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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 prominent skincare brands offering nourishing moisturizers, gentle cleansers, protective sunscreens, potent serums, and versatile glycerin formulations. Olay features niacinamide and glycerin to suit mature skin and acne-prone skin best, while Shiseido brings deep moisture and gentle care for mature skin and sensitive skin through rigorous study findings on glycerin. They differ in their founding heritage and targeted selections, with the former addressing varied needs with gentle efficacy and the latter originating in Japan in 1872.

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 · 96% fit

Olay vs Shiseido routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Olay or Shiseido: which is better?

Olay stands out as the better choice on this page, offering superior fit levels for mature skin and a wider selection of fragrance-free products. Reviewers note that Olay excels in anti-aging benefits while keeping prices more accessible than Shiseido.

What is the difference between Olay and Shiseido?

Olay offers more fragrance-free options and superior anti-aging results, while Shiseido provides deep hydration and luxurious textures at a higher price point. Olay is a better fit for dry skin, whereas both brands offer equally strong routines for oily, combination, sensitive, and acne-prone skin.

Olay or Shiseido for dry skin?

Olay is better suited for dry skin, where Lovi rates its routine as High compared to Shiseido's Average fit. Reviewers also note that Olay offers more fragrance-free options and gentler formulas for sensitive skin.

Olay or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

Both Olay and Shiseido offer a wide selection of cleansers on this page, but Olay stands out with a routine fit that is generally more gentle on sensitive skin. Reviewers note that Shiseido cleansers provide deep-cleansing and efficient results alongside luxurious textures.

Which is more affordable, Olay or Shiseido?

Olay is more affordable than Shiseido, as Shiseido's high price point is a frequently noted concern for reviewers while Olay is recognized for better pricing in the review themes.

Olay or Shiseido: which is better for mature skin?

Olay is better for mature skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Shiseido's High fit on this page. Olay also outperforms Shiseido in anti-aging and skin smoothing according to reviewer themes.

Which brand has more fragrance-free options, Olay or Shiseido?

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

Olay or Shiseido: which is better for targeting dark spots?

Both Olay and Shiseido offer high fit levels for skin with dark spots, with Olay providing fragrance-free options and niacinamide which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation. Reviewers note that Olay products on this page do better for anti-aging and skin smoothing, while Shiseido products on this page are known for deep hydration and luxurious textures.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Olay or Shiseido for oily skin?

Both Olay and Shiseido offer products on this page that achieve a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that Olay stands out for fragrance-free and gentle formulas, whereas Shiseido is recognized for deep-cleansing and efficient cleansers.

Olay or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

Olay offers better moisturizer options for dry skin with a high routine fit compared to Shiseido's average fit, and the products on this page frequently feature hydrating key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Olay or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

Olay and Shiseido both fit sensitive skin well on the products on this page, but Olay stands out for offering fragrance-free options across nearly all of its products. Reviewers find that Olay is better for gentle formulas, whereas Shiseido products on this page more frequently contain fragrance and can cause skin irritation.

Olay or Shiseido: which sunscreen is better?

Olay and Shiseido both offer sunscreens on this page, but Olay stands out for offering fragrance-free options across almost all products, whereas Shiseido products often feature added fragrance. For targeted anti-aging and skin-smoothing support, Olay helps improve overall skin texture while remaining gentle on sensitive skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Olay or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

Both Olay and Shiseido offer products with a high routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Olay helps provide fragrance-free options across nearly all of its range, whereas Shiseido features deep-cleansing cleansers and luxurious textures.

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

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