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Avène vs Clarins

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

Avène and Clarins are French skincare brands that offer rich moisturizers, gentle cleansers, sunscreens, and serums formulated with glycerin, shea, and squalane. The former suits oily and acne-prone skin best, relying on science-backed formulas and standout products like the Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm, while the latter suits sensitive and dry skin best with nourishing treatments such as the Double Serum Light Texture. Ultimately, both brands differ in their founding heritages and specific ingredient benefits, yet each ensures a calm, balanced complexion.

Avène is a French skincare brand founded in 1990 and owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre.

pierre-fabre.comavene.co.ukaveneusa.com

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

Popular Avène vs Clarins products

People Say

AvèneClarins
  • Texture and Absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
    • “melting non-oily texture — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “Thick but absorbs well eventually — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
  • 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”
    • “Restores moisture barrier — Avène Cold Cream”
  • Gentle and Non-Stripping Cleansing Often MentionedNot noted
    • “leaves face clean but not dry — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “Squeaky clean but soft — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
  • Skin Soothing and Calmness Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Calmed my angry red skin overnight — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Nothing has ever worked to soothe or heal my skin like these before. — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “no irritation at all — Avène Hydrance+”
    • “calms my skin — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”
  • Dewy and Glowing Finish 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”
    • “gives a healthy morning glow — Clarins Multi-Active Nuit”
    • “immediate radiance boost — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
  • Strong Fragrance and Scent Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “The fragrance is very present. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “smell is too strong — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Smells like grandma — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • High Price Point and Value Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Its a bit pricey but so worth it!! — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “a bit pricey — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Tiny tube for the money — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Packaging and Design Issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Tube cracked on the side — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Cap leaks in bag — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
    • “Good product bad packaging. — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
    • “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Formula Changes and Discontinuation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “bring it back — Avène Antirougeurs Fort Relief Concentrate”
    • “They have changed the formula recently, and it... is not as good. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “New formulation has been met with widespread disappointment. — Clarins Beauty Flash Balm”
    • “miss the old yellow toner — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”

Avène vs Clarins routines for dry skin

Buy Avène routine · A$239.08 · 78% fitBuy Clarins routine · A$394.74 · 78% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Avène vs Clarins routines for oily skin

Buy Avène routine · A$394.87 · 87% fitBuy Clarins routine · A$585.59 · 71% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Avène vs Clarins routines for combination skin

Buy Avène routine · A$381.11 · 87% fitBuy Clarins routine · A$557.60 · 70% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Avène or Clarins: which is better?

Avène and Clarins both fit well depending on your skin needs, with Avène having a Lovi fit level of High for oily, combination, acne-prone, sensitive, mature, and dark spot skin types, while Clarins has a Lovi fit level of High for dry sensitive, sensitive, mature, and dark spot skin types. Reviewers find that Clarins delivers better hydration, moisture, texture, and absorption, whereas Avène is noted for gentler, non-stripping cleansing and better skin soothing.

What is the difference between Avène and Clarins?

Avène and Clarins differ mainly in their ingredient formulations and skin type focus, with Avène featuring a higher proportion of fragrance-free products on this page and leaning toward oily and acne-prone skin, while Clarins uses key ingredients like shea butter and squalane and focuses more on dry and sensitive skin.

Avène or Clarins for dry skin?

Both Avène and Clarins have a High routine fit for dry skin on the products on this page. Clarins is well-loved for its hydrating and smoothing moisturizers, while Avène is especially known for soothing irritation.

Avène or Clarins: which cleanser is better?

Avène is better for gentle, non-stripping cleansing, as the products on this page are rated as having high fit levels for cleansers like Cleanance Cleansing Gel on oily and acne-prone skin. Clarins also offers options like Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser, but Avène is noted as doing better specifically for gentle and non-stripping cleansing.

Which is more affordable, Avène or Clarins?

Avène is more affordable than Clarins, as high price point is a noted negative review theme for Avène while it is a mostly mentioned issue for Clarins.

How do the fragrance levels compare between Avène and Clarins products?

Avène products on this page are generally less fragrant, with 7 of 15 listing no fragrance, whereas nearly all Clarins products contain fragrance.

Which brand is better suited for oily acne-prone skin, Avène or Clarins?

Avène is better suited for oily acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior for this skin type while rating Clarins High. Reviewers note that Avène helps control oil effectively with its products on this page.

What are the main review themes where Avène outperforms Clarins?

According to the reviews on this page, Avène does better than Clarins in gentle and non-stripping cleansing as well as skin soothing and calmness.

Avène or Clarins for oily skin?

Avène is a better fit for oily skin, with Lovi rating the brand high compared to Clarins at an average level. Reviewers also note Avène for effective oil control.

Avène or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?

Both Avène and Clarins offer high-performing moisturizers on this page, with Avène featuring options like the Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm that fits dry skin at a Superior level and Clarins offering options like the Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream that also achieves a Superior fit for dry skin. Topical hyaluronic acid, a key ingredient found across Clarins moisturizers, helps improve skin hydration and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Avène or Clarins for sensitive skin?

Both Avène and Clarins are great choices, as Lovi rates both brands High for sensitive skin. Avène is especially noted by reviewers for soothing irritation and gentle deep cleaning.

Avène or Clarins for acne-prone skin?

Avène is better suited for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as High compared to an Average fit for Clarins. Reviewers also note that Avène delivers effective oil control and gentle deep-cleaning cleansers that help manage breakouts.

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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