Clarins vs Dr. Barbara Sturm
Clarins and Dr. Barbara Sturm are two distinct skincare houses offering tailored approaches to daily wellness. The French brand, founded in 1954 and owned by Famille C, is loved for its luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, soothing eye products, and gentle toners enriched with shea and squalane, suiting sensitive and dry sensitive skin best with formulations that reduce redness and increase collagen. Meanwhile, the German brand founded in 2014 and owned by Puig is deeply loved for its gentle moisturizers, clarifying exfoliants, and nourishing serums built on scientifically advanced formulas that suit sensitive, dry, and balanced skin through a focus on deep hydration and barrier support. While both cater well to sensitive complexions, they differ in their heritage and foundational ingredients, offering distinct standout treatments for concerns like acne, dark spots, and aging.
Clarins is a French skincare brand founded in 1954 and owned by Famille C (Groupe Clarins).
groupeclarins.comen.wikipedia.orghappi.com
Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by Puig since 2024.
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This page compares some of the most popular Clarins and Dr. Barbara Sturm products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Clarins vs Dr. Barbara Sturm products
People Say
Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
- “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
- “skin drank it up — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “skin feels softer — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
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 — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
- “healthy glow — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
Luxurious Texture and Feel Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “melting non-oily texture — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
- “Creamy texture feels luxurious upon application — Clarins Extra-Firming Day Cream”
- “feels like silk — Clarins Double Serum”
- “sinks in quickly — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
Gentle on Eyes and Sensitive Skin Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
- “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
- “reduced redness — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “no irritation for contact wearers — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
Anti-Aging and Firming Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “neck feels smoother — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
- “visibly tighter, lifted skin — Clarins Super Restorative Night Cream”
- “lines less visible — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
Hydration and Softness Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “skin texture is immediately more even — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
- “skin feels nourished — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
High Price and Cost Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
- “too expensive for results — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
- “very expensive — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
- “way too expensive — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
Strong Fragrance and Scent Often MentionedRarely Noted
- “smells a bit weird — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
- “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
Subtle or Ineffective Results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “didn't see a lift — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
- “no change in circles — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
- “didn't do much — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
- “did nothing — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
Irritation and Breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “caused cystic acne — Clarins Double Serum”
- “caused redness — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
- “quite red after — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
- “appearance of imperfections — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
Questions and answers
Clarins or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which is better?
Dr. Barbara Sturm is better for being gentle on sensitive skin, while Clarins is better for a luxurious texture and feel. On Lovi, the products on this page for Dr. Barbara Sturm are fragrance-free, whereas almost all Clarins products list fragrance. Hyaluronic acid helps maintain skin hydration and reduces signs of aging, and vitamin C may improve brightness and firmness.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
What is the difference between Clarins and Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Clarins is a French brand founded in 1954, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German brand founded in 2014. Reviewers note that the products on this page for Clarins offer luxurious textures, while Dr. Barbara Sturm tends to be gentler on sensitive skin and provides good hydration and softness.
Clarins or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which moisturizer is better?
For a moisturizer, Clarins is a strong choice as the products on this page feature rich options like Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream with High Lovi fit levels for dry skin. Topical hyaluronic acid, a key ingredient found in Dr. Barbara Sturm's Hyaluronic Serum, may help improve skin quality and signs of aging.
Which is more affordable, Clarins or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Dr. Barbara Sturm is more affordable on this page, whereas Clarins is noted for a high price point.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Clarins or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Both Clarins and Dr. Barbara Sturm are a tie when it comes to the likelihood of irritation and breakouts. The products on this page for both brands show a similar safety profile regarding potential breakouts.
Which brand has more products that contain fragrance, Clarins or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Clarins has more products containing fragrance, with almost all products on the page listing fragrance, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm lists no fragrance in the ingredients of every product on this page.
How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between Clarins and Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Clarins was founded in 1954 in France, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm was founded in 2014 in Germany. Both brands are currently under different ownership, with Clarins owned by Famille C and Dr. Barbara Sturm owned by Puig.
Which brand is rated better for luxurious texture and feel according to reviewer themes?
Clarins does better for luxurious texture and feel according to the reviewer themes on this page.
Research behind their key ingredients
The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review
Bacterial cellulose membranes as drug delivery systems: an in vivo skin compatibility study
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
Vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin
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
The impacts of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in facial cleanser on facial skin microbiome and lipidome
Borage Oil Treated with Immobilized Lipase Inhibits Melanogenesis
Modulating effects of oatmeal extracts in the sodium lauryl sulfate skin irritancy model
Moisturizing effect of stable cream containing Crocus sativus extracts
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Microcirculation-Promoting Effect of Escin on Cutaneous Tissue via Gsk3β Down-Regulation
Saccharide isomerate ameliorates cosmetic scalp conditions in a Chinese study population
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
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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