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Clarins vs Shiseido

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

Clarins and Shiseido are esteemed international skincare houses offering luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, and targeted treatments. The French brand is loved for its soothing eye products, gentle toners, and nourishing shea and hydrating squalane, which suit sensitive skin and dry sensitive skin best. Meanwhile, the Japanese brand is beloved for its thoughtful array of cleansers, sunscreens, and glycerin-enriched formulas that suit mature skin and skin with dark spots best. Both houses differ primarily in their heritage and foundational ingredients, yet they each provide refined options for specific complexions.

Clarins is a French skincare brand founded in 1954 and owned by Famille C (Groupe Clarins).

groupeclarins.comen.wikipedia.orghappi.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 Clarins and Shiseido products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Clarins vs Shiseido products

People Say

ClarinsShiseido
  • Deep hydration and moisture Mostly 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”
    • “silky smooth, rich but non-greasy, absorbs quickly, melts into skin — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Luxurious and lightweight texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
    • “Lightweight, silky, non-sticky, sinks in instantly. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “Airy-soft texture — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • Anti-aging and firming results Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “neck feels smoother — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “visibly tighter, lifted skin — Clarins Super Restorative Night Cream”
    • “makes skin silky smooth — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”
    • “Smoothed out crow's feet — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Visible awakening and radiance effect Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin looks brighter immediately — Clarins Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask”
    • “Gives off the most stunning natural radiance I've ever come across. — Clarins Beauty Flash Balm”
    • “Skin looks brighter, more radiant, and "glowy." — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “faded pimple marks — Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Gel Cream”
  • Pleasant scent Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “smells luxurious — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “smells luxurious — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
    • “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”
  • Excellent makeup base Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “Perfect primer for any foundation, which all glide on smoothly. — Clarins Beauty Flash Balm”
    • “concealer sits better — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “Great base for makeup — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • High price point Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “too expensive for results — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “Very expensive for the size — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “Expensive, pricey, high cost for the amount. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
  • Strong fragrance and scent issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
    • “Smell was very off putting — Clarins Extra-Firming Day Cream”
    • “old lady smell — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
    • “Strong scent, alcohol smell, potential irritation for sensitive skin. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
  • Pump and bottle design issues 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”
    • “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Skin irritation and breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “caused redness — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “Caused some irritation — Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizing Cream”
    • “Caused burning and redness — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”

Clarins vs Shiseido routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Clarins vs Shiseido routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Clarins vs Shiseido routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Clarins or Shiseido: which is better?

Shiseido is a better fit for oily, combination, and acne-prone skin on the products on this page, while both brands perform equally well for dry, sensitive, and mature skin. Shiseido helps provide deep hydration, whereas Clarins helps deliver anti-aging results.

What is the difference between Clarins and Shiseido?

Shiseido is a better fit for oily, combination, and acne-prone skin types, while both brands offer an equally high fit level for mature, sensitive, and dry skin.

Clarins or Shiseido for dry skin?

Both Clarins and Shiseido offer products on this page that are a High fit for dry skin. Clarins is formulated in France and has a routine fit that helps provide dry skin with hydrating and smoothing moisturizers, while Shiseido is formulated in Japan and may help deliver deep hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Clarins or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

Shiseido is better for deep-cleansing and efficient cleansers according to the review themes on this page.

Which is more affordable, Clarins or Shiseido?

Both Clarins and Shiseido feature high price points across the products on this page, making neither brand more affordable than the other.

Clarins or Shiseido for oily skin?

Shiseido is the better choice for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine as High compared to Clarins' Average. Shiseido's deep-cleansing and efficient cleansers help manage oil effectively.

Clarins or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

Shiseido is a better choice for moisturizers because the products on this page achieve a High routine fit for oily, combination, and acne-prone skin types, whereas Clarins achieves only an Average fit for those skin types.

Clarins or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

Both Clarins and Shiseido fit sensitive skin well, as Lovi rates both brands at a High level for this skin type. Reviewers note that both brands offer luxurious textures, though they also mention a high price point and strong fragrance for products on this page.

Clarins or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

Shiseido is a better fit for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as High while Clarins is rated Average. Topical hyaluronic acid, found in products across both brands, helps support skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Clarins or Shiseido for mature skin?

Both brands are a High fit for mature skin, but Clarins does better for anti-aging and firming results. Products on this page like the Clarins Super Restorative Night Cream and Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Day Cream help with hydration and aging signs.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

Clarins or Shiseido for skin with dark spots?

Both Clarins and Shiseido fit skin with dark spots at a High level on Lovi. The products on this page help hydrate and brighten skin, although reviewers note that both brands come with a high price point.

Clarins or Shiseido for combination skin?

For combination skin, Lovi finds that Shiseido fits better than Clarins, as Shiseido has a High routine fit compared to Clarins's Average level.

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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