is the better choice because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior, compared to High for Shiseido. The products on this page for Medik8 are also known for gentle and non-irritating serums, which helps minimize potential discomfort.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

Both Medik8 and Shiseido offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin. Lovi rates the routine fit for acne-prone skin as High for both brands.

Medik8 or Shiseido for dry sensitive skin?

Medik8 stands out for dry sensitive skin because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior, whereas Shiseido achieves a High fit level. The products on this page help deliver deep hydration with ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Shiseido for mature skin?

Medik8 is the better choice for mature skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior while Shiseido is High. The products on this page help improve skin texture and reduce the signs of aging.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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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