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The Ordinary vs Clarins

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

The Ordinary and Clarins are two distinct skincare lines offering targeted solutions for diverse complexions. The Canadian brand centers its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting sensitive and combination skin best. Conversely, the French maker is known for luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, soothing eye products, and gentle toners enriched with shea and squalane, which favor sensitive and dry sensitive skin. While both share an affinity for squalane, they differ fundamentally in price point, origin, and formulation philosophy.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

glossy.coen.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 The Ordinary and Clarins products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The Ordinary vs Clarins products

People Say

The OrdinaryClarins
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
    • “woke up with baby soft skin — Clarins Multi-Active Nuit”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Value and Price Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
  • Soothing and Calming Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “calms down the redness immediately — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “deflates morning bags — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “No irritation at all — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “doesn't make me greasy — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
  • Glow and Radiance Rarely 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”
    • “eyes look more open — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “tight, bright and shiny — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • High Price Point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive for Ordinary — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Strong Scent and Fragrance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like vinegar — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “smell is unbearable — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “has a slight chemical smell — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Sticky and Greasy Residue Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “sat on top of skin — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “Described as having a sticky, gel-like texture. — Clarins Beauty Flash Balm”
    • “Texture too thick and heavy — Clarins Extra-Firming Day Cream”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Ineffective Results and Performance Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “no change in pigment — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “Skin felt tight an hour later — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Didn't do anything special — The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
    • “didn't see a lift — Clarins Total Eye Lift”

The Ordinary vs Clarins routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · AED 542.90 · 89% fitBuy Clarins routine · AED 1,301.95 · 73% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Clarins routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · AED 833.82 · 91% fitBuy Clarins routine · AED 1,305.87 · 71% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Clarins routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · AED 712.46 · 92% fitBuy Clarins routine · AED 1,132.10 · 71% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Clarins: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value and acne control, whereas Clarins excels in hydration and radiance. Lovi rates The Ordinary superior for combination, sensitive, and mature skin types.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Clarins?

The Ordinary offers superior value and acne-clearing options with fragrance-free formulas, while Clarins provides more luxurious, highly hydrating moisturizers that often feature strong scents. Lovi routines show that The Ordinary fits dry skin at a High level, whereas Clarins fits dry skin at an Average level.

The Ordinary or Clarins for dry skin?

For dry skin, Lovi rates the routine fit of The Ordinary as High and Clarins as Average. The Ordinary features fragrance-free formulas on this page, while almost all Clarins products include fragrance.

The Ordinary or Clarins: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers a better cleanser range, with options like the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser fitting dry skin at a Superior Lovi fit level compared to Clarins. Every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas almost all Clarins cleansers contain fragrance.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Clarins?

The products on this page from The Ordinary offer much better value and affordability than Clarins, whose reviewers frequently mention a high price point.

Between The Ordinary and Clarins, which brand is better suited for mature skin?

The Ordinary is better suited for mature skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Clarins which reaches a High fit on this page. Reviewers frequently note that the products on this page by The Ordinary offer affordable and great value serums, while Clarins products often feature a high price point.

How do The Ordinary and Clarins compare regarding fragrance in their products?

The products on this page from The Ordinary list no fragrance in their ingredients, whereas almost all products from Clarins include fragrance.

Which brand offers better results for fading dark spots, The Ordinary or Clarins?

The Ordinary offers better results for fading dark spots as its products on this page achieve a superior fit level for skin with dark spots, backed by research on ingredients like niacinamide that helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or Clarins for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a superior fit for sensitive skin on Lovi, whereas Clarins has a high fit. The Ordinary offers fragrance-free products across the products on this page, while Clarins includes fragrance in almost all of its formulas.

The Ordinary or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, The Ordinary offers better value and superior hydration for dry skin on the products on this page, whereas Clarins focuses on luxurious textures and glow-boosting formulas. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin moisture and elasticity.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Clarins for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and Clarins offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that The Ordinary does better for acne and blemish control.

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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