Shiseido Future Solution LX Legendary Enmei Ultimate Luminance Serum for dry skin
Legendary Enmei Extract
Niacinamide
2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Tocopheryl Acetate
Hydrolyzed Silk
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
Works for dry skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 dry skin, as glycerin and betaine provide humectant action to hydrate, while niacinamide and 2-o-ethyl ascorbic acid offer antioxidant benefits and help even skin tone.
- The formula lacks sufficient emollient ingredients for optimal hydration, and the presence of alcohol and fragrance may pose a slight irritation risk for your dry skin.
- The product is generally safe for your skin, with minimal concerns regarding potential irritation from alcohol and fragrance.
How to apply
- Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this serum for delivering immediate hydration and a visible glow, often noting softer, smoother skin texture by the next morning. While the high price point is a frequent contention, many find the luxurious feel and brightening effects on dullness and fine lines to be worth the investment.
Highlights
Instant radiance Mostly Mentioned
- “complexion is brighter”
- “makes face glow”
- “luminous skin”
- “radiant look”
Extremely high price Mostly Mentioned
- “insanely high price”
- “splurge”
- “costly”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Deep hydration Often Mentioned
- “deeply moisturizing”
- “dewy mask”
- “keeps me hydrated”
- “plumps skin”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels soft”
- “smoother texture”
- “visibly supple”
- “refined pores”
Anti-aging benefits Sometimes Noted
- “wrinkles are softened”
- “young looking”
- “firming effect”
- “lines less visible”
Luxurious feel Sometimes Noted
- “silky embrace”
- “absorbs quickly”
- “lightweight formula”
- “non-greasy finish”
Fragrance concerns Rarely Noted
- “delicately fragranced”
- “strong scent”
- “contains butylphenyl methylpropional”
- “fragrance allergen”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “didn't see difference”
- “haven't used long enough”
- “no anti-aging results yet”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “packaging needs work”
- “heavy bottle”
- “pump dispenses too much”
Texture preference Rarely Noted
- “runnier than thought”
- “watery consistency”
- “too thin”
- “liquid texture”
Sources: lovi.care, shiseido.com, sephora.in, macys.com, nordstrom.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Shiseido Legendary Enmei Ultimate Luminance Serum work for dry skin?
This serum works moderately well for your dry skin, as glycerin and betaine help hydrate while niacinamide and vitamin C even your skin tone. Alcohol and fragrance may pose a slight irritation risk, and the formula lacks sufficient softening ingredients for optimal hydration. Dry skin needs rich moisturizing oils, skin-repairing ceramides, soothing plant extracts, and gentle hydrators to lock in moisture and support the skin barrier.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin and betaine make this serum a good fit for dry skin by drawing in moisture, while niacinamide and vitamin C provide antioxidants and help even skin tone. Because it lacks enough rich softening ingredients and contains alcohol and fragrance, this skin type needs extra nourishing oils, ceramides, and soothing barrier-repair ingredients to stay fully comfortable and hydrated.
What does Legendary Enmei Extract do for dry skin?
Legendary Enmei Extract helps nourish dry skin by supporting its natural moisture and barrier functions, making it feel softer and smoother. This type of botanical extract generally works best when paired with rich hydrators like ceramides or plant oils to lock in lasting comfort.
What does Niacinamide do for dry skin?
Niacinamide helps dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier, increasing hydration, and reducing water loss. It supports ceramide production and helps keep the surface smooth and calm. This ingredient tends to be very well tolerated and is unlikely to irritate dry skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, which keeps things simple and safe around sun exposure. A dry skin routine of this type needs rich, nourishing hydrators and extra softening ingredients to keep dry skin smooth and comfortable.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first in your evening routine, but this product needs richer, softening ingredients and no fragrance to properly care for dry skin.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment works well in the evening for your dry skin, though it can also be used in the morning or twice a day. Because this skin needs rich softening ingredients like plant oils and butters to stay smooth and comfortable, a serum of this type works best when paired with a deeply nourishing moisturizer.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin, though alcohol and fragrance may pose a slight irritation risk. Dry skin of this type needs rich, deeply softening ingredients and heavy moisturizing oils to keep it smooth and comfortable.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum, linalool, limonene, hexyl cinnamal, citronellol, and geraniol) and drying alcohol (alcohol).
What the research says
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002A multi-component dissolving microneedle patch loaded with glabridin, 3-O-ethyl-L-ascorbic acid, and tranexamic acid effectively reduced chloasma and age spots while demonstrating safety in clinical evaluation, alongside significant antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and melanin-reduction effects in vitro and in vivo.
Polymers, 2023Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, and Sodium Benzoate can be used safely in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and Benzyl Alcohol is safe up to 10% in hair dyes, despite causing nonimmunologic contact reactions.
International Journal of Toxicology, 2001Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical 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 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, 2024Bacterial cellulose wound dressing containing silk sericin and PHMB improved wound quality and reduced pain compared to Bactigras in patients with split-thickness skin graft donor-site wounds.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2018A bacterial nanocellulose wound dressing incorporating polyhexamethylene biguanide and sericin showed no skin irritation in healthy volunteers and significantly promoted wound healing with lower wound size and higher collagen formation in full-thickness rat wounds compared to controls.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2016Topical application of sericin gels increased skin intrinsic moisturization, hydroxyproline content, and epidermal hydration while decreasing transepidermal water loss and skin impedance in healthy human volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2005
Why other serums fit dry skin better
Treatment with cross-linked hyaluronic acid-based microneedle patches combined with acetyl hexapeptide-8 or epidermal growth factor significantly improved wrinkles and skin hydration compared to the patch alone in Korean females over 29 days.
Annals of Dermatology, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Peg-8, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Niacinamide, Peg Ppg-17 4 Dimethyl Ether, Peg-20, Piperidinepropionic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethylacrylamide Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Isostearic Acid, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Sodium Metabisulfite, Lauryl Betaine, Linalool, Disodium Edta, Alcohol, Sodium Citrate, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Benzyl Benzoate, Citric Acid, Prunus Speciosa Leaf Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Bark Extract, Isodonis Japonicus Stalk Extract Leaf, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Kaempferia Galanga Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol
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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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