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Shiseido vs SK-II

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Shiseido and SK-II are distinguished Japanese skincare brands rooted in refined botanical science and heritage. The first is beloved for its thoughtful array of moisturizers, cleansers, sunscreens, and serums formulated with glycerin, suiting sensitive and mature skin best through gentle daily care. Conversely, the second is cherished for nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, restorative masks, and clarifying toners powered by pitera, favoring dry sensitive and combination skin. While both offer targeted solutions for acne-prone skin and dark spots, they differ fundamentally in their signature ingredients and optimal skin type pairings.

Shiseido is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1872 and owned by Shiseido Company, Limited.

corp.shiseido.comen.wikipedia.orgmarketscreener.com

SK-II is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

en.wikipedia.orgdiscoversk-ii.wixsite.comglossy.co

This page compares some of the most popular Shiseido and SK-II products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Shiseido vs SK-II products

People Say

ShiseidoSK-II
  • Deep hydration Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Immediate sensation of comfort — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “Lightweight, silky, non-sticky, sinks in instantly. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels plump, soft and nourished, eliminates dryness, bouncy feel — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Radiant glow and radiance Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “gives a glass skin look — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “leaves me with a red carpet glow — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “My skin is glowing now. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
    • “Skin looks brighter, more radiant, and "glowy." — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
  • Luxurious texture Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “silky smooth, rich but non-greasy, absorbs quickly, melts into skin — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “Velvety, rich cream texture — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “Velvety texture — Shiseido FUTURE SOLUTION LX”
    • “silky texture that absorbs quickly — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
  • Lightweight texture Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Absorbs into the skin quickly. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
    • “Absorbs quickly — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “Airy-soft texture — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • Smoother skin and texture Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Smoother skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “makes skin baby soft — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Cream Enriched”
  • Makeup compatibility and prep Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Removes leftover dirt — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “Dissolves waterproof mascara, melts stubborn makeup, removes sunscreen easily. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
    • “Great base for makeup — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • High price point Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Very expensive for the size — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “Expensive, pricey, high cost for the amount. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “expensive, investment piece, pricey for the amount, luxury cost — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Strong fragrance and scent Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “old lady smell — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
    • “overpowering scent, too perfumed, smell lingers, headache-inducing — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Lack of results Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “No change in deep wrinkles — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “No noticeable difference, not moisturizing enough on its own. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “no visible lifting, just a moisturizer, didn't erase deep wrinkles — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”

Shiseido vs SK-II routines for dry skin

Buy SK-II routine · SAR 2,157.75 · 83% fitBuy Shiseido routine · SAR 2,211.82 · 81% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Shiseido vs SK-II routines for oily skin

Buy SK-II routine · SAR 1,935.93 · 89% fitBuy Shiseido routine · SAR 2,494.74 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Shiseido vs SK-II routines for combination skin

Buy SK-II routine · SAR 2,044.94 · 90% fitBuy Shiseido routine · SAR 2,213.02 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Shiseido or SK-II: which is better?

Shiseido is often chosen for deep hydration and luxurious textures, while SK-II stands out for lightweight textures and radiant glow. Both brands provide High or Superior fit levels across most skin types on the products on this page.

What is the difference between Shiseido and SK-II?

Shiseido is known for deep hydration and luxurious textures across the products on this page, whereas SK-II offers a lightweight feel with Pitera as a key ingredient. Lovi rates SK-II as having superior routine fit for dry sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin.

Shiseido or SK-II for dry skin?

Both Shiseido and SK-II are good for dry skin, offering High routine fit levels on this page. Topical hyaluronic acid, a key ingredient in Shiseido products, helps improve skin hydration and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Shiseido or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

Both Shiseido and SK-II offer moisturizers with high fit levels for various skin types, but Shiseido excels in deep hydration and luxurious textures while SK-II is noted for lightweight textures and radiant glow. Lovi rates the products on this page for dry skin with a High fit for both brands.

Which is more affordable, Shiseido or SK-II?

Both Shiseido and SK-II are luxury skincare brands that come with a high price point. Reviewers note that a high price point is a frequently mentioned drawback particularly for Shiseido products on this page.

How do Shiseido and SK-II differ in their use of fragrance across their product lines?

Shiseido includes fragrance in most of the products on this page, whereas every product from SK-II lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Which brand has a better routine fit for dry sensitive skin, Shiseido or SK-II?

SK-II has a superior routine fit for dry sensitive skin compared to Shiseido, which has a high routine fit.

What are the main key ingredients featured across Shiseido and SK-II products respectively?

Shiseido features Glycerin and Hyaluronic acid across the products on this page, while SK-II features Pitera.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Shiseido or SK-II for oily skin?

Both Shiseido and SK-II are a High fit for oily skin according to Lovi. The products on this page for Shiseido include options like Deep Cleansing Foam that suit oily skin well.

Shiseido or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Both Shiseido and SK-II are a High fit for sensitive skin according to Lovi. Shiseido products on this page often feature a strong fragrance, whereas every SK-II product on this page lists no fragrance.

Shiseido or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

SK-II is a better fit for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to High for Shiseido. The products on this page for SK-II rely on Pitera and feature a fragrance-free formula, which is less likely to cause irritation.

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

How does it fit your skin?

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