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Clarins vs Olay

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

Clarins and Olay are two distinct skincare lines offering thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, serums, and eye products for different complexions. Clarins is a French brand founded in 1954 and owned by Famille C, featuring nourishing shea and hydrating squalane that suit sensitive and dry sensitive skin best. Meanwhile, the other brand utilizes niacinamide and glycerin to suit sensitive and acne-prone skin. Both brands differ in their specific formulations and standout treatments, yet each provides targeted solutions for dark spots, mature skin, and other concerns.

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 Clarins and Olay products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Clarins vs Olay products

People Say

ClarinsOlay
  • Luxurious and lightweight texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “Absorbs so quickly! — Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum”
  • Hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Smooth and soft skin texture Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “hydrates the skin — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
    • “makes skin silky smooth — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”
  • 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”
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Good makeup base and primer Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “Perfect primer for any foundation, which all glide on smoothly. — Clarins Beauty Flash Balm”
    • “concealer sits better — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
  • Anti-aging and firming results Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “neck feels smoother — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “visibly tighter, lifted skin — Clarins Super Restorative Night Cream”
    • “plumped my fine lines — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “Helps my skin and eye wrinkles — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • High price point Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “expensive for drugstore — Olay Super Serum”
    • “expensive — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Strong fragrance and scent sensitivity Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Fragrance can be an irritant — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “floral scent — Olay Super Serum”
    • “too perfumey — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Packaging and design issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “dispenses too much — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
    • “dropper is frustrating — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”

Clarins vs Olay routines for dry skin

Buy Olay routine · $154.40 · 83% fitBuy Clarins routine · $250.04 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Clarins vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy Olay routine · $296.19 · 84% fitBuy Clarins routine · $434.07 · 71% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Clarins vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy Olay routine · $286.61 · 83% fitBuy Clarins routine · $413.07 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Clarins or Olay: which is better?

Olay is better suited for oily and combination skin with a High routine fit compared to Clarins' Average fit, while both brands perform equally well for dry, sensitive, and mature skin. Olay also offers more fragrance-free options across the products on this page.

What is the difference between Clarins and Olay?

Olay offers better fit levels for oily and combination skin than Clarins, while both brands provide similar high fit levels for dry, sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin. Reviewers note that Olay tends to be more affordable and offers more fragrance-free options, whereas Clarins is frequently praised for its anti-aging results and makeup base qualities.

Clarins or Olay for dry skin?

Both Clarins and Olay have a High routine fit level for dry skin. The products on this page for both brands feature hyaluronic acid, which may help improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

Clarins or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Olay is better for cleansers since the products on this page fit oily and acne-prone skin types at a High level compared to Clarins cleansers which fit those skin types at an Average level. Olay also offers more fragrance-free options across its products on this page.

Which is more affordable, Clarins or Olay?

Olay is more affordable, as reviewers on this page frequently mention Clarins for its high price point and note Olay for being the more budget-friendly brand.

Clarins or Olay: which brand has more fragrance-free options?

Olay offers more fragrance-free options, as 26 of its 27 products on this page list no fragrance compared to only 1 of 24 Clarins products.

Clarins or Olay: which products are better for reducing dark spots?

Both Clarins and Olay offer products on this page that are a High fit for skin with dark spots. For targeted brightening results, Olay includes key ingredients like niacinamide and vitamin C, which studies show help reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

How do the founding years and company origins of Clarins and Olay compare?

Clarins was founded in 1954 in France and is owned by Famille C, whereas Olay was founded in 1952 and has been owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1985.

Clarins or Olay for oily skin?

Olay is a better choice for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as High while Clarins is only Average. Olay offers many products on this page that help balance oil, whereas most Clarins moisturizers and masks tend to have lower fit levels for oily skin.

Clarins or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Olay helps provide better moisture and smoother texture for oily and combination skin types, while Clarins offers high-priced luxury formulas that may carry a stronger fragrance. For hydration and anti-aging results, the products on this page show that both brands feature top-tier options such as the Clarins Super Restorative Night Cream and the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream.

Clarins or Olay for sensitive skin?

Both Clarins and Olay fit sensitive skin at a High level on this page. Reviewers note that Olay offers more fragrance-free options, while Clarins products on this page frequently contain fragrance.

Clarins or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both Clarins and Olay fit acne-prone skin well, as Lovi rates both brands as High 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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