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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 moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and more, which are formulated with nourishing ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin. The American line best suits mature and dry skin, providing deep replenishment through targeted solutions like the Super Eyes Daily Eye Serum, Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream, and Brightening Eye Cream. Conversely, the Japanese heritage line suits mature skin and skin with dark spots best, featuring standout selections such as the Treatment Softener, Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Day Cream, and Essential Energy Hydrating Cream. While both brands support barrier function and hydration, they differ in their specific formulations and primary regional origins.

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 · 99% fit

Olay vs Shiseido routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Olay vs Shiseido routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Olay or Shiseido: which is better?

Olay is better for fragrance-free options and anti-aging routines, while Shiseido offers deeper hydration and luxurious textures. Reviewers note that Olay tends to be more affordable, whereas Shiseido products often come with a higher price point.

What is the difference between Olay and Shiseido?

Olay is better for fragrance-free options and anti-aging, whereas Shiseido is noted for deep hydration and luxurious textures. The products on this page show that Olay generally offers more fragrance-free formulas, while Shiseido frequently includes added fragrances.

Olay or Shiseido for dry skin?

Olay is a better choice for dry skin, as the products on this page offer a Superior routine fit compared to Shiseido's High fit. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration and anti-aging effects for dry skin.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Olay or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

Shiseido is often noted for its deep-cleansing and efficient cleansers, while Olay offers fragrance-free options that are generally gentler on sensitive skin.

Which is more affordable, Olay or Shiseido?

Olay is more affordable, as Shiseido is noted for having a high price point across the products on this page. Review themes indicate that Olay does better when it comes to the high price point drawback.

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

Olay has more fragrance-free products on this page, with 26 out of 27 products listing no fragrance. In contrast, only 5 of Shiseido's 20 products on this page are fragrance-free.

Olay or Shiseido for oily skin?

Both Olay and Shiseido offer products on this page that achieve a high fit level for oily skin. Reviewers note that Olay helps provide a lightweight feel and fast absorption, while Shiseido offers deep-cleansing and efficient cleansers.

Olay or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

Olay offers better anti-aging and skin-smoothing benefits for its moisturizers, while Shiseido provides deeper hydration and moisture. Reviewers note that Olay's products on this page are more often fragrance-free, whereas Shiseido's moisturizers feature luxurious textures.

Olay or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

Olay is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Shiseido's High fit on this page. The products on this page for Olay are mostly fragrance-free, whereas most Shiseido products contain fragrance.

Olay or Shiseido: which sunscreen is better?

Olay products on this page generally offer a higher Lovi fit level for sunscreens than Shiseido, with options like the Regenerist Whip Face Moisturizer SPF 25 achieving a High fit for most skin types compared to Shiseido's lower ratings for items like the Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion. Additionally, Olay stands out for fragrance-free formulations, as 26 of its 27 products list no fragrance.

Olay or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

Olay is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Shiseido's High fit on this page.

Olay or Shiseido for mature skin?

Olay is a better choice for mature skin because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to Shiseido's High. Olay also features anti-aging ingredients like niacinamide and peptides, which help improve skin texture and firmness.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Olay or Shiseido for skin with dark spots?

Olay is a better fit for skin with dark spots, offering a Superior routine level compared to Shiseido's High fit. Niacinamide, which is found across Olay products on this page, helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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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