Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream for oily skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Angelica Keiskei Stem Extract Leaf
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate suitability for your oily skin as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide general hydration, but alcohol denat can be drying and dimethicone may feel occlusive.
- While the formula offers good moisturizing benefits, it lacks specialized ingredients to effectively manage excess oiliness.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing extracts like Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract and Panax Ginseng Root Extract.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this cream for its lightweight, airy texture that delivers deep hydration without feeling greasy, making it ideal for normal to combination skin types. While many report softer, plumper skin and excellent performance under makeup, those with extremely dry skin or living in harsh winter climates often find it not rich enough for their needs.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “Airy-soft texture”
- “melts into skin”
- “non-greasy feel”
- “absorbs quickly”
Effective hydration Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels plump”
- “soft and supple”
- “glowy complexion”
- “hydrated all day”
Makeup compatibility Often Mentioned
- “Great base for makeup”
- “foundation doesn't pill”
- “makeup sits beautifully”
- “doesn't slide off”
Gentle on skin Sometimes Noted
- “No irritation”
- “soothing for redness”
- “didn't break me out”
- “good for sensitive skin”
Pleasant fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “Fresh floral scent”
- “smells luxurious”
- “light and clean”
- “relaxing aroma”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “Expensive for the amount”
- “pricey for a basic moisturizer”
- “jar runs out fast”
Not moisturizing enough Sometimes Noted
- “Not enough for winter”
- “skin felt dry later”
- “need to layer it”
- “too light for night”
Overpowering scent Rarely Noted
- “Scent lingers too long”
- “perfume is overpowering”
- “smell caused headache”
- “too floral”
Packaging concerns Rarely Noted
- “Heavy glass jar”
- “not travel friendly”
- “bulky packaging”
Texture issues Rarely Noted
- “Felt powdery”
- “left a film”
- “slightly sticky finish”
- “silicone-heavy feel”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, shiseido.com, spacenk.com, macys.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream work for oily skin?
This cream works moderately well for oily skin, providing general hydration while feeling safe and soothing, though alcohol denat may be drying and dimethicone may feel heavy. It lacks specialized ingredients to manage excess oiliness, so oily skin needs a moisturizing treatment with peptides and lightweight hydrating agents, without heavy oils, that supports the skin barrier and addresses shine.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate make this cream a good fit by providing general hydration, while soothing extracts like Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract and Panax Ginseng Root Extract help keep your skin calm without irritation. To better fit oily skin, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrating agents combined with ingredients that manage excess oil and support the skin barrier without heavy oils or pore-clogging ingredients.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
What does Ginseng Root Extract do for oily skin?
Ginseng Root Extract helps calm oily skin and protects it from daily stress and UV damage. This ingredient also helps reduce inflammation and keeps the skin balanced, though an oily routine also needs lightweight, oil-free hydration and gentle cleansing to stay clear.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes towards the end of your morning and evening routines, after cleansers, toners, and treatments. Oily skin works best with moisturizers that contain lightweight hydrators and oil-managing ingredients rather than heavy or drying formulas.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying it after your retinol treatment to help keep your skin comfortable and hydrated. This type of skin needs a moisturizer that helps manage excess oil and balances hydration without feeling heavy.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Daily application helps keep your skin hydrated while being safe for your skin type, though oily skin needs a product with specialized ingredients to manage excess oil.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts or purging for oily skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing extracts. However, a product for this skin needs oil-controlling ingredients to manage excess shine effectively.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream works on the thin skin around the eyes and on the body, though the eyelids are much thinner than body skin. It is unlikely to irritate because it leaves out harsh ingredients and includes soothing extracts.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum, linalool, and limonene) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat and alcohol).
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Enzyme-modified ginseng extract cream significantly reduced the global photo-damage score and various roughness measures including total roughness, smoothness depth, and arithmetic roughness average compared to placebo in 23 human subjects.
Rejuvenation Research, 2015A red ginseng hydrogel formulation with 1,2-hexanediol promoted selective growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and decreased Cutibacterium acnes in 20 female subjects.
Journal of Ginseng Research, 2022A 1% fermented black ginseng cream significantly reduced eye wrinkles and brightened skin color in twenty-three human subjects compared to control cream and baseline.
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A, 2020Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical application of Citrus reticulata fruit extract provided instant relief from lactic acid-induced skin discomfort and increased skin tolerance by inhibiting TRPV1 activation and expression.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Fermented Citrus unshiu peel extract inhibited MMP-1 expression and decreased SA-beta-gal positive cells by approximately 45% at 0.1% concentration in ultraviolet-A-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts compared to untreated irradiated cells.
Phytotherapy Research, 2012
Why other moisturizers fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat, Betaine, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ppg-3 Dipivalate, Silica, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polysorbate 60, Peg-100 Stearate, Peg Ppg-14 7 Dimethyl Ether, Peg Ppg-17 4 Dimethyl Ether, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethylacrylamide Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Sorbitan Tristearate, Erythritol, Parfum, Alcohol, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Carbomer, Trisodium Edta, Xanthan Gum, Caffeine, Potassium Hydroxide, Isostearic Acid, Sodium Metaphosphate, Phytosteryl Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Linalool, Tocopherol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Limonene, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Angelica Keiskei Stem Extract Leaf, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Iron Oxides Ci 77491, Alpinia Speciosa Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Pyrola Incarnata Extract
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score 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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