La Roche-Posay vs Clarins
La Roche-Posay and Clarins are two distinct French skincare houses offering targeted solutions for diverse complexions. The former is known for nourishing serums, comforting moisturizers, gentle cleansers, and soothing eye products formulated with glycerin, mineral-rich thermal water, and niacinamide, making it best for oily and acne-prone skin. Meanwhile, the latter is celebrated for luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, soothing eye products, and gentle toners enriched with shea and squalane, which suit sensitive and dry sensitive skin. They differ primarily in their core formulations and target audiences, balancing science-backed equilibrium versus deeply nourishing plant-derived comfort.
La Roche-Posay is a French skincare brand founded in 1975 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 1989.
laroche-posay.com.aufr.wikipedia.org
Clarins is a French skincare brand founded in 1954 and owned by Famille C (Groupe Clarins).
groupeclarins.comen.wikipedia.orghappi.com
This page compares some of the most popular La Roche-Posay and Clarins products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular La Roche-Posay vs Clarins products
People Say
Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer”
- “skin feels plump — La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum”
- “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
- “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
Gentle on Sensitive Skin Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
- “Great retinol for beginners — La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum”
- “Only cream that doesn't sting — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Eye Cream”
- “Calmed my skin after a chemical peel — La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water”
- “no irritation for contact wearers — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
Fast Absorption and Lightweight Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
- “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
- “absorbs quickly without grease — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
- “absorbs in seconds — La Roche-Posay Anthelios”
Skin Texture and Smoothing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “Skin feels smoother — La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum”
- “softens forehead lines — La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum”
- “neck feels smoother — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
- “makes skin silky smooth — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”
Brightening and Dark Spots Sometimes NotedOften 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”
- “radiant youthful glow — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
- “skin looks brighter — La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Serum”
Texture and Quality Sometimes NotedOften 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”
- “lightweight and absorbs quickly — La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Serum”
Price and Value Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
- “expensive for the size — La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum”
- “Too expensive for the size — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Eye Cream”
- “Tube is tiny for the price — La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Gel B5”
- “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
Fragrance and Scent Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “scent is awful — La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Serum”
- “overwhelming floral smell — La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum”
- “Smells like cheap fragrance — La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum”
- “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
Packaging and Pump Issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “pump stops working — La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+M Triple Repair Moisturizing Cream”
- “Pump stopped working halfway — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Eye Cream”
- “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
- “dispenses too much — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
Product Pilling and Texture Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
- “sat on top of skin — Clarins Double Serum”
- “Described as having a sticky, gel-like texture. — Clarins Beauty Flash Balm”
- “leaves a sticky film — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”
- “pills like crazy — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer”
La Roche-Posay vs Clarins routines for dry skin
- Cleanser Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer Morning · Evening · Once a week
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Moisturizer
Lipikar AP+M Triple Repair Moisturizing Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 78.95
-
SPF
Anthelios
Morning
AED 89.20
-
Pre-Cleanser
Micellar Water Ultra
Evening · Once a week
AED 74.76
-
Cleansing Toner
ROUND LAB 1025 Dokdo Cleansing Water
Evening
AED 38.99
-
Serum or Treatment
Cicaplast Gel B5
Evening · Once a week
AED 59.50
-
Enzyme Powder
VT Cica Mild Powder Wash
Once a week
AED 47.62
-
Nourishing Mask
Mediheal Watermide Essential Mask
Once a week
AED 65.00
-
Cleanser
Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 170.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Hydrating Toning Lotion
Morning
AED 141.00
-
Moisturizer
Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 188.12
-
SPF
Dr.G Green Mild Up Sun+
Morning
AED 81.00
-
Pre-Cleanser
Total Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
AED 192.08
-
Cleansing Toner
Purifying Toning Lotion
Evening
AED 135.00
- Serum or Treatment BRIGHT PLUS Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
VT Cica Mild Powder Wash
Once a week
AED 47.62
-
Nourishing Mask
Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask
Once a week
AED 347.13
Buy La Roche-Posay routine · AED 454.02 · 85% fit
Buy Clarins routine · AED 1,301.95 · 73% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
La Roche-Posay vs Clarins routines for oily skin
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Cleanser
MELA B3 Facial Gel Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 87.10
-
Hydrating Toner
Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
Morning · Once a week
AED 49.99
- Moisturizer Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser Morning · Evening · Once a week
-
SPF
Anthelios
Morning
AED 89.20
-
Pre-Cleanser
Micellar Water Ultra
Evening · Once a week
AED 74.76
-
Cleansing Toner
Pixi Glow Tonic
Evening
AED 120.00
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
AED 101.09
-
Cleansing Mask
Revision Skincare Black Mask
Once a week
AED 204.00
-
Cleanser
Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 170.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Hydrating Toning Lotion
Morning · Once a week
AED 141.00
-
Moisturizer
Double Serum Light Texture
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 270.00
-
SPF
d'Alba UVessence Mild Waterfull Sun Cream SPF 50
Morning
AED 92.70
-
Pre-Cleanser
Total Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
AED 192.08
-
Cleansing Toner
Purifying Toning Lotion
Evening
AED 135.00
- Serum or Treatment BRIGHT PLUS Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
AED 101.09
-
Cleansing Mask
Revision Skincare Black Mask
Once a week
AED 204.00
Buy La Roche-Posay routine · AED 726.14 · 89% fit
Buy Clarins routine · AED 1,305.87 · 71% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
La Roche-Posay vs Clarins routines for combination skin
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Cleanser
MELA B3 Facial Gel Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 87.10
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
AED 145.00
- Moisturizer Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser Morning · Evening · Once a week
-
SPF
Anthelios
Morning
AED 89.20
-
Pre-Cleanser
Micellar Water Ultra
Evening · Once a week
AED 74.76
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening
AED 53.12
-
Serum or Treatment
Effaclar Ultra Concentrated Serum
Evening · Once a week
AED 108.45
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
AED 101.09
-
Cleansing Mask
KORA Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask
Once a week
AED 122.93
-
Cleanser
Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 170.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Hydrating Toning Lotion
Morning · Once a week
AED 141.00
-
Moisturizer
Double Serum Light Texture
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 270.00
-
Pre-Cleanser
Total Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
AED 192.08
-
Cleansing Toner
Purifying Toning Lotion
Evening
AED 135.00
- Serum or Treatment BRIGHT PLUS Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
AED 101.09
-
Cleansing Mask
KORA Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask
Once a week
AED 122.93
Buy La Roche-Posay routine · AED 781.65 · 88% fit
Buy Clarins routine · AED 1,132.10 · 71% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
Questions and answers
La Roche-Posay or Clarins: which is better?
