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Clinique vs Dr. Barbara Sturm

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

Clinique and Dr. Barbara Sturm are two esteemed skincare lines designed to nurture the complexion with thoughtful formulations. The American brand, established in 1968, features balancing moisturizers, serums, and makeup removers formulated with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and caffeine, making it ideal for dry sensitive and oily skin. Conversely, the German brand founded in 2014 offers gentle moisturizers, exfoliants, and serums built on advanced science to support sensitive, dry, and balanced skin. While both prioritize deep hydration and barrier support, they differ in their foundational approaches, ingredient combinations, and targeted solutions for specific skin concerns.

Clinique is an American skincare brand founded in 1968 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

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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 Clinique and Dr. Barbara Sturm products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Clinique vs Dr. Barbara Sturm products

People Say

CliniqueDr. Barbara Sturm
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “skin feels soft and smooth — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “skin drank it up — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “skin feels softer — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
  • Smooth Skin and Fine Lines Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin texture is immediately more even — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “lines less visible — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
  • Gentle and Fragrance-Free Formula Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “No strong scent — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
  • Lightweight Texture and Fast Absorption Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “sinks in instantly — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
    • “Absorbs quickly without feeling sticky — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “sinks in immediately — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Oil Control and Morning Glow Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin looks brighter — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “healthy glow — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “keeps me matte — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
  • Exfoliation and Deep Cleansing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “gentle enough for everyday — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
    • “You will see the dirt with one wipe — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
    • “deep yet gentle cleanse — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
  • High Price and Value Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “quite pricey — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
    • “Expensive for cleanser — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “way too expensive — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Slow or Minimal Results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “didn't help dark circles — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “don't expect miracles overnight — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
    • “did not reduce facial redness in any way — Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream”
    • “did nothing — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Application and Consistency Issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Blurry vision after use — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “feels a bit heavy/greasy — Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream”
    • “hard to rinse — Clinique all about clean”
    • “pills under makeup — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Drying and Irritating Formula Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Made my skin super dry — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
    • “Face stung and became red — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
    • “face feels a bit tight — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “quite red after — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”

Questions and answers

Clinique or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which is better?

Clinique and Dr. Barbara Sturm both offer fragrance-free options, but they differ in reviewers' experiences across categories. Dr. Barbara Sturm does better for smooth skin and fine lines, while Clinique is noted for a lighter texture and fast absorption.

What is the difference between Clinique and Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Dr. Barbara Sturm performs better for smooth skin, fine lines, oil control, and morning glow, whereas Clinique is noted for its lightweight texture and fast absorption. Both brands offer equal benefits regarding hydration, gentle and fragrance-free formulas, and exfoliation, but the products on this page for Clinique face complaints about high prices and slow results.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

Clinique or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which moisturizer is better?

For moisturizers, Clinique offers products on this page with High fits for dry and sensitive skin, such as the Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream, while Dr. Barbara Sturm includes options like the Hyaluronic Serum with High fits for oily skin. Both brands feature fragrance-free formulas, though Clinique is often noted for lightweight hydration and Dr. Barbara Sturm for enhanced morning glow.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Clinique or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Clinique is more affordable, though reviewers on the products on this page often mention its high price point. Dr. Barbara Sturm is generally positioned at a more luxury price tier.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Clinique or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Reviewers note that Clinique products sometimes cause breakouts, while Dr. Barbara Sturm has no reported breakouts on this page.

Between Clinique and Dr. Barbara Sturm, which brand is better for smooth skin and fine lines?

Dr. Barbara Sturm is better for smooth skin and fine lines. Reviewers note it performs better than Clinique in this area.

Which brand has better lightweight texture and fast absorption, Clinique or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Clinique does better than Dr. Barbara Sturm for a lightweight texture and fast absorption. Reviewers note that the products on this page offer lightweight and fast-absorbing moisturizers.

Which skincare brand was founded earlier, Clinique or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Clinique was founded earlier, in 1968 in the United States, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm was founded in 2014 in Germany.

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

How does it fit your skin?

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