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Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Day Cream for oily acne-prone skin

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few sunscreens fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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

  • Highly suitable for your oily skin, caffeine and 2-O-ethyl ascorbic acid offer antioxidant activity and seboregulation, addressing your concerns with oiliness and breakouts.
  • The presence of sodium hyaluronate and glycerin provides excellent moisturizing benefits, hydrating and plumping your skin effectively.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use your moisturizing sunscreen every morning. Reapply throughout the day if you are outside.
  • Apply this moisturizing sunscreen as the final step of your morning routine after your moisturizer.
  • Gently smooth a nickel-sized amount over your face and neck, avoiding harsh rubbing to keep oily areas calm.
  • Apply this moisturizing sunscreen on clean, dry skin to ensure even coverage and protection.
  • Avoid getting the product into your eyes and do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 3.6k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users with normal to dry skin types frequently praise this cream for its ability to deliver deep hydration without feeling heavy or greasy, often noting a "dewy" and "plump" post-application look. While the inclusion of SPF 20 is widely appreciated for daily protection, those with sensitive skin or aversion to fragrance sometimes find the floral scent overpowering or irritating.

Highlights

  • Lightweight, non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly”
    • “airy texture”
    • “no sticky residue”
  • Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
    • “plumps skin”
    • “eliminates dry patches”
    • “leaves skin soft”
  • Added sun protection Sometimes Noted
    • “SPF 20 included”
    • “no white cast”
    • “convenient for day use”
  • Makeup friendly Sometimes Noted
    • “smooths texture”
    • “acts as primer”
    • “prevents foundation pilling”
  • Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
    • “overpowering floral scent”
    • “lingers too long”
    • “irritates sensitive noses”
  • Brightening effect Rarely Noted
    • “glowing finish”
    • “radiant look”
    • “healthy shine”
  • Eye irritation Rarely Noted
    • “stings eyes”
    • “migrates when sweating”
    • “sensitive eye area issues”
  • Greasy T-zone Rarely Noted
    • “shiny by midday”
    • “oil breakthrough on combo skin”
    • “too dewy for oily types”
  • Not for very dry Rarely Noted
    • “too light for winter”
    • “requires reapplication”
    • “not rich enough”
  • Price to value Rarely Noted
    • “expensive for amount”
    • “jar runs out fast”
    • “refill cost high”

Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, macys.com, boots.com, shiseido.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Day Cream a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Day Cream is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin because caffeine and 2-O-ethyl ascorbic acid help control oil and breakouts. Sodium hyaluronate and glycerin also keep your skin hydrated and plump without irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Frontiers in Physiology, 2019

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

This cream is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin because it includes caffeine and 2-O-ethyl ascorbic acid to help control excess oil and breakouts. It also features sodium hyaluronate and glycerin to hydrate your skin without causing irritation.

Frontiers in Physiology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps calm oily acne-prone skin by reducing sebum production and lipid synthesis in sebaceous glands. It also supports skin barrier function and improves hydration while helping deliver treatments without causing irritation.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

What does Ethyl Ascorbic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?

Ethyl ascorbic acid helps protect oily, acne-prone skin from cell damage and calms inflammation caused by UV exposure. It also helps manage dark spots and uneven skin tone left behind by breakouts while supporting skin health safely.

Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2025Polymers, 2023

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This moisturizing spf goes in the morning routine after your cleanser and hydrating toner. It is a great fit for your oily skin because it contains caffeine and 2-O-ethyl ascorbic acid to help manage oiliness and breakouts, alongside sodium hyaluronate and glycerin to hydrate without irritation.

Frontiers in Physiology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?

Yes, you can use this moisturizing spf during the day when using retinol at night. Applying a gentle moisturizer alongside retinoids is unlikely to cause irritation and helps keep your skin comfortable.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this cream?

This cream is great to use every morning as part of your regular routine. Applying it daily helps keep your skin hydrated while managing oil and breakouts without causing irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin because it has an excellent safety profile and lacks harsh ingredients that trigger irritation. The caffeine and vitamin c inside help control oil and soothe your skin safely.

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (sd alcohol 40-b and alcohol).

What the research says

  • Topical sunscreen formulations containing caffeine combined with UV filters increased in vivo anti-UVB protection by approximately 25% and showed higher SPF values compared to caffeine-free sunscreen, while being well tolerated by the skin of healthy subjects.

    Frontiers in Physiology, 2019
  • 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, 2017
  • Microneedling combined with topical exosome therapy improved PIH severity scores from grade 2 to grade 1 and enhanced skin tone in two acne patients without causing adverse effects.

    Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Global Open, 2025
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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, 2019
  • Topical 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, 2003
  • Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.

    Journal of Periodontology, 2009
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Enzyme-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, 2015
  • A 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, 2022
  • A 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, 2020
  • A topical cosmetic slimming product containing tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, caffeine, carnitine, forskolin and retinol significantly reduced body circumferences and improved skin aspect compared with placebo in 78 women over 12 weeks.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011
  • Caffeine gel combined with choline geranate showed high skin permeation capacity and superior clinical results in cellulite treatment compared to caffeine gel without ionic liquid.

    AAPS PharmSciTech, 2021
  • Caffeine stimulates metabolic activity in hair follicles and acts as an antioxidant through adenosine pathway interactions, showing potential as an effective and safe management option for hair loss despite current study limitations.

    Molecules, 2025

Ingredients

Water, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Peg-20, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Erythritol, Peg Ppg-14 7 Dimethyl Ether, Peg Ppg-17 4 Dimethyl Ether, Lauryl Betaine, Xanthan Gum, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Caffeine, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Angelica Keiskei Stem Extract Leaf, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Pyrola Incarnata Extract, Behenyl Alcohol, Silica, Diglycerin, Polysilicone-11, Batyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Peg-60 Glyceryl Isostearate, Alcohol, Tocopherol, Bht, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Metabisulfite, Isostearic Acid, Disodium Edta, Sodium Metaphosphate, Ppg-3 Dipivalate, Syzygium Jambos Leaf Extract, Alpinia Speciosa Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Iron Oxides

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.

How does it fit your skin?

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How does it fit your skin?

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