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Neutrogena vs Clinique

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

Neutrogena and Clinique are American skincare brands known for their reliable moisturizers, cleansers, sunscreens, serums, and more. Neutrogena is expertly formulated with glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and dimethicone, suiting mature skin and combination skin best. Conversely, Clinique thoughtfully incorporates hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and caffeine, making its products suit dry sensitive skin and oily skin best. While both brands address similar concerns through standout solutions like specialized moisturizers and cleansers, they differ in their foundational ingredients and the specific skin types they serve most effectively.

Neutrogena is an American skincare brand founded in 1930 and owned by Kimberly-Clark Corporation since 2026.

investor.kimberly-clark.comen.wikipedia.orginvestors.kenvue.com

Clinique is an American skincare brand founded in 1968 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.combusinesswire.comglossy.co

This page compares some of the most popular Neutrogena and Clinique products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Neutrogena vs Clinique products

People Say

NeutrogenaClinique
  • Fragrance-Free and Gentle Formula Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “leaves skin soft and balanced — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “love that it has no scent — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “No strong scent — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs instantly without sticky residue — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “absorbs instantly — Neutrogena COLLAGEN BANK Moisturizer”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “sinks in instantly — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
  • Intense Hydration and Moisturizing Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin looked plumper and radiant — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
    • “It also hydrates my skin. This cream has been so easy to add to my routine. — Neutrogena Retinol Regenerating Cream”
    • “Quenches dry skin instantly — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask”
    • “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Base Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “dissolves stubborn waterproof mascara — Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover”
    • “Foundation glides right over it — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “Melts waterproof mascara — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “foundation glides on — Clinique moisture surge”
  • Texture Improvement and Anti-Aging Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
    • “gentle enough for everyday — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
    • “You will see the dirt with one wipe — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
    • “Skin is looking smoother — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
  • Cooling Sensation and Soothing Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “keeps the redness at bay — Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream”
    • “cools the heat in my cheeks — Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream”
    • “no stinging — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “Feels amazing and cold on the skin — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask”
  • Price vs. Quantity and Value Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Jar is too small for the price — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “Runs out quickly — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
    • “Tube is tiny for the cost — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream”
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
  • Strong Scent and Fragrance Issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Smells like nail polish remover — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
    • “Smells like old oil — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “Has a weird plastic-like smell — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “Smell is too overpowering and lingering — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
  • Insufficient Hydration and Moisture Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Not moisturizing enough for winter months — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “Not rich enough for very dry mature skin — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream”
    • “not rich enough — Neutrogena COLLAGEN BANK Moisturizer”
    • “skin felt tight — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
  • Skin Irritation and Burning Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “Face stung and became red — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
    • “burned my face — Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream”
    • “burns my eyes terribly — Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen”

Neutrogena vs Clinique routines for dry skin

Buy Neutrogena routine · CA$95.37 · 75% fitBuy Clinique routine · CA$469.99 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Neutrogena vs Clinique routines for oily skin

Buy Clinique routine · CA$386.05 · 78% fitBuy Neutrogena routine · CA$269.33 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Neutrogena vs Clinique routines for combination skin

Buy Neutrogena routine · CA$222.43 · 81% fitBuy Clinique routine · CA$322.06 · 75% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Neutrogena or Clinique: which is better?

Neutrogena and Clinique are both effective, with Neutrogena taking the lead for intense hydration, acne-prone skin, and value, while Clinique stands out for sensitive or dry sensitive skin and targeted anti-aging. Sodium hyaluronate helps maintain moisture levels in the skin.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

What is the difference between Neutrogena and Clinique?

Neutrogena tends to offer better intense hydration and value on the products on this page, whereas Clinique often excels in texture improvement, anti-aging, and soothing sensitive skin. Both brands provide fragrance-free options and lightweight textures, though Clinique formulas are entirely free of added fragrance across all listed products. For dry sensitive skin, Clinique achieves a High fit level while Neutrogena reaches an Average fit level.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Neutrogena or Clinique for dry skin?

Neutrogena is the better choice for dry skin, as Lovi rates its routine as High while Clinique's routine is Average. Reviewers also note that Neutrogena delivers better intense hydration and moisturizing.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Neutrogena or Clinique: which cleanser is better?

Neutrogena offers better cleanser options for acne-prone skin on this page, achieving a Superior Lovi fit level for its Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser compared to lower ratings for Clinique cleansers. Reviewers also note that Clinique cleansers may cause skin irritation and burning more often.

Which is more affordable, Neutrogena or Clinique?

Neutrogena is more affordable, whereas Clinique is noted for having a high price point. Reviewers for the products on this page frequently mention pricing and value concerns for Neutrogena and a high price point for Clinique.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Neutrogena or Clinique?

Clinique offers more fragrance-free products on the products on this page, as every Clinique item lists no fragrance in its ingredients, while 35 of the 39 Neutrogena products list no fragrance.

Neutrogena or Clinique for oily skin?

Both Neutrogena and Clinique have a High routine fit level for oily skin among the products on this page. Neutrogena is noted for its intense hydration, while Clinique is recognized for its lightweight and fast-absorbing moisturizers.

Neutrogena or Clinique: which moisturizer is better?

Neutrogena is better for intense hydration and moisturizing among the products on this page, while Clinique is better for texture improvement and anti-aging. Lovi finds that Neutrogena has a High routine fit for dry skin, whereas Clinique has an Average routine fit for dry skin.

Neutrogena or Clinique for sensitive skin?

Clinique is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a High routine fit compared to Neutrogena's Average fit. Every product on the Clinique page lists no fragrance, which helps reduce the likelihood of skin irritation.

Neutrogena or Clinique for acne-prone skin?

Neutrogena is a better fit than Clinique for acne-prone skin, with the products on this page achieving a High routine fit compared to Clinique's Average fit. Reviewers note that Neutrogena offers acne-safe and gentle moisturizers, while Clinique sometimes causes breakouts.

Neutrogena or Clinique for mature skin?

Both Neutrogena and Clinique are well-suited for mature skin, as Lovi rates their routines as High for this skin type. Neutrogena helps with anti-aging through retinol, while Clinique features options like Smart Clinical Repair Lifting Face + Neck Cream that receive a Superior fit level for mature skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

Neutrogena or Clinique for skin with dark spots?

Neutrogena is a better fit for skin with dark spots, achieving a High routine fit compared to Clinique's Average fit on this page. Ingredients like niacinamide help reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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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