🇨🇦Canada

CeraVe vs Clarins

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

CeraVe and Clarins are two renowned skincare brands, with the former known for its accessible moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and sunscreens, and the latter celebrated for its luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, soothing eye products, and gentle toners. While CeraVe suits dry and acne-prone skin best through ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, Clarins caters ideally to sensitive and dry sensitive skin using nourishing shea and hydrating squalane. Ultimately, these lines differ in their heritage and targeted approaches, as the American brand focuses on fundamental barrier restoration and hydration, whereas the French brand emphasizes botanical luxury and soothing restoration.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.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 CeraVe and Clarins products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular CeraVe vs Clarins products

People Say

CeraVeClarins
  • Lightweight and non-greasy texture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks in immediately — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
  • Fragrance-free and gentle formulation Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “no irritation for contact wearers — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Deep hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “cured my dry patches — CeraVe Eye Repair Cream”
    • “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Improves skin texture, barrier, and acne Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “dialed back oiliness — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “healed cracked hands — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “difference in my skin's texture is noticeable — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
    • “visibly tighter, lifted skin — Clarins Super Restorative Night Cream”
  • Luxurious skincare and glow Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “insane how cooling it is — Clarins Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask”
    • “melting non-oily texture — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
  • High price point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive Vaseline — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Packaging and design issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “no safety seal included — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “jar is tiny — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “dispenses too much — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
  • Unpleasant scent or fragrance complaints Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like plastic — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Causes breakouts, irritation, or burning Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “caused redness — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “made my face burn — Clarins Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask”
    • “face feels stripped — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”

CeraVe vs Clarins routines for dry skin

Buy CeraVe routine · CA$163.70 · 90% fitBuy Clarins routine · CA$332.00 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

CeraVe vs Clarins routines for oily skin

Buy CeraVe routine · CA$276.56 · 83% fitBuy Clarins routine · CA$468.45 · 71% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

CeraVe vs Clarins routines for combination skin

Buy CeraVe routine · CA$228.68 · 86% fitBuy Clarins routine · CA$408.46 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Clarins: which is better?

CeraVe is better for a lightweight, fragrance-free, and budget-friendly routine, as it outperforms Clarins on texture, price, and gentleness, with a superior routine fit for dry skin and high fit for oily skin. Clarins offers a more luxurious experience with a high routine fit for dry, sensitive, and mature skin, but reviewers note a high price point and frequent strong fragrance complaints.

What is the difference between CeraVe and Clarins?

CeraVe stands out for its fragrance-free, ceramide-rich formulas that excel in hydration and barrier repair, whereas Clarins focuses on luxurious textures and botanical ingredients. Lovi rates CeraVe's routine as Superior for dry skin, while Clarins achieves a High fit level for dry skin.

CeraVe or Clarins for dry skin?

CeraVe has a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Clarins has a High routine fit. CeraVe offers fragrance-free moisturizers with ceramide-dominant barrier repair lipids that help restore moisture.

CeraVe or Clarins: which cleanser is better?

CeraVe offers better cleansers on this page, as reviewers note they are gentle and non-stripping while effectively targeting acne and oil. Lovi rates CeraVe's cleanser routine fit as superior for oily acne-prone skin and acne-prone skin, compared to average ratings for Clarins.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or Clarins?

Clarins is noted for a high price point, making CeraVe the more affordable option.

How do CeraVe and Clarins compare regarding fragrance in their products?

CeraVe has no fragrance in any of the products on this page, while Clarins includes fragrance in almost all of them.

Which brand performs better for mature skin and skin with dark spots, CeraVe or Clarins?

Both CeraVe and Clarins achieve High fit levels for mature skin and skin with dark spots on the products on this page. CeraVe helps improve skin barrier function using ceramides, while Clarins provides luxurious textures and glow-boosting formulations.

What are the main differences in key ingredients between CeraVe and Clarins skincare?

CeraVe features key ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, and salicylic acid, while Clarins relies on ingredients such as shea butter, squalane, oat, and vitamin E. Both brands commonly use glycerin and hyaluronic acid across their products on this page.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

CeraVe or Clarins for oily skin?

CeraVe fits oily skin better, with Lovi fit levels reaching High compared to Clarins at Average. Reviewers note that CeraVe offers lightweight, non-greasy textures and effective cleansers for oil, while Clarins is often linked to fragrance complaints.

CeraVe or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?

CeraVe offers a superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Clarins, which achieves a high fit. CeraVe moisturizers are mostly noted as lightweight and non-greasy, whereas Clarins moisturizers feature a luxurious texture with a high price point.

CeraVe or Clarins for sensitive skin?

Both CeraVe and Clarins offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin. CeraVe features fragrance-free formulations across the products on this page, whereas Clarins formulas frequently contain added fragrance.

CeraVe or Clarins for acne-prone skin?

CeraVe is better for acne-prone skin, offering a High routine fit compared to Clarins which has an Average fit. The products on this page help provide gentle cleansing and targeted blemish control without clogging pores.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play