Clarins vs Shiseido
Clarins and Shiseido are renowned skincare brands offering thoughtful arrays of moisturizers, serums, and other essentials enriched with nourishing ingredients like shea, squalane, and glycerin. The French house suits sensitive and acne-prone skin best through gentle, balancing formulations, while the Japanese house caters to sensitive and mature skin with meticulous, hydrating care. They differ fundamentally in their origins, ownership, and key botanical or clinical approaches, allowing both to address specific concerns such as dark spots and loss of firmness.
Clarins is a French skincare brand founded in 1954 and owned by Famille C (Groupe Clarins).
groupeclarins.comen.wikipedia.orghappi.com
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 Clarins and Shiseido products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Clarins vs Shiseido products
People Say
Deep hydration and moisture Mostly 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”
- “silky smooth, rich but non-greasy, absorbs quickly, melts into skin — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
- “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
Luxurious and lightweight texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
- “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
- “Lightweight, silky, non-sticky, sinks in instantly. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
- “Airy-soft texture — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
Anti-aging and firming results Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
- “neck feels smoother — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
- “visibly tighter, lifted skin — Clarins Super Restorative Night Cream”
- “makes skin silky smooth — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”
- “Smoothed out crow's feet — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
Visible awakening and radiance effect Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “skin looks brighter immediately — Clarins Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask”
- “Gives off the most stunning natural radiance I've ever come across. — Clarins Beauty Flash Balm”
- “Skin looks brighter, more radiant, and "glowy." — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
- “faded pimple marks — Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Gel Cream”
Pleasant scent Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “smells luxurious — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
- “smells luxurious — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
- “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”
Excellent makeup base Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
- “concealer glides on smoothly — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
- “Perfect primer for any foundation, which all glide on smoothly. — Clarins Beauty Flash Balm”
- “concealer sits better — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
- “Great base for makeup — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
High price point Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
- “too expensive for results — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
- “Very expensive for the size — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
- “Expensive, pricey, high cost for the amount. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
Strong fragrance and scent issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
- “Smell was very off putting — Clarins Extra-Firming Day Cream”
- “old lady smell — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
- “Strong scent, alcohol smell, potential irritation for sensitive skin. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
Pump and bottle design issues 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”
- “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
Skin irritation and breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “caused cystic acne — Clarins Double Serum”
- “caused redness — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
- “Caused some irritation — Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizing Cream”
- “Caused burning and redness — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
Clarins vs Shiseido routines for dry skin
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Cleanser
Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$39.39
-
Hydrating Toner
Hydrating Toning Lotion
Morning
S$42.13
-
Moisturizer
Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$72.82
-
SPF
thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+
Morning
S$21.09
-
Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
S$39.68
-
Serum or Treatment
Double Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$150.00
-
Nourishing Mask
Extra-Firming Mask
Once a week
S$105.32
-
Cleanser
Clarifying Cleansing Foam
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$54.05
-
Hydrating Toner
Eudermine Revitalizing Essence
Morning
S$112.11
-
Moisturizer
Essential Energy Hydrating Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$78.82
-
SPF
thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+
Morning
S$21.09
-
Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
S$39.68
-
Serum or Treatment
Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate
Evening · Once a week
S$9.25
-
Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Collagen Essential Mask
Once a week
S$62.94
Buy Clarins routine · S$247.61 · 75% fit
Buy Shiseido routine · S$256.58 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit
Clarins vs Shiseido routines for oily skin
-
Cleanser
Deep Cleansing Foam
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$52.06
-
Hydrating Toner
Eudermine Revitalizing Essence
Morning · Once a week
S$112.11
-
Moisturizer
Essential Energy Hydrating Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$78.82
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
S$28.72
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$70.21
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening · Once a week
S$36.48
-
Serum or Treatment
Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate
Evening · Once a week
S$9.25
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
-
Cleanser
Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$39.39
-
Hydrating Toner
Hydrating Toning Lotion
Morning · Once a week
S$42.13
-
Moisturizer
Super Restorative Décolleté and Neck Concentrate
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$146.74
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
S$28.72
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$70.21
-
Cleansing Toner
Purifying Toning Lotion
Evening · Once a week
S$39.39
-
Serum or Treatment
Double Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$150.00
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
Buy Shiseido routine · S$355.43 · 82% fit
Buy Clarins routine · S$455.72 · 75% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
Clarins vs Shiseido routines for combination skin
-
Cleanser
Deep Cleansing Foam
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$52.06
-
Hydrating Toner
Eudermine Revitalizing Essence
Morning · Once a week
S$112.11
-
Moisturizer
Essential Energy Hydrating Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$78.82
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
S$28.72
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$70.21
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening · Once a week
S$36.48
-
Serum or Treatment
Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate
Evening · Once a week
S$9.25
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
-
Cleanser
Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$39.39
-
Hydrating Toner
Hydrating Toning Lotion
Morning · Once a week
S$42.13
-
Moisturizer
Super Restorative Décolleté and Neck Concentrate
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$146.74
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
S$28.72
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$70.21
-
Cleansing Toner
Purifying Toning Lotion
Evening · Once a week
S$39.39
-
Serum or Treatment
Double Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$150.00
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
Buy Shiseido routine · S$355.43 · 82% fit
Buy Clarins routine · S$455.72 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
Questions and answers
Clarins or Shiseido: which is better?
