Shiseido vs Galderma
Shiseido and Galderma are a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1872 and a Swiss skincare brand founded in 1981, respectively. Shiseido is beloved for its thoughtful array of moisturizers, cleansers, sunscreens, serums, and more, all formulated with nourishing glycerin, while Galderma's products on this page cover serums. The Japanese brand suits mature skin and skin with dark spots best, owing to its targeted formulations, whereas both brands offer solutions for acne-prone skin, mature skin, and skin with dark spots. They differ primarily in their origins, ownership, product types, and specific ingredient applications.
Shiseido is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1872 and owned by Shiseido Company, Limited.
corp.shiseido.comen.wikipedia.orgmarketscreener.com
Galderma is a Swiss skincare brand founded in 1981 and owned by Galderma Group AG.
This page compares some of the most popular Shiseido and Galderma products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Shiseido vs Galderma products
People Say
Deep hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “Immediate sensation of comfort — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
- “Lightweight, silky, non-sticky, sinks in instantly. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
- “skin feels plump, soft and nourished, eliminates dryness, bouncy feel — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
Acne clearance and prevention Not notedMostly Mentioned
- “cleared up my skin — Galderma Benzac AC Mild Strength 2.5% Acne Gel”
- “cystic acne gone — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
- “stops new pimples — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
Luxurious and lightweight textures Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “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”
Brightening and radiance Often MentionedNot noted
- “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”
Anti-aging and skin smoothing Often MentionedNot 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”
Drying or stripping Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
- “left my skin squeaky dry — Shiseido Clarifying Cleansing Foam”
- “skin flaking off — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
High price point Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “Very expensive for the size — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
Intense burning and stinging Not notedMostly Mentioned
- “face on fire — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
Initial acne purge Not notedMostly Mentioned
- “got worse first — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
Bleaches fabrics Not notedMostly Mentioned
- “bleached my towel — Galderma Benzac AC 5”
Redness and irritation Not notedOften Mentioned
- “red as tomato — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
Questions and answers
Shiseido or Galderma: which is better?
Shiseido is better for deep hydration and anti-aging, featuring ingredients like hyaluronic acid to help improve skin quality and signs of aging. Galderma is better for acne clearance and prevention, though its serums may cause severe dryness, peeling, and irritation.
What is the difference between Shiseido and Galderma?
Shiseido is best for deep hydration and anti-aging care, while Galderma focuses on effective acne-clearing serums. Topical hyaluronic acid in products like Shiseido helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.
Which is more affordable, Shiseido or Galderma?
Galderma is more affordable, whereas Shiseido has a high price point among the products on this page.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Shiseido or Galderma?
Galderma performs better than Shiseido for acne clearance and prevention, with the products on this page offering high fit levels for acne-prone skin.
Which brand has more fragrance-free product options, Shiseido or Galderma?
Galderma offers more fragrance-free product options since every product on its page lists no fragrance, whereas only 5 of the 20 Shiseido products on this page list no fragrance.
How do Shiseido and Galderma compare regarding skin irritation and dryness reported by reviewers?
Shiseido is often noted for intense burning, stinging, and redness by reviewers, whereas Galderma is mostly mentioned for severe dryness, peeling, and irritation. Additionally, Shiseido products on this page may cause skin irritation, while Galderma's serums can lead to severe discomfort.
Which of the two brands offers products specifically formulated for mature skin and skin with dark spots?
Shiseido is the brand that offers products on this page specifically formulated for mature skin and skin with dark spots. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.
Research behind their key ingredients
Psychophysical study of the effects of topical application of menthol in healthy volunteers
Panax ginseng induces human Type I collagen synthesis through activation of Smad signaling
Vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin
Another Reason for Using Caffeine in Dermocosmetics: Sunscreen Adjuvant
In vivo and in vitro evaluation of octyl methoxycinnamate liposomes
Anatomical site differences of sodium lauryl sulfate-induced irritation: randomized controlled trial
Skin recovery by Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract: Redox control of Nrf2 signaling
Moisturizing Effects of Diglycerol Combined with Glycerol on Human Stratum Corneum
Functional properties and skin care effects of sodium trehalose sulfate
Transdermal Delivery of Baicalin Based on Bio-Vesicles and Its Efficacy in Antiaging of the Skin
Liposomal formulation of a vitamin C derivative: a promising strategy to increase skin permeability
New Chalcone-Derived Molecule for the Topical Regulation of Hyperpigmentation and Skin Aging
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
Retrospective Review of Dermal Safety Studies of Organic Sunscreens
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.
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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
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