France vs Japan: Two Schools of Skincare
You know us for fragrance — but we also carry two of the world's great skincare houses. Clarins, the Parisian family firm that has been extracting its formulas from plants since 1954. And Shiseido, founded in Tokyo's Ginza district in 1872, where skincare is a daily ritual — not a quick fix.
Two philosophies. Three head-to-head duels. There is no wrong answer — only your skin's preference.
Meet the contenders
🌿 High in the French Alps, Clarins runs Le Domaine Clarins — an open-air laboratory at 1,400 metres, far from any pollution, where the mountain air is pure and plants grow exactly as nature intended.
🌱 Many of the plant extracts in Clarins formulas are grown naturally on the brand's own Alpine estate — free from chemical treatment and harvested by hand at their peak.
🏮 And Shiseido? It opened in 1872 as Japan's first Western-style pharmacy — its name, drawn from a Chinese classic, means "praise the virtues of the earth".
Duel 1: The serums
Clarins Double Serum — France's icon: two formulas, one water-based and one oil-based, freshly mixed at the pump. The serum that appears on almost every "actually worth it" list — and our best-selling skincare product full stop. From £49.50.
Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Serum — Japan's answer, born of 30 years of research into skin immunity: 95% saw younger-looking skin in one week. From £33.99 across four sizes.
Duel 2: The age-defiers
Clarins Super Restorative Day Cream — the French route to firmness: harungana extract to restore density where skin has thinned, designed for skin from around 50 onwards. £64.99.
Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Cream Enriched — the Japanese route: ReNeura Technology+ that visibly corrects wrinkles in two weeks, in a rich texture made for dry skin. £54.99.
Duel 3: The daily ritual
Clarins Body-Smoothing Moisture Milk — the French say skincare doesn't stop at the chin. A generous 400ml of gentle aloe-infused hydration, the perfect base layer under your fragrance. £18.75.
Shiseido Deep Cleansing Foam — the Japanese say everything starts with the cleanse. Lifts excess oil and impurities without stripping. Step one of the Tokyo ritual. £22.99.
Our verdict
The French treat skin like a garden — feed it and it flourishes.
The Japanese treat it like a ritual — consistency is everything.
Your skin doesn't care about borders. It only cares that you start.
Whichever school you side with, explore the full oasis: browse all skincare — several lines are limited stock, and once they're gone, they're gone.