🇺🇸United States

Clarins vs Simple

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

Clarins and Simple are distinct skincare brands founded in France and Britain, respectively. The former offers luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, soothing eye products, and gentle toners enriched with shea and squalane, suiting sensitive and dry sensitive skin best. Conversely, the latter provides gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners enriched with niacinamide and glycerin, which suit acne-prone and oily skin best. While both cater to different skin needs through thoughtful formulations, they differ notably in their foundational ingredients and specific target concerns.

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

groupeclarins.comen.wikipedia.orghappi.com

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

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

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

Popular Clarins vs Simple products

People Say

ClarinsSimple
  • Deep hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “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 irritation for contact wearers — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Lightweight and fast absorbing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Luxurious texture and scent Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “melting non-oily texture — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “Creamy texture feels luxurious upon application — Clarins Extra-Firming Day Cream”
    • “feels like silk — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “Love that it has absolutely no scent. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Makeup compatibility and base 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”
    • “makeup lays well — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “works well under foundation — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
  • Affordable value Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
  • High price point Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Strong fragrance and scent Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Smells like chemicals — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Subtle or insufficient results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “didn't see a lift — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “no change in circles — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”

Clarins vs Simple routines for dry skin

Buy Simple routine · $128.28 · 83% fitBuy Clarins routine · $250.04 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Clarins vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy Simple routine · $280.29 · 88% fitBuy Clarins routine · $434.07 · 71% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Clarins vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy Simple routine · $259.77 · 87% fitBuy Clarins routine · $413.07 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Clarins or Simple: which is better?

Clarins is better for a luxurious texture and scent on the products on this page, while Simple is better for affordable value and being gentle on sensitive skin. Both brands offer equal deep hydration, lightweight absorption, and makeup compatibility.

What is the difference between Clarins and Simple?

Clarins is a French luxury brand offering fragrant products with rich textures, whereas Simple is an affordable British brand providing fragrance-free options that are particularly gentle on sensitive skin. Both brands offer products on this page that are well-suited for various skin types, but Simple tends to be better for oily and acne-prone skin.

Clarins or Simple for dry skin?

Both Clarins and Simple are well-suited for dry skin, as Lovi rates the routine fit for both brands as High on this page. Clarins focuses on hydrating and smoothing moisturizers with luxurious textures, while Simple offers value-friendly and gentle products.

Clarins or Simple: which cleanser is better?

When comparing cleansers, Simple is generally gentler on sensitive skin and better suited for oily skin, whereas the products on this page from Clarins offer more luxurious textures and a range tailored to dry and sensitive types. Lovi rates the Simple Refreshing Facial Wash as an average fit for acne-prone, oily, and sensitive skin, while Clarins cleansing products achieve varying fit levels depending on the specific formula and skin type.

Which is more affordable, Clarins or Simple?

Simple is more affordable, as reviewers on this page frequently mention it for its value-friendly products, whereas Clarins has a high price point.

Clarins or Simple: which brand offers better luxury textures and scents?

Clarins does better for luxury textures and scents. Reviewers on the products on this page frequently mention its luxurious textures and scents, whereas Simple products on this page list no fragrance.

Clarins or Simple: which has more products containing fragrance?

Clarins has more products containing fragrance on this page, as almost all of its formulas list a fragrance, whereas every product from Simple is fragrance-free.

Clarins or Simple: which brand is best suited for mature skin?

Both Clarins and Simple offer a High routine fit for mature skin. Clarins products on this page often feature hydrating and smoothing moisturizers, while Simple provides fragrance-free options containing niacinamide, which helps control skin aging and pigmentation.

Antioxidants, 2021

Clarins or Simple for oily skin?

Simple fits oily skin better than Clarins, as Lovi rates Simple high and Clarins average for this skin type. Simple products on this page are also fragrance-free, making them a gentle choice for controlling excess oil.

Clarins or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, Clarins is known for offering luxurious textures and deep hydration, whereas Simple focuses on lightweight, budget-friendly options that are free of fragrance. For dry skin, the products on this page show that both brands achieve a High routine fit level. Clarins contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Clarins or Simple for sensitive skin?

Both Clarins and Simple offer products on this page that are a High fit for sensitive skin. Simple is often noted for being gentle on sensitive skin, while Clarins provides luxurious textures and scents.

Clarins or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both Clarins and Simple achieve an average routine fit level for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Simple features key ingredients like niacinamide, which may help manage skin conditions.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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