La Roche-Posay is better for shoppers seeking products that are gentle on sensitive skin and offer better value, while Clarins is better for those who prefer luxurious textures and fast-absorbing formulas. Both brands provide high fit levels for mature skin, sensitive skin, and acne-prone skin.
What is the difference between La Roche-Posay and Clarins?
La Roche-Posay products on this page tend to be more suitable for oily and acne-prone skin, whereas Clarins focuses more on sensitive and mature skin types. Reviewers also note that La Roche-Posay generally offers better pricing and fewer fragrances, while Clarins is often praised for its luxurious textures and brightening formulas.
La Roche-Posay or Clarins for dry skin?
La Roche-Posay is a better fit for dry skin, offering a High routine fit compared to Clarins and generally fewer fragrance concerns. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and hydration for dry skin types.
La Roche-Posay or Clarins: which cleanser is better?
La Roche-Posay is better for acne-prone and oily skin types, as its cleansers achieve High fit levels for those concerns compared to Clarins. Clarins' cleansers tend to offer average fit levels across most skin types, though its Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser reaches a High fit for dry and sensitive skin.
Which is more affordable, La Roche-Posay or Clarins?
La Roche-Posay is generally more affordable than Clarins, as price and value concerns are less frequently cited for La Roche-Posay while Clarins has a high price point.
Between La Roche-Posay and Clarins, which brand offers more fragrance-free products?
La Roche-Posay offers significantly more fragrance-free products on this page than Clarins does. Specifically, 21 of La Roche-Posay's 35 products list no fragrance, whereas only 1 of Clarins's 24 products is fragrance-free.
La Roche-Posay or Clarins: which has better performance for brightening and dark spots?
Clarins performs better for brightening and dark spots according to the review themes on this page. Niacinamide in products like those from La Roche-Posay also helps reduce pigmentation and control skin aging.
Which brand was founded earlier, La Roche-Posay or Clarins?
Clarins was founded earlier in 1954 in France, whereas La Roche-Posay was founded in 1975.
La Roche-Posay or Clarins for oily skin?
La Roche-Posay is a better fit for oily skin, achieving a High routine fit level compared to Clarins which has an Average fit level. La Roche-Posay offers targeted products like the Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser and Anthelios UVMune 400 Oil Control Fluid SPF 50+, which help manage excess oil.
La Roche-Posay or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?
La Roche-Posay helps provide a better routine fit for moisturizers on this page, achieving a High fit for dry skin compared to an Average fit for Clarins. Reviewers also note that La Roche-Posay offers better pricing and fewer fragrance issues than Clarins.
La Roche-Posay or Clarins for sensitive skin?
Both brands offer High routine fit for sensitive skin. However, La Roche-Posay may be a better choice since it does better on sensitive-skin friendliness and has more fragrance-free options among the products on this page.
La Roche-Posay or Clarins for acne-prone skin?
La Roche-Posay is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering High routine fit compared to Clarins's Average level. The products on this page for La Roche-Posay include multiple specialized treatments that help target blemishes effectively.
Research behind their key ingredients
The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review
Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
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
Ethosomes of Phenylethyl Resorcinol as Vesicular Delivery System for Skin Lightening Applications
Mechanism of action and clinical benefits of colloidal oatmeal for dermatologic practice
A comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne
A Bayesian network meta-analysis of 14 molecules inhibiting UV daylight-induced pigmentation
Colloidal Oatmeal <em>(Avena Sativa)</em> Improves Skin Barrier Through Multi-Therapy Activity
Amino acid complex (AAComplex) benefits in cosmetic products: In vitro and in vivo clinical studies
Comparative benefit of two thermal spring waters after photodynamic therapy procedure
Skin improvement and stability of Echinacea purpurea dermatological formulations
Comprehensive assessment of the efficacy and safety of a clay mask in oily and acne skin
The impacts of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in facial cleanser on facial skin microbiome and lipidome
Comparison of methods for assessing photoprotection against ultraviolet A in vivo
Modulating effects of oatmeal extracts in the sodium lauryl sulfate skin irritancy model
Moisturizing effect of stable cream containing Crocus sativus extracts
Histometric assessment of the age-related skin response to 2-hydroxy-5-octanoyl benzoic acid
Nanocomplex of quaternized cyclodextrin grafted chitosan and hyaluronic acid for a skin delivery
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Retrospective Review of Dermal Safety Studies of Organic Sunscreens
Effects of an ultraviolet B radiation absorber on photocarcinogenesis in hairless albino mice
In vitro analysis of immunoprotective effects of topical sunscreens
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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