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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 two renowned skincare lines celebrated for their thoughtful arrays of moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and targeted treatments. Olay relies on niacinamide and glycerin to best serve dry and acne-prone skin, while Shiseido incorporates glycerin to cater gently to sensitive and mature skin. Both brands offer dedicated formulas for specific concerns like dark spots, yet they differ in their primary active ingredients and the specific skin types they prioritize.

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 · 98% 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 · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Olay or Shiseido: which is better?

Olay tends to be a better choice for fragrance-free routines, anti-aging, and value, while Shiseido is often favored for luxurious textures and deep hydration. For dry skin specifically, the products on this page show that Olay has a superior routine fit compared to Shiseido.

What is the difference between Olay and Shiseido?

Olay tends to do better with anti-aging, soothing gentle formulas, and lower pricing, while Shiseido stands out for deep hydration and luxurious textures. Reviewers note that Olay's products on this page are more often fragrance-free, whereas Shiseido frequently includes fragrance and carries a higher price point.

Olay or Shiseido for dry skin?

Olay achieves a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Shiseido achieves a High routine fit. Olay helps provide fragrance-free options and is generally more budget-friendly, while Shiseido tends to offer luxurious textures and deep hydration.

Olay or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

Olay is a better choice for cleansers because the products on this page help provide fragrance-free options and gentle formulas. Shiseido cleansers often feature strong fragrances that may cause skin irritation.

Which is more affordable, Olay or Shiseido?

Olay is more affordable than Shiseido, as high price point is a frequently mentioned drawback for Shiseido while Olay performs better on pricing.

Olay or Shiseido: which brand has more fragrance-free options?

Olay has more fragrance-free options, as nearly all the products on this page list no fragrance, whereas most Shiseido products include fragrance.

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, while Shiseido helps deliver deep hydration and efficient cleansing.

Olay or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

Olay is better for moisturizers if you want fragrance-free options and superior anti-aging benefits, while Shiseido is better if you prefer deep hydration and luxurious textures. For dry skin specifically, Lovi rates Olay as Superior and Shiseido as High.

Olay or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

Olay is a better choice for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Shiseido's High fit level. Furthermore, Olay offers more fragrance-free options among the products on this page, which helps reduce the risk of irritation.

Olay or Shiseido: which sunscreen is better?

Olay is better for sunscreens on this page, as Olay Regenerist Whip Face Moisturizer SPF 25 achieves a High fit level for dry skin, sensitive skin, and mature skin, whereas Shiseido has mixed results, including a Warning fit level for dry skin with Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion.

Olay or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

Olay is a better fit for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its overall routine fit as Superior while Shiseido's is High. Olay also provides more fragrance-free options across the products on this page, which helps reduce the risk of irritation for acne-prone skin.

Olay or Shiseido for mature skin?

Olay is a better choice for mature skin because Lovi rates its routine as Superior, compared to High for Shiseido. The products on this page help improve texture and smoothness and provide anti-aging benefits.

Olay or Shiseido for skin with dark spots?

Olay is the better choice for skin with dark spots because Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Shiseido's High fit level. Additionally, Olay includes niacinamide across many of the products on this page, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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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