Elizabeth Arden vs Shiseido (The Definitive Guide)

Famed for their luxurious skincare products packed with efficacious actives, both Elizabeth Arden and Shiseido are more than worthy of occupying some shelf space in your bathroom.

Come with us as we compare their best-selling anti-aging serums side-by-side to help you decide which is best for you and your skincare routine. Enjoy!

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Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules vs Shiseido Ultimune

When it comes to luxury skincare, Elizabeth Arden and Shiseido are two brands that have stood the test of time. They have both launched *multiple* revolutionary skin care products, most notably: the Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules and the Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate. These serums stand out in the anti-aging category and boast raving reviews on almost every website, with an average rating of 4.6.

Having firm, radiant, and wrinkle-free skin is everyone's dream, and these products promise just that.

The Elizabeth Arden ceramide capsules focus on enhancing the skin's barrier repair function, increasing moisturization deep below the skin's surface, and minimizing the appearance of aging.

Shiseido claims to do practically the same things, visibly reducing signs of aging, amplifying hydration, and boosting radiance. However, Shiseido states you will notice the difference in radiance after just 3 days of use! After clinical testing, it was also proven that the Shiseido concentrate will improve the appearance of wrinkles after one bottle (used over time, of course!).

Elizabeth Arden does not necessarily put a timeline on their results, however, they also did clinical testing and found that 93% of women reported their skin immediately looked healthy and felt smoother.

Both products have been proven to improve the appearance of the skin and are great for all ages and skin types. So, let's find out what it is that sets them apart.

One significant difference between the Elizabeth Arden Serum and the Shiseido concentrate is that the Elizabeth Arden serum comes in daily capsules. This is great for someone who wants to use the perfect amount each time without having to guess. In addition, the capsules are biodegradable and encapsulated using 100% vegetable and mineral-based materials.

They also make it easy for you to create a skincare cocktail. You can mix this serum with the other capsules they offer for a customizable routine. A few of the other capsules available are Vitamin C and Retinol. It is important to note that Elizabeth Arden does not speak on the materials used for the actual bottle, only the capsules themselves.

The Shiseido concentrate has a sleek glass bottle with a pump. The pump makes it very effortless to use. However, you must measure how many pumps best suit your skin. Some prefer this method because it gives you more control over the amount used. The bottle itself is quite sustainable as it has a recyclable glass container and plant-derived plastic cap. You can also buy refills and reuse the cap and pump. This is a plus if you're looking for an environmentally friendly product!

While both of these products have somewhat sustainable packaging, neither company is certified as cruelty-free.

As far as pricing goes, the Shiseido concentrate is slightly cheaper. Shiseido also has more customizable options with 4 sizes ranging from 15 ml to 120 ml. Prices range from $38 USD to $200 USD depending on the size of your choosing.

Elizabeth Arden allows you to choose your product in 3 increments of 30, 60, and 90 capsules (13.7ml, 27.4ml, and 41.1ml, respectively). This is great for tracking how much product you have left and when to refill. Prices range from $54 USD to $114 USD.

Both products are dermatologist-tested and paraben free. However, only the Shiseido concentrate claims to be non-comedogenic and mineral oil free. While the Elizabeth Arden serum is the only one that states it is free of fragrance.

Both Shiseido and Elizabeth Arden are pretty transparent with their ingredient usage. However, Shiseido utilizes more natural ingredients than Elizabeth Arden. Shiseido's main ingredients in the concentrate include Roselle extract, heartleaf extract, reishi mushroom, and iris root extract.

While Elizabeth Arden's ingredients are not necessarily 100% natural, they are effective and safe. Elizabeth Arden's main ingredients include Tsubaki oil, an enhanced ceramide lipid complex, and complex botanicals.

With both serums offering similarly spectacular results, the jury's still out on this one. You do get more bang for your buck with Shiseido, but we *love* the daily capsule format of Elizabeth Arden's Ceramide Capsules - so that's what we'll be keeping on our bathroom shelves this year!