Shiseido Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Cream for combination skin
Glycerin
Dimethicone
Butylene Glycol
Caution
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for combination skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 moisturizing for your combination skin due to glycerin and dimethicone, which hydrate and smooth texture, but it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on your oily zones.
- The formula provides general skincare benefits that are mostly supportive and irrelevant for your oily shine.
How to apply
- Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
- Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 3.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this cream for its luxurious, silky texture that deeply hydrates without feeling greasy, often noting visible improvements in skin firmness and brightness within a few weeks. While many report a "lifted" look and smoother texture, a minority of users find the floral fragrance too strong or the price point too high for the results achieved.
Highlights
Silky texture Mostly Mentioned
- “texture is incredibly silky”
- “absorbs beautifully”
- “rich but weightless”
- “feels instantly nourishing.”
Deeply hydrates Often Mentioned
- “skin feels plump and nourished”
- “keeps me moisturized all night”
- “wake up with soft skin”
- “relieves dry, tight feeling.”
Firms and lifts Often Mentioned
- “saw tightened facial contours”
- “skin looks firmer and more lifted”
- “jawline looks more defined”
- “cheeks feel bouncier.”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “very pricey for the amount”
- “too expensive for me”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “luxury price tag.”
Brightens skin Sometimes Noted
- “gives an immediate glow”
- “skin looks brighter”
- “diminished dullness”
- “radiant complexion.”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smell is so good”
- “soft and relaxing scent”
- “lovely fragrance”
- “smells expensive and nice.”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “smell is too strong”
- “fragrance gave me a headache”
- “heavily perfumed”
- “wish it was fragrance-free.”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused tiny bumps”
- “made my face red”
- “broke me out”
- “irritated my sensitive skin.”
Heavy or greasy Rarely Noted
- “felt a bit heavy”
- “too greasy for day use”
- “sat on top of my skin”
- “made me look oily.”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “didn't see a difference”
- “no lifting effect observed”
- “just a good moisturizer, nothing more”
- “expected more for the price.”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, macys.com, walmart.com, shiseido.com, nordstrom.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Shiseido Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Cream for combination skin?
Lovi advises caution because while this cream hydrates and smooths texture, it lacks sufficient oil control ingredients for your oily zones. A moisturizing treatment for combination skin needs effective brightening and hydrating ingredients that reduce oily shine without risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for combination skin?
This cream is a poor fit for your combination skin because it lacks sufficient ingredients for oil control on your oily zones, offering only moderate moisture from glycerin and dimethicone. A moisturizing treatment for combination skin needs effective brightening and moisturizing ingredients, multiple peptides, soothing agents, and antioxidants to reduce oily shine and balance skin without irritation.
What does Glycerin do for combination skin?
Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Dimethicone do for combination skin?
Dimethicone helps protect combination skin by forming a light barrier that smooths the surface without feeling heavy or greasy. It may keep skin soft and comfortable, though it is unlikely to deeply moisturize dry areas or control excess oil on its own.
Military Medicine, 2024Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2014
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cream goes in the morning and evening moisturizer steps for your combination skin. It helps hydrate and smooth texture, but a product of this type needs additional oil-controlling ingredients to properly manage oily zones.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You may use this cream with retinol, applying it after your retinol treatment to help soothe the skin and smooth texture. However, because this product lacks sufficient oil control for your oily zones, a combination skin routine of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-balancing ingredients.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a poor match for combination skin because it lacks sufficient oil control for oily zones, so a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-balancing ingredients to work well. When using it, apply it as part of your regular moisturizing steps.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts for combination skin, as reviewers rarely report it being heavy or greasy. To properly care for combination skin, a moisturizer needs ingredients that hydrate dry areas while also helping to control shine on oily zones.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream is suitable for the thin skin around the eyes and body because its moisturizing ingredients hydrate and smooth texture, though it offers only moderate care. A product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-controlling ingredients to manage combination skin properly.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
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, 2017Dipropylene glycol, propylene glycol, and butylene glycol increased molecular mobility in stratum corneum lipids and affected keratin filaments, with butylene glycol and propylene glycol providing significant permeation enhancement.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2022The 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, 2012Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat, Methyl Gluceth-10, Behenyl Alcohol, Peg-240 Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Metabisulfite, Disodium Edta, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Bht
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
How does it fit your skin?
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