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The INKEY List vs Shiseido

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

The INKEY List and Shiseido are distinct skincare brands rooted in different heritage, with the former originating in Britain in 2018 and the latter in Japan in 1872. The INKEY List focuses on moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products built around glycerin, suiting dry and sensitive skin best. Conversely, Shiseido is beloved for its moisturizers, cleansers, sunscreens, and serums formulated with nourishing glycerin, catering primarily to mature skin and skin with dark spots. While both labels leverage glycerin to improve skin hydration and barrier function, they differ in their targeted formulations and geographical origins.

The INKEY List is a British skincare brand founded in 2018 and owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited.

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.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 The INKEY List and Shiseido products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The INKEY List vs Shiseido products

People Say

The INKEY ListShiseido
  • 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”
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
  • Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Texture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Lightweight, silky, non-sticky, sinks in instantly. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “Airy-soft texture — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • Smooth and Luxurious Texture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “silky smooth, rich but non-greasy, absorbs quickly, melts into skin — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “Velvety, rich cream texture — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “Velvety texture — Shiseido FUTURE SOLUTION LX”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Gentle Care and Soothing Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “calmed my menopausal redness — The INKEY List ECTOIN HYDRO-BARRIER SERUM”
    • “face feels squeaky clean — Shiseido Clarifying Cleansing Foam”
  • Affordable Price and Value Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “Good for the price — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “One of the best balms for quality and also price — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “unbeatable value — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
  • Skin Brightening and Radiance Not 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”
  • Fragrance and Scent Complaints Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like BBQ/meat — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Smells like chemicals — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “smells plasticky — The INKEY List ECTOIN HYDRO-BARRIER SERUM”
    • “old lady smell — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
  • High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Very expensive for the size — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Texture and Finish Inconsistencies Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Stays tacky and shiny — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “Felt powdery — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
    • “feels a bit oily — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Cream Enriched”
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”

The INKEY List vs Shiseido routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs Shiseido routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The INKEY List vs Shiseido routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Shiseido: which is better?

The INKEY List tends to be better for shoppers wanting affordable skincare with fragrance-free options, while Shiseido offers more luxurious textures and deep hydration. The INKEY List features products on this page that are well-suited for gentle care, whereas Shiseido excels in skin brightening and radiance.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Shiseido?

The INKEY List offers more affordable pricing and gentle care, while Shiseido provides deep hydration and luxurious textures. Reviewers note that The INKEY List helps with budget-friendly routines, whereas Shiseido may cause strong fragrance complaints.

The INKEY List or Shiseido for dry skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for dry skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Shiseido's High fit on this page. Reviewers frequently mention that The INKEY List provides affordable, hydrating moisturizers, while every product on its page lists no fragrance.

The INKEY List or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

When comparing cleansers, The INKEY List offers fragrance-free formulas that help provide gentle care, while many Shiseido cleansers feature strong fragrances. Reviewers often mention that Shiseido cleansers deliver deep-cleansing and efficient results, whereas The INKEY List provides more affordable options.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Shiseido?

The INKEY List is more affordable, as the products on this page offer budget-friendly moisturizers and serums compared to Shiseido's high price point.

Between The INKEY List and Shiseido, which brand is better for sensitive skin seeking gentle care and soothing?

The INKEY List is better for sensitive skin seeking gentle care and soothing. Lovi rates the routine fit for sensitive skin as Superior for The INKEY List and High for Shiseido.

How do the two brands compare regarding fragrance, and which one receives complaints about strong scents?

Every product on The INKEY List page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, while most Shiseido products on this page include fragrance. Despite this, Shiseido receives frequent complaints about strong fragrance from reviewers.

Which brand performs better for hydration and moisture according to review themes?

Shiseido performs better for hydration and moisture according to review themes. Reviewers mostly mention deep hydration for Shiseido, while The INKEY List focuses on hydrating moisturizers as part of its affordable range.

The INKEY List or Shiseido for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and Shiseido fit oily skin well, as the products on this page achieve an equal level of fit for that skin type. The INKEY List tends to offer budget-friendly serums, whereas Shiseido provides luxurious textures and deep hydration.

The INKEY List or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, The INKEY List offers budget-friendly, highly hydrating options that are free of added fragrance, whereas Shiseido provides luxurious, deeply hydrating formulas that often include fragrance. Reviewers note that The INKEY List delivers great value for lightweight and plumping hydration, while Shiseido excels in deep hydration and smoothing textures.

The INKEY List or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List fits sensitive skin better, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Shiseido's High fit level. Furthermore, the products on this page for The INKEY List list no fragrance in their ingredients, whereas most Shiseido products on this page contain fragrance.

The INKEY List or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and Shiseido offer products that have a high routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. The INKEY List helps provide affordable options with no fragrance listed across its formulas, while Shiseido may provide luxurious textures and deep hydration.

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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