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Clarins vs La Prairie

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

Clarins and La Prairie are esteemed European skincare houses that offer luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, soothing eye products, and gentle toners. The French brand, founded in 1954, relies on nourishing shea and hydrating squalane to suit sensitive skin and dry sensitive skin best, while the Swiss brand, founded in 1978, elevates its formulations with advanced ingredients to suit mature skin and dry skin best. Both houses provide standout treatments for specific concerns, yet they differ in their foundational approaches and proprietary benefits.

Clarins is a French skincare brand founded in 1954 and owned by Famille C (Groupe Clarins).

groupeclarins.comen.wikipedia.orghappi.com

La Prairie is a Swiss skincare brand founded in 1978 and owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA since 2003.

en.wikipedia.orgreports.beiersdorf.combeiersdorf.com

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

Popular Clarins vs La Prairie products

People Say

ClarinsLa Prairie
  • Deep hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
    • “gentle yet effective moisturizing — La Prairie Cellular Softening and Balancing Lotion”
    • “erased my dry patches — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
  • Luxurious texture and feel Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “feels like liquid silk — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
    • “absorbs instantly — La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift”
    • “absorbs instantly — La Prairie Skin Caviar Eye Lift”
    • “melting non-oily texture — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
  • Anti-aging and firming results Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “felt skin tighten immediately — La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift”
    • “opened my eyes — La Prairie Skin Caviar Eye Lift”
    • “jawline genuinely looks lifted — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
    • “neck feels smoother — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
  • Radiance and glow Often MentionedOften 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”
    • “gave my face a soft glow — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
    • “skin looks radiant — La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift”
  • Hydration and smoothing Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels nourished — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “makes skin silky smooth — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”
    • “softens skin noticeably — La Prairie Cellular Softening and Balancing Lotion”
  • Lightweight and fast absorbing Often MentionedNot noted
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
    • “absorbs quickly without grease — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • High price point and cost Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “too expensive for results — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “very expensive — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “eye-wateringly expensive — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
  • Strong fragrance and scent Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
    • “Smell was very off putting — Clarins Extra-Firming Day Cream”
    • “smells like a rich grandma — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”
    • “scent is too strong — La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift”
  • Pump and bottle design issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “one side stopped — La Prairie Skin Caviar Eye Lift”
    • “leak everywhere in the box — La Prairie Cellular Softening and Balancing Lotion”
    • “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Lack of dramatic results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “didn't see a lift — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “no change in circles — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “didn't do much — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “just a good moisturizer — La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream”

Clarins vs La Prairie routines for dry skin

Buy La Prairie routine · $2,006.67 · 93% fitBuy Clarins routine · $250.04 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Clarins vs La Prairie routines for oily skin

Buy La Prairie routine · $2,182.96 · 87% fitBuy Clarins routine · $434.07 · 71% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Clarins vs La Prairie routines for combination skin

Buy La Prairie routine · $2,174.55 · 88% fitBuy Clarins routine · $413.07 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Clarins or La Prairie: which is better?

La Prairie tends to deliver better anti-aging and firming results, while Clarins is preferred for lightweight absorption and a more accessible price point. The products on this page help provide deep hydration and smoothing for both brands.

What is the difference between Clarins and La Prairie?

Clarins, founded in 1954 in France, and La Prairie, founded in 1978 in Switzerland, both offer luxury skincare ranges featuring key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E that help improve skin hydration. La Prairie tends to provide superior results for mature skin and dry skin, whereas Clarins is known for offering a wider variety of products and more lightweight, fast-absorbing options.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Clarins or La Prairie for dry skin?

La Prairie fits dry skin better with a Superior routine level, while Clarins has a High routine level. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin hydration and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Clarins or La Prairie: which moisturizer is better?

La Prairie offers a superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Clarins on this page. The products on this page help provide deep hydration and firming effects.

Which is more affordable, Clarins or La Prairie?

Clarins is more affordable than La Prairie, as reviewers frequently note the exorbitant prices of La Prairie and the high price point of Clarins.

Between Clarins and La Prairie, which brand is older and where were they founded?

Clarins is older, having been founded in 1954 in France, whereas La Prairie was founded in 1978 in Switzerland.

How do the fragrance profiles of Clarins and La Prairie products compare according to the review data?

Both Clarins and La Prairie products on this page frequently feature strong fragrances. Specifically, 23 out of 24 Clarins products and 4 out of 5 La Prairie products list fragrance, and review data indicates that a strong scent is an issue for both brands.

Which key ingredients are shared across Clarins products versus La Prairie products?

Clarins products feature key ingredients such as shea butter, squalane, oat, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and glycerin, whereas La Prairie products on this page include ginseng.

Clarins or La Prairie for oily skin?

La Prairie is the better choice for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine as High compared to Clarins at Average. The products on this page for both brands feature added fragrance.

Clarins or La Prairie for sensitive skin?

La Prairie is the better fit for sensitive skin, where Lovi rates the routine as Superior compared to High for Clarins. Both brands feature strong fragrances across the products on this page, which is worth keeping in mind if your skin is easily irritated.

Clarins or La Prairie for acne-prone skin?

Both Clarins and La Prairie fit acne-prone skin well, offering a High routine fit across the products on this page. Reviewers note that Clarins tends to be a better option when looking for lightweight textures.

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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