🇮🇪Ireland

The INKEY List vs Shiseido

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

The INKEY List and Shiseido are a British brand founded in 2018 and a Japanese brand founded in 1872, respectively. The INKEY List focuses on moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products built around glycerin, suiting sensitive skin and combination skin best. Shiseido offers nourishing moisturizers, gentle cleansers, protective sunscreens, potent serums, and versatile glycerin formulations that suit mature skin and sensitive skin best. While both brands feature glycerin to significantly improve skin hydration and barrier function, they differ in their heritage, specific product lineups, and exact target concerns.

The INKEY List is a British skincare brand founded in 2018 and owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited.

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.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 The INKEY List and Shiseido products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The INKEY List vs Shiseido products

People Say

The INKEY ListShiseido
  • 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”
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
  • Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Texture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Lightweight, silky, non-sticky, sinks in instantly. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “Airy-soft texture — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • Smooth and Luxurious Texture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “silky smooth, rich but non-greasy, absorbs quickly, melts into skin — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “Velvety, rich cream texture — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “Velvety texture — Shiseido FUTURE SOLUTION LX”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Gentle Care and Soothing Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “calmed my menopausal redness — The INKEY List ECTOIN HYDRO-BARRIER SERUM”
    • “face feels squeaky clean — Shiseido Clarifying Cleansing Foam”
  • Affordable Price and Value Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “Good for the price — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “One of the best balms for quality and also price — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “unbeatable value — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
  • Skin Brightening and Radiance Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin looks brighter, more radiant, and "glowy." — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “faded pimple marks — Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Gel Cream”
    • “Eyes look more awake — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Fragrance and Scent Complaints Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like BBQ/meat — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Smells like chemicals — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “smells plasticky — The INKEY List ECTOIN HYDRO-BARRIER SERUM”
    • “old lady smell — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
  • High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Very expensive for the size — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Texture and Finish Inconsistencies Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Stays tacky and shiny — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “Felt powdery — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
    • “feels a bit oily — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Cream Enriched”
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”

The INKEY List vs Shiseido routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The INKEY List vs Shiseido routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The INKEY List vs Shiseido routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Shiseido: which is better?

Both The INKEY List and Shiseido have strong products, but The INKEY List is a better choice for shoppers seeking affordable prices and gentle care, while Shiseido is better for deep hydration and luxurious textures.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Shiseido?

The INKEY List offers more affordable pricing and gentler, fragrance-free options, while Shiseido provides luxurious textures and deeper hydration with a higher price point. Both brands perform similarly across most skin types, though The INKEY List achieves a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin compared to Shiseido's High fit.

The INKEY List or Shiseido for dry skin?

For dry skin, The INKEY List is the better option because it provides a High routine fit compared to Shiseido's Average fit level on this page. Reviewers note that The INKEY List offers affordable, hydrating moisturizers, whereas Shiseido has a high price point.

The INKEY List or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

Both The INKEY List and Shiseido offer a variety of cleansers on their pages, but they cater to different skin needs. The INKEY List focuses on gentle and affordable options like the Salicylic Acid Cleanser and Oat Cleansing Balm, whereas Shiseido provides deep-cleansing and luxurious formulas such as the Deep Cleansing Foam and Clarifying Cleansing Foam.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Shiseido?

The INKEY List is more affordable than Shiseido, as the products on this page offer budget-friendly pricing for both serums and moisturizers compared to Shiseido's high price point.

Which brand offers better skin brightening and radiance benefits, The INKEY List or Shiseido?

Shiseido does better than The INKEY List for skin brightening and radiance. Reviewers often mention that Shiseido improves radiance, and niacinamide may help reduce pigmentation and brighten the skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

How do the fragrance options compare between The INKEY List and Shiseido products?

The INKEY List offers fragrance-free choices across all the products on this page, whereas most Shiseido products contain added fragrance.

Which brand is better suited for mature skin, The INKEY List or Shiseido?

Both The INKEY List and Shiseido offer a High routine fit for mature skin, making them equally well-suited options on these pages. Shoppers looking for anti-aging benefits will find that Shiseido leans toward luxurious textures and radiance, while The INKEY List provides more affordable serums and moisturizers.

The INKEY List or Shiseido for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and Shiseido offer an equal, High routine fit for oily skin. The products on this page for both brands feature glycerin, while Shiseido also includes hyaluronic acid across its range.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Drug Delivery, 2017

The INKEY List or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

Both brands offer moisturizers, but reviewers rate The INKEY List higher for affordability while Shiseido leads in deep hydration and luxurious textures. The INKEY List features hydrating and plumping moisturizers that help deliver great value, whereas Shiseido is known for effective and firming formulas.

The INKEY List or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is a better choice for sensitive skin because Lovi rates its overall routine fit as Superior, compared to High for Shiseido. Additionally, every product on The INKEY List page lists no fragrance, whereas most Shiseido products on the page contain added fragrance.

The INKEY List or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and Shiseido offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin. The INKEY List stands out for its gentle care and soothing benefits, while Shiseido provides deep hydration and efficient cleansers.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play