🇨🇦Canada

Simple vs Elemis

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

Simple and Elemis are British skincare brands known for gentle cleansers, soothing toners, and rich moisturizers formulated with ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide or shea. The first brand suits oily skin and mature skin best, while the latter is celebrated for supporting mature skin and dry skin. They differ primarily in their founding years, ownership, and specific botanical or vitamin combinations addressing concerns like dark spots and aging signs.

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Simple vs Elemis products

People Say

SimpleElemis
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
  • Hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy texture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “whipped silk feel — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “cloud-light gel formula — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
  • Skin smoothing and radiance Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “healthy glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
  • Affordable price and value Often MentionedNot noted
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Can't beat the price for the quality. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Effective cleansing and makeup removal Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Takes off any makeup residue and makes my face feel refreshed. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Best morning cleanser — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “melts waterproof mascara — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
  • High price point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Caused breakouts or skin reactions Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “terrible spots — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “clogged my pores — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Insufficient hydration or richness Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “not hydrating enough for winter — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “Great product, a bit heavy. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “need more moisture — Elemis Peptide4 Eye Recovery Cream”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”

Simple vs Elemis routines for dry skin

Buy Elemis routine · CA$278.47 · 88% fitBuy Simple routine · CA$156.25 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Simple vs Elemis routines for oily skin

Buy Simple routine · CA$271.73 · 87% fitBuy Elemis routine · CA$411.49 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Simple vs Elemis routines for combination skin

Buy Simple routine · CA$214.83 · 86% fitBuy Elemis routine · CA$369.58 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Simple or Elemis: which is better?

Simple is better if you want affordable, fragrance-free products that are gentle on sensitive skin, while Elemis is better for luxury textures, anti-aging benefits, and a radiant glow despite its higher price point. Both brands offer products on this page that provide good hydration, but Elemis frequently uses added fragrance and carries a higher risk of skin reactions.

What is the difference between Simple and Elemis?

Simple offers affordable, fragrance-free products that are generally gentle on sensitive skin, whereas Elemis provides a more luxurious range focused on skin smoothing and radiance. Both brands perform well for overall hydration, though Elemis products on this page often come with a higher price point and a greater likelihood of added fragrance.

Simple or Elemis for dry skin?

Both Simple and Elemis have a High routine fit level for dry skin on the products on this page. Shoppers often mention Simple for gentle, value-friendly moisturizers, while Elemis is frequently noted for luxurious, hydrating moisturizers.

Simple or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

Simple stands out for its effective cleansing and makeup removal as well as being gentle on sensitive skin. Elemis cleaners on the page offer varied formulations, but the products on this page from Simple are noted for providing a gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly cleanse.

Which is more affordable, Simple or Elemis?

Simple is more affordable, as the products on this page are known for providing an affordable price and value compared to Elemis, which has a high price point.

Simple or Elemis: which brand is better for lightweight and non-greasy texture?

Elemis is better for lightweight and non-greasy texture. Reviewers on the page mostly mention that Elemis offers smooth, lightweight, and absorbing products.

Simple or Elemis: which products contain no fragrance?

Simple is the better choice for fragrance-free options because every product on the Simple page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas only 4 of the 22 products on the Elemis page do.

Simple or Elemis for oily skin?

Simple is the better fit for oily skin, offering a High routine fit compared to Elemis, which has an Average fit on this page.

Simple or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

Simple offers lightweight and value-friendly moisturizers that shoppers find great for everyday use, while Elemis provides luxurious texture moisturizers that are frequently noted for delivering a radiant glow and smoother skin texture.

Simple or Elemis for sensitive skin?

Simple works better for sensitive skin because it is gentler and causes fewer irritations than Elemis.

Simple or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

Simple and Elemis are both a High fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Simple is noted as gentle on sensitive skin, while Elemis offers products like the Papaya Enzyme Peel which is a High fit for acne-prone skin.

Simple or Elemis for mature skin?

Simple and Elemis both fit mature skin well, but Elemis achieves a Superior Lovi fit level for this skin type.

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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