Clarins achieves anti-aging and firming results more effectively than Shiseido among the products on this page, whereas Shiseido excels in providing deep hydration. For dry skin specifically, Lovi rates Clarins as having a High routine fit while Shiseido has an Average fit.
What is the difference between Clarins and Shiseido?
Clarins, founded in France in 1954, and Shiseido, founded in Japan in 1872, both offer strong routines for sensitive, mature, and acne-prone skin, but Clarins generally performs better for anti-aging and firming results while Shiseido excels in deep hydration. Additionally, the products on this page for both brands feature luxurious textures and common ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, with topical hyaluronic acid helping improve skin quality and signs of aging.
Clarins or Shiseido for dry skin?
Clarins is better for dry skin on this page, as its routine fit is High compared to Shiseido's Average.
Clarins or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?
Both Clarins and Shiseido offer cleansers on this page with similar average fit levels across most skin types, though Shiseido stands out more specifically for deep cleansing and efficiency. Both brands feature products that contain glycerin to help support the skin during cleansing.
Which is more affordable, Clarins or Shiseido?
Both Clarins and Shiseido feature high price points across the products on this page, making neither brand clearly more affordable than the other.
Clarins or Shiseido for fading dark spots?
Clarins is a better choice than Shiseido for fading dark spots because the products on this page achieve superior Lovi fit levels for skin with dark spots, such as Extra-Firming Day Cream and Super Restorative Night Cream.
Clarins or Shiseido: which brand has better anti-aging results?
Clarins does better than Shiseido for anti-aging and firming results. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.
Clarins or Shiseido for oily skin?
Both Clarins and Shiseido offer a High routine fit for oily skin among the products on this page. Shiseido provides deep-cleansing and efficient cleansers that help manage oily skin.
Clarins or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?
When it comes to moisturizers, Clarins is better for anti-aging and firming results while Shiseido is noted for deep hydration. For dry skin specifically, Lovi rates Clarins as having a High routine fit compared to Shiseido's Average fit.
Clarins or Shiseido for sensitive skin?
Both Clarins and Shiseido offer products on this page that fit sensitive skin well. Lovi rates the routine fit for sensitive skin as High for Clarins and High for Shiseido.
Clarins or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?
For acne-prone skin, both brands are a good choice with equal High routine fit levels on this page. Shiseido's Essential Energy Hydrating Cream and Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Day Cream are among the products on this page that help support acne-prone skin.
Clarins or Shiseido for mature skin?
Clarins delivers better anti-aging and firming results for mature skin than Shiseido, while both brands feature luxurious textures and options with high Lovi fit levels for this skin type.
Research behind their key ingredients
The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer
The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review
Psychophysical study of the effects of topical application of menthol in healthy volunteers
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Apigenin inhibits UVA-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and prevents signs of skin aging in vivo
Panax ginseng induces human Type I collagen synthesis through activation of Smad signaling
Vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin
Another Reason for Using Caffeine in Dermocosmetics: Sunscreen Adjuvant
Mechanism of action and clinical benefits of colloidal oatmeal for dermatologic practice
Colloidal Oatmeal <em>(Avena Sativa)</em> Improves Skin Barrier Through Multi-Therapy Activity
Skin improvement and stability of Echinacea purpurea dermatological formulations
In vivo and in vitro evaluation of octyl methoxycinnamate liposomes
The impacts of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in facial cleanser on facial skin microbiome and lipidome
Anatomical site differences of sodium lauryl sulfate-induced irritation: randomized controlled trial
Skin recovery by Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract: Redox control of Nrf2 signaling
Modulating effects of oatmeal extracts in the sodium lauryl sulfate skin irritancy model
Moisturizing effect of stable cream containing Crocus sativus extracts
Moisturizing Effects of Diglycerol Combined with Glycerol on Human Stratum Corneum
Functional properties and skin care effects of sodium trehalose sulfate
Transdermal Delivery of Baicalin Based on Bio-Vesicles and Its Efficacy in Antiaging of the Skin
Liposomal formulation of a vitamin C derivative: a promising strategy to increase skin permeability
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
New Chalcone-Derived Molecule for the Topical Regulation of Hyperpigmentation and Skin Aging
Microcirculation-Promoting Effect of Escin on Cutaneous Tissue via Gsk3β Down-Regulation
Saccharide isomerate ameliorates cosmetic scalp conditions in a Chinese study population
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
Retrospective Review of Dermal Safety Studies of Organic Sunscreens
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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