Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Day Cream for skin with dark spots
Avobenzone
Glycerin
Tocopheryl Acetate
Caffeine
Curcuma Longa Extract RhizomeHigh
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for skin with dark spots; a few sunscreens fit it even better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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 normal skin due to the presence of glycerin and saccharina angustata extract, which provide humectant action and barrier repair.
- Antioxidants like Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Tocopheryl Acetate offer supportive benefits for pigmentation, while the sunscreen actives provide excellent UV protection.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your normal skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this moisturizing sunscreen AM daily to protect your normal skin and fight dark spots.
- Apply this product as the final step of your morning routine after your moisturizer.
- Gently spread a coin-sized amount evenly over your face, avoiding rough rubbing.
- Apply this product on clean, dry skin for the best coverage and protection.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and reapply every two hours when outdoors.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dry and mature skin frequently praise this cream for its rich, deeply hydrating formula that visibly plumps skin and smooths fine lines. While many appreciate the dewy glow and added sun protection, those with oily or sensitive skin sometimes find the texture too heavy or the floral fragrance overpowering.
Highlights
Intense hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “keeps me hydrated all day”
- “skin feels plump”
- “great for winter dryness”
- “moisture lasts 24 hours”
Luxurious texture Often Mentioned
- “glides on smoothly”
- “rich but not heavy”
- “velvety feel”
- “silky application”
Added sun protection Sometimes Noted
- “love the SPF”
- “protection in one step”
- “saves a step”
- “good daily defense”
Radiant finish Sometimes Noted
- “gives a nice glow”
- “skin looks radiant”
- “dewy finish”
- “makeup sits well”
Visible smoothing Sometimes Noted
- “fine lines less visible”
- “skin looks smoother”
- “softens wrinkles”
- “improves texture”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “very expensive”
- “pricey for the size”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “luxury price tag”
Strong floral scent Sometimes Noted
- “smell is overpowering”
- “strong chemical scent”
- “grandma perfume smell”
- “fragrance lingers”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “burns my eyes”
- “eyes water”
- “stings near eyes”
- “irritating to eyes”
Greasy residue Rarely Noted
- “too greasy”
- “leaves an oily film”
- “shiny face”
- “heavy for summer”
Skin sensitivity Rarely Noted
- “caused breakouts”
- “skin felt burning”
- “redness appeared”
- “clogged pores”
Sources: lovi.care, macys.com, ulta.com, walmart.com, nordstrom.com, sephora.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Day Cream a great fit for skin with dark spots?
Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Day Cream is a great fit because it contains antioxidants like Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Tocopheryl Acetate that help with dark spots, along with sunscreen filters that provide strong UV protection. It also features glycerin to keep your skin soft and hydrated while being very gentle and safe.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for skin with dark spots?
This cream is a great fit for skin with dark spots because it contains antioxidants like Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Tocopheryl Acetate, which offer supportive benefits for pigmentation. It also includes sunscreen actives that provide excellent UV protection to help prevent further dark spots.
What does Avobenzone do for skin with dark spots?
Avobenzone helps protect dark spots from darkening further by absorbing UVA rays that trigger pigment changes, though because it can break down in sunlight, it works best when paired with stabilizers or antioxidants. A product for dark spots with uneven skin tone also needs antioxidants like vitamin C or soothing plant extracts to help fade existing marks and brighten the skin.
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2023Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology, 2015
What does Glycerin do for skin with dark spots?
Glycerin helps keep dry skin hydrated and supports a healthy skin barrier, which makes skin feel soft and smooth. While it does not directly fade dark spots on its own, it is often added to spot-fading products to keep the skin comfortable while other ingredients work.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This cream goes in the morning routine as the moisturizer and sunscreen step, after your cleansing and hydrating toner. It is unlikely to cause irritation and provides helpful antioxidants and strong UV protection for this skin.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2012
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream in the morning before your sunscreen when following a retinol routine, keeping retinol for your evening steps. Applying a gentle moisturizer like this helps keep your skin comfortable and supports your skin barrier while using stronger nighttime treatments.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing spf every morning as part of your daily routine. Applying it regularly helps protect your skin from UV rays while keeping it soft and smooth.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your skin with dark spots, as it features a safe formula without harsh ingredients that typically trigger irritation. Reviewers rarely mention a greasy residue, and the sunscreen filters help protect your skin while managing dark spots.
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
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, 2017An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Topical 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, 2019Encapsulation of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane in lipid microparticles significantly reduced their in vivo human skin penetration compared to nonencapsulated filters.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011Microencapsulation of the BMDBM/HP-beta-CD complex in lipid microparticles significantly decreased the percutaneous penetration of the UV filter into the stratum corneum of human volunteers compared to the non-encapsulated sunscreen agent.
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 2011Following human skin application of an O/W emulsion containing 2% BMDBM loaded in lipospheres, 15% of the sunscreen accumulated in the uppermost layers of the stratum corneum without remarkably modifying skin permeation compared to unencapsulated sunscreen.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2008The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A 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, 2011Caffeine 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, 2021Caffeine 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, 2025Topical application of curcumin or turmeric treats various skin conditions by leveraging antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2023Topical formulations of curcumin target oxidative damage and inflammation to improve wound healing in animal models.
Drug Discovery Today, 2017A curcumin-loaded spanlastic anti-aging gel utilizing formula F5 incorporated into 2% HPMC E50 demonstrated sustained release action, compatibility, and the ability to penetrate skin layers to a depth of about 112.5 um without signs of irritation.
Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 2024
Ingredients
Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octinoxate, Octocrylene, Oxybenzone, Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Silica, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Isohexadecane, Sorbitol, Beheneth-20, Myristyl Myristate, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Erythritol, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Peg Ppg-14 7 Dimethyl Ether, Peg Ppg-17 4 Dimethyl Ether, Caffeine, Sapindus Mukorossi Peel Extract, Angelica Keiskei Stem Extract Leaf, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Junos Seed Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Eucheuma Serra Grateloupia Sparsa Saccharina Angustata Ulva Linza Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Curcuma Longa Extract Rhizome, Polyquaternium-51, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Ppg-17, Stearyl Alcohol, Beheneth-30, Alcohol, Carbomer, Cellulose Gum, Trisodium Edta, Hdi Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Sodium Citrate, Bht, Sodium Metaphosphate, Potassium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Ppg-3 Dipivalate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, 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.
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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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