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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 established skincare brands from America and Germany, respectively, offering beloved moisturizers, serums, and cleansers that rely on key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and caffeine, alongside scientifically advanced formulas. Both suit sensitive skin and dry skin best through gentle formulations focused on deep hydration and barrier support. While the American brand is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and features standouts like the Clarifying Do-Over Peel, the German brand is owned by Puig and highlights products like the Hyaluronic Serum. Ultimately, they differ in their founding eras and proprietary approaches to keeping the complexion calm, smooth, and radiant.

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 is better for lightweight textures and budget value, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm achieves better results for smooth skin, fine lines, and oil control. Both brands offer gentle and fragrance-free formulas with equal hydration and exfoliation performance, but Clinique features a much wider range of products on this page.

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

Clinique features a broader range of products that are often noted for lightweight textures and hydration, while Dr. Barbara Sturm achieves better results in smooth skin and oil control. Both brands offer gentle, fragrance-free formulas across the products on this page.

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

Clinique provides a wider variety of hydrating and lightweight moisturizers that reviewers frequently praise, while Dr. Barbara Sturm offers options like Hyaluronic Serum with high fit levels for oily skin. Both brands feature fragrance-free formulas, though Clinique is often noted for a lower price point and Dr. Barbara Sturm achieves better results for smooth skin and fine lines.

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

Clinique is more affordable than Dr. Barbara Sturm, as the products on this page frequently receive reviewer complaints about their high price point. Both brands maintain fragrance-free formulas across their ranges.

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

Reviewers note that Clinique products may sometimes cause breakouts, whereas reviews on this page do not mention breakouts for Dr. Barbara Sturm.

Which brand has been around longer and where were they founded, Clinique or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Clinique has been around much longer, having been founded in the United States in 1968, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm was founded in Germany in 2014.

Do Clinique and Dr. Barbara Sturm products contain any fragrance?

Every product on the Clinique and Dr. Barbara Sturm pages lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Which brand offers a serum that has a Superior Lovi fit level for mature skin, or do both?

Neither Clinique nor Dr. Barbara Sturm offers a serum with a Superior Lovi fit level for mature skin on these pages.

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

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