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Dermalogica vs Shiseido

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

Dermalogica and Shiseido are renowned skincare brands offering a thoughtful array of moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and more, formulated with nourishing ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. The American brand is loved for its targeted treatments that suit dry and oily skin best, while the Japanese brand is beloved for selections that suit mature skin and skin with dark spots best. They differ primarily in their heritage and targeted benefits, with the former working beneath the surface to address complex types and the latter providing significant stratum corneum hydration.

Dermalogica is an American skincare brand founded in 1986 and owned by Unilever since 2015.

en.wikipedia.orgcosmeticsbusiness.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 Dermalogica and Shiseido products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Dermalogica vs Shiseido products

People Say

DermalogicaShiseido
  • Deep hydration and moisturization 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”
    • “Skin feels more hydrated — Shiseido Activating Essence”
    • “Saved my dry skin — Dermalogica Super Rich Repair”
  • Luxurious and smooth 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”
    • “skin feels smooth as silk — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
  • Brightening and radiance Sometimes 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”
    • “immediately brighter looking — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
  • Anti-aging and wrinkle reduction Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Smoothed out crow's feet — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “tighter jawline, lifted appearance, improved elasticity, less sagging — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “wrinkles look softer — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Cream Enriched”
    • “fine lines have visibly softened — Dermalogica Phyto Nature Lifting Eye Cream”
  • Gentle exfoliation and cleansing Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “gentle enough for daily use — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “doesn't strip skin — Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel”
    • “removes all makeup — Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel”
    • “face feels squeaky clean — Shiseido Clarifying Cleansing Foam”
  • Soothing and calming skin Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “helps calm and nourish my skin — Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream”
    • “The redness is better — Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream”
    • “Calms redness — Dermalogica Super Rich Repair”
    • “No irritation — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • High price point Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “hefty price tag — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “Expensive for cleanser — Dermalogica Precleanse”
    • “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 puke — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “smells like medicine — Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50”
    • “Overpowering scent — Dermalogica Precleanse”
    • “old lady smell — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
  • Skin irritation and reactions Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Caused some irritation — Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizing Cream”
    • “Caused burning and redness — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “Caused breakouts, redness, or exacerbated oiliness for some. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “Stings eyes — Dermalogica Precleanse”
  • Greasy or heavy feel Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Too thick for day — Dermalogica Super Rich Repair”
    • “skin felt tight — Dermalogica Active Moist”
    • “Stays tacky and shiny — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “Not enough for winter — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”

Dermalogica vs Shiseido routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Dermalogica vs Shiseido routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Dermalogica vs Shiseido routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Dermalogica or Shiseido: which is better?

Dermalogica is better for gentle cleansing, soothing care, and fragrance-free formulas across the products on this page. Shiseido performs better for deep hydration, luxurious textures, and anti-aging benefits, though it frequently uses fragrance.

What is the difference between Dermalogica and Shiseido?

Dermalogica and Shiseido both fit sensitive and acne-prone skin well, but Dermalogica features fragrance-free products on this page while Shiseido includes fragrance in many formulas. Reviewers note that Shiseido does better for anti-aging and deep hydration, whereas Dermalogica excels in gentle cleansing and soothing.

Dermalogica or Shiseido for dry skin?

Dermalogica is a better fit for dry skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Shiseido's High fit on this page. Reviewers note that Dermalogica's products on this page help deliver intense hydration and soothing moisturizers without added fragrance.

Dermalogica or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

Dermalogica is better for gentle exfoliation and cleansing, offering cleansers with a High fit for dry, oily, combination, and sensitive skin types.

Which is more affordable, Dermalogica or Shiseido?

Both Dermalogica and Shiseido are equally matched when it comes to having a high price point.

Which brand offers more fragrance-free products, Dermalogica or Shiseido?

Dermalogica offers more fragrance-free options, as every product on its page lists no fragrance, whereas only 5 of the 20 Shiseido products on this page do.

Dermalogica or Shiseido for oily skin?

Dermalogica is the better choice for oily skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Shiseido's High fit. Reviewers note that the products on this page help provide non-greasy hydration and gentle cleansing.

Dermalogica or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

Dermalogica is better for shoppers looking for fragrance-free formulas, as every product on its page lists no fragrance, whereas Shiseido has strong fragrance in 15 of its 20 products. Reviewers note that Dermalogica products on this page help provide intense hydration and soothing moisturizers.

Dermalogica or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

Both Dermalogica and Shiseido offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin. Dermalogica features fragrance-free formulas across the products on this page, whereas Shiseido products often include fragrance.

Dermalogica or Shiseido: which sunscreen is better?

Dermalogica provides a better fit for sunscreens on this page, as its Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50 and Invisible Physical Defense SPF30 achieve High or Superior fit levels across nearly all skin types. Shiseido's sunscreens often carry lower fit levels or warnings for certain skin types, and reviewers note that Shiseido formulas frequently feature strong fragrances.

Dermalogica or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, both brands work well as the routine fit for the products on this page is High. Dermalogica focuses on fragrance-free formulations, whereas Shiseido often includes fragrance across its range.

Dermalogica or Shiseido for mature skin?

Dermalogica is the better choice for mature skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to Shiseido's High fit level. Dermalogica's products on this page are fragrance-free, whereas Shiseido has a strong fragrance in many of its items.

Dermalogica or Shiseido for skin with dark spots?

Both Dermalogica and Shiseido fit skin with dark spots at a High level. Reviewers note that Shiseido improves radiance better.

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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