Shiseido Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Cream for oily skin
Glycerin
Dimethicone
Butylene Glycol
Caution
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A poor match for oily skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate moisturizing for your oily skin due to glycerin and dimethicone, which hydrate and smooth skin texture, but lacks specialized ingredients to effectively address oily shine and may pose risks of worsening it.
- While humectants like butylene glycol provide some hydration, the formula lacks strong seboregulating components, making it only moderately suitable for oily skin.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 3.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this cream for its luxurious, silky texture that deeply hydrates without feeling greasy, often noting visible improvements in skin firmness and brightness within a few weeks. While many report a "lifted" look and smoother texture, a minority of users find the floral fragrance too strong or the price point too high for the results achieved.
Highlights
Silky texture Mostly Mentioned
- “texture is incredibly silky”
- “absorbs beautifully”
- “rich but weightless”
- “feels instantly nourishing.”
Deeply hydrates Often Mentioned
- “skin feels plump and nourished”
- “keeps me moisturized all night”
- “wake up with soft skin”
- “relieves dry, tight feeling.”
Firms and lifts Often Mentioned
- “saw tightened facial contours”
- “skin looks firmer and more lifted”
- “jawline looks more defined”
- “cheeks feel bouncier.”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “very pricey for the amount”
- “too expensive for me”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “luxury price tag.”
Brightens skin Sometimes Noted
- “gives an immediate glow”
- “skin looks brighter”
- “diminished dullness”
- “radiant complexion.”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smell is so good”
- “soft and relaxing scent”
- “lovely fragrance”
- “smells expensive and nice.”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “smell is too strong”
- “fragrance gave me a headache”
- “heavily perfumed”
- “wish it was fragrance-free.”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused tiny bumps”
- “made my face red”
- “broke me out”
- “irritated my sensitive skin.”
Heavy or greasy Rarely Noted
- “felt a bit heavy”
- “too greasy for day use”
- “sat on top of my skin”
- “made me look oily.”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “didn't see a difference”
- “no lifting effect observed”
- “just a good moisturizer, nothing more”
- “expected more for the price.”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, macys.com, walmart.com, shiseido.com, nordstrom.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Shiseido Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Cream for oily skin?
This cream may not suit oily skin because it offers only moderate hydration from glycerin and dimethicone while lacking ingredients that control oily shine and breakouts. A product for this skin type needs lightweight hydrating agents, peptides, and ingredients that manage shine without heavy oils.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for oily skin?
This cream is a poor match because it lacks specialized ingredients to effectively control oily shine and may worsen it. Oily skin needs products with a lightweight texture, beneficial ingredients that manage shine without heavy oils, and components that support the skin barrier.
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
What does Dimethicone do for oily skin?
Dimethicone helps protect skin and lock in moisture, though it may have limited performance compared to petrolatum. For oily skin, a product of this type needs a lightweight, oil-free formula that hydrates without clogging pores.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cream goes toward the end of your morning or evening routine to lock in hydration, though it requires caution on oily skin since it may worsen shine and lacks ingredients to control excess oil. Oily skin needs moisturizers with oil-controlling and balancing ingredients to keep the face clear and shine-free.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You may use this cream with retinol, applying it after your retinol treatment to help smooth your skin, though an oily skin type needs a lighter formula that also manages shine. Using a moisturizer alongside retinol helps keep skin comfortable and supports your routine.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a poor match for your oily skin because it lacks ingredients to control shine and may make it worse. Oily skin needs a lightweight moisturizer with oil-controlling and balancing ingredients to stay hydrated without feeling heavy.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts for oily skin, as only a small number of reviewers report this issue. However, because it lacks ingredients that balance oil and may add extra shine, an oily skin type needs lightweight formulas with oil-controlling and clarifying ingredients.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream is not ideal for the thin skin around your eyes or for body use because it is specifically formulated as a facial treatment. Creams used in those delicate or larger areas generally need lighter textures or specialized ingredients designed to address different skin thicknesses and body-specific concerns effectively.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Dipropylene glycol, propylene glycol, and butylene glycol increased molecular mobility in stratum corneum lipids and affected keratin filaments, with butylene glycol and propylene glycol providing significant permeation enhancement.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2022The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007Externally applied substances such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, licorice extracts, dimethicone, petrolatum, and paraffin wax treat skin disease resulting from damage to the skin barrier.
Clinics in Dermatology, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat, Methyl Gluceth-10, Behenyl Alcohol, Peg-240 Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Metabisulfite, Disodium Edta, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Bht
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score 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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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