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Olay vs Shiseido

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

Olay and Shiseido are well-regarded skincare options offering thoughtful arrays of moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and more, all formulated with key ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide. Olay suits acne-prone and mature skin best through targeted products like the Super Eyes Daily Eye Serum, Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream, and Brightening Eye Cream, using niacinamide to improve wrinkles, pigmentation, and aging, while glycerin enhances hydration and barrier function. Conversely, the Japanese brand Shiseido suits sensitive and mature skin best with meticulous choices like the Treatment Softener, Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Day Cream, and Essential Energy Hydrating Cream, relying on glycerin to significantly improve stratum corneum hydration. While both brands feature gentle care suited to complex needs, they differ in their heritage, specific formulations, and primary ingredient combinations.

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 Olay and Shiseido products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Olay vs Shiseido products

People Say

OlayShiseido
  • Texture and absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “silky smooth, rich but non-greasy, absorbs quickly, melts into skin — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “Airy-soft texture — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • Deep hydration and moisture Often 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”
    • “Skin feels more hydrated — Shiseido Activating Essence”
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • Anti-aging and skin smoothing Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “hydrates the skin — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
    • “Smoothed out crow's feet — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Radiance and brightening Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “Skin looks brighter, more radiant, and "glowy." — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “faded pimple marks — Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Gel Cream”
  • Fragrance-free and gentle formula Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “No irritation at all — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “no scent — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “love that it's fragrance-free — Olay Retinol24”
    • “No irritation — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • Pleasant scent Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “Fresh floral scent — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
    • “smells amazing — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
  • High price point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for drugstore — Olay Super Serum”
    • “Very expensive for the size — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Strong fragrance and scent issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Fragrance can be an irritant — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “floral scent — Olay Super Serum”
    • “smells like plastic — Olay Retinol24”
    • “old lady smell — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
  • Packaging concerns and flaws 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”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”

Olay vs Shiseido routines for dry skin

Buy Olay routine · £83.22 · 82% fitBuy Shiseido routine · £251.59 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Olay vs Shiseido routines for oily skin

Buy Olay routine · £195.17 · 86% fitBuy Shiseido routine · £342.29 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Olay vs Shiseido routines for combination skin

Buy Olay routine · £188.48 · 86% fitBuy Shiseido routine · £296.92 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Olay or Shiseido: which is better?

Olay is generally a better choice for fragrance-free formulas and lower pricing, while Shiseido offers more luxurious textures and deep hydration. Olay also tends to perform better for dry skin routines and anti-aging benefits, whereas almost all products on the Olay page are fragrance-free compared to Shiseido.

What is the difference between Olay and Shiseido?

Olay is better for fragrance-free options and anti-aging care, while Shiseido is often noted for deep hydration and luxurious textures. Reviewers find that Olay helps improve texture and provides lightweight moisture, whereas Shiseido is known for efficient cleansers and firming moisturizers. Additionally, the products on this page show that Olay offers a wider selection of fragrance-free formulas.

Olay or Shiseido for dry skin?

Olay is a better choice for dry skin, achieving a High routine fit compared to Shiseido's Average fit on this page. Olay relies on hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which helps deliver intense moisture that reviewers frequently mention.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Olay or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

Olay is better for those who prefer fragrance-free and gentle skincare options, as almost all the products on this page list no fragrance, whereas most Shiseido cleansers feature added fragrance and potential scent issues. Reviewers mention that Shiseido cleansers provide deep-cleansing and efficient results, but Olay offers better overall ratings for sensitive skin types.

Which is more affordable, Olay or Shiseido?

Olay is more affordable than Shiseido, as Shiseido reviews frequently note a high price point.

Olay or Shiseido: which brand offers more fragrance-free options?

Olay offers significantly more fragrance-free options than Shiseido, as almost all products on the Olay page list no fragrance. In contrast, most products on the Shiseido page contain fragrance.

Olay or Shiseido: which has better reviews for anti-aging and skin smoothing?

Olay does better for anti-aging and skin smoothing compared to Shiseido, thanks to its focus on targeted routines and active ingredients. The products on this page help improve texture and smoothness while providing intensive hydration for mature skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Antioxidants, 2021

Olay or Shiseido: which brand is better for deep hydration and moisture?

Shiseido does better for deep hydration and moisture compared to Olay. The products on this page help deliver deep-cleansing and efficient hydration with luxurious textures, though reviewers frequently mention a high price point.

Olay or Shiseido for oily skin?

Both Olay and Shiseido provide an equal, High routine fit for oily skin based on the products on this page. Reviewers report that Olay offers a lightweight feel with fast absorption, while Shiseido provides deep-cleansing and efficient cleansers.

Olay or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

Olay is better for moisturizers because it offers more fragrance-free options and superior anti-aging performance, whereas Shiseido products tend to have a higher price point and stronger fragrances. Reviewers note that Olay delivers intense hydration and a lightweight feel, and the products on this page help improve texture and smoothness.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

Olay or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

Olay is a better choice for sensitive skin because the products on this page are mostly fragrance-free and offer a High routine fit, whereas Shiseido has more frequent reports of strong fragrance and skin irritation.

Olay or Shiseido: which sunscreen is better?

When it comes to sunscreens, Olay stands out on this page as the better option because almost all of its products are fragrance-free, whereas Shiseido's sunscreens often contain added fragrance and carry a much higher price point.

Olay or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

Olay is the better choice for acne-prone skin, as the products on this page offer a Superior routine fit compared to Shiseido's High fit level.

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

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