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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream versus Shiseido WASO SHIKULIME Color Control Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30 .

Published on July 10, 2023

Overview

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any oils, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain harsh alcohols and silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

General Moisturizer Japanese Brand Japan
Day Moisturizer Japanese Brand Japan

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

Day Moisturizer

Day Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin during the daytime.

Price

Shop

Buy Essential Energy Hydrating Cream

Starts at $30.00
Shop

Buy WASO SHIKULIME Color Control Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30

Starts at $36.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
30

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Exfoliators
Hyaluronic Acid (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (4)
Redness Reducing (3)
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating (4)
Rosacea (4)
Eczema (4)

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (4)
Mineral UV Filter
Exfoliators (2)

Benefits

Hydrating
Brightening

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (5)
Eczema (4)
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 1.

Shiseido WASO SHIKULIME Color Control Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 5.

2
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 3.

Shiseido WASO SHIKULIME Color Control Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 6.

3
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 6.

Shiseido WASO SHIKULIME Color Control Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 9.

4
What it does: Abrasive, Absorbent
Community Rating: Disliked

Silica is a mineral naturally found in our skin. It helps to thicken and smooth the texture of a product. It also acts as an agent for other ingredients by increasing the absorption of other ingredients into the skin.

Silica is often used for absorption and can help reduce shine when products are applied. Silica occurs in naturally in materials like clay and sandstone, and it can also be produced synthetically.

Silica is present naturally within the skin during collagen production and when reducing inflammation.

Learn more about Silica

Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 10.

Shiseido WASO SHIKULIME Color Control Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 8.

5
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 19.

Shiseido WASO SHIKULIME Color Control Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 32.

6
What it does: Humectant, Moisturising, Skin Conditioning

You might know this ingredient as a sugar substitute in foods. It is a sugar alcohol with humectant properties.

Humectants attract water to your skin (like glycerin or hyaluronic acid).

Fun fact: Erythritol can be naturally found in some fermented foods.

Learn more about Erythritol

Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 23.

Shiseido WASO SHIKULIME Color Control Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 15.

7
What it does: Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is usually an astringent alcohol.

These alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.

Other types of astringent alcohols include:

According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.

Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.

Fatty alcohols come from plant oils such as coconut oil. These can help hydrate the skin and are non-irritating. Some fatty alcohols include cetyl and stearyl alcohol.

Learn more about Alcohol

Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 25.

Shiseido WASO SHIKULIME Color Control Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 29.

8
What it does:
Community Rating: Mixed

We don't have a description for Trisodium EDTA.

Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 29.

Shiseido WASO SHIKULIME Color Control Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 24.

9
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Protecting
Community Rating: Disliked

Aluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.

As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.

According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.

In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.

Learn more about Aluminum Hydroxide

Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 36.

Shiseido WASO SHIKULIME Color Control Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 28.

10
What it does: Antioxidant, Preservative
Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Metabisulfite is an antioxidant and is a preservative.

Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 39.

Shiseido WASO SHIKULIME Color Control Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 31.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

20% are loved or liked
16% have mixed ratings
39% are disliked or very disliked
25% have no rating yet
11% are loved or liked
17% have mixed ratings
49% are disliked or very disliked
23% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 11 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Shiseido WASO SHIKULIME Color Control Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30.

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