SkinCeuticals vs Clarins
SkinCeuticals and Clarins are two distinct skincare houses originating from America and France respectively. SkinCeuticals offers advanced serums and moisturizers featuring glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and dimethicone, while the brand is loved for its luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, and gentle toners enriched with shea and squalane. Both brands suit sensitive and dry sensitive skin best, thanks to those nourishing formulations. Ultimately, they differ through their unique ingredient profiles and targeted treatments for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin.
SkinCeuticals is an American skincare brand founded in 1994 and owned by L'Oréal since 2005.
loreal.comskinceuticals-za.compitchbook.com
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 SkinCeuticals and Clarins products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular SkinCeuticals vs Clarins products
People Say
Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “silky and non-greasy — SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye”
- “absorbs quickly — SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Serum”
- “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
- “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
- “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
- “woke up with baby soft skin — Clarins Multi-Active Nuit”
- “Hydrated my skin beautifully. — SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2”
Skin Texture and Smoothing Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
- “definitely gave me a glass skin texture — SkinCeuticals P-TOX”
- “pores appeared less noticeable — SkinCeuticals P-Tiox”
- “reduction in some of the finer lines — SkinCeuticals P-TOX”
- “neck feels smoother — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
Radiance and Brightening 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”
- “plumped my fine lines — Clarins Double Serum”
- “I really love this product, as my skin is brighter. — SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF”
Sensitivity and Beginner Friendly Often MentionedRarely Noted
- “decreased the redness — SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel”
- “instant calming effect — SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel”
- “Perfect starting strength — SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3”
- “no irritation for contact wearers — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
Acne and Oil Control Often MentionedRarely Noted
- “decongests clogged pores — SkinCeuticals LHA Cleanser Gel”
- “cystic acne shrinking — SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense”
- “gets rid of blackheads — SkinCeuticals LHA Cleanser Gel”
- “doesn't make me greasy — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
Price and Value Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “Too pricey for the hype — SkinCeuticals P-TOX”
- “not worth $150 — SkinCeuticals P-Tiox”
- “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
- “too expensive for results — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
Fragrance and Scent Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “The scent is strong and smells like alcohol mixed with something burnt. — SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF”
- “alcohol fumes hit nostrils — SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense”
- “wish it didn't have fragrance — SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel”
- “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
Lack of Results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “haven't noticed much change on the deeper lines — SkinCeuticals P-TOX”
- “did nothing — SkinCeuticals P-Tiox”
- “didn't see a lift — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
- “no change in circles — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
Packaging Issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “Tube breaks easily — SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3”
- “jar is unhygienic — SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye”
- “dropper doesn't work well — SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier”
- “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
SkinCeuticals vs Clarins routines for dry skin
-
Cleanser
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
$19.99
-
Hydrating Toner
Pyunkang Yul Calming Deep Moisture Toner
Morning
$16.99
-
Moisturizer
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Enrich Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
$22.00
-
SPF
d'Alba Piedmont Waterfull Mild Sunscreen
Morning
$15.99
-
Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
$21.70
-
Serum or Treatment
C E Ferulic
Evening · Once a week
$39.99
-
Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Vita Essential Mask
Once a week
$22.00
-
Cleanser
Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
$33.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Hydrating Toning Lotion
Morning
$28.05
-
Moisturizer
Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
$53.00
-
SPF
d'Alba Piedmont Waterfull Mild Sunscreen
Morning
$15.99
-
Pre-Cleanser
Total Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
$40.00
- Serum or Treatment BRIGHT PLUS Evening · Once a week
-
Nourishing Mask
Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask
Once a week
$80.00
Buy SkinCeuticals routine · $158.66 · 97% fit
Buy Clarins routine · $250.04 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit
SkinCeuticals vs Clarins routines for oily skin
-
Cleanser
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
$15.97
-
Hydrating Toner
Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
Morning · Once a week
$15.60
-
Moisturizer
COSRX Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)
Morning · Evening · Once a week
$18.99
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
$14.97
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
$50.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Pixi Glow Tonic
Evening
$28.42
-
Serum or Treatment
C E Ferulic
Evening · Once a week
$39.99
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
$69.00
-
Cleansing Mask
Revision Skincare Black Mask
Once a week
$79.00
-
Cleanser
Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
$33.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Hydrating Toning Lotion
Morning · Once a week
$28.05
-
Moisturizer
Double Serum Light Texture
Morning · Evening · Once a week
$142.00
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
$14.97
-
Pre-Cleanser
Total Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
$40.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Purifying Toning Lotion
Evening
$28.05
- Serum or Treatment BRIGHT PLUS Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
$69.00
-
Cleansing Mask
Revision Skincare Black Mask
Once a week
$79.00
Buy SkinCeuticals routine · $331.94 · 96% fit
Buy Clarins routine · $434.07 · 71% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit
SkinCeuticals vs Clarins routines for combination skin
-
Cleanser
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
$28.08
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
$25.60
-
Moisturizer
COSRX Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)
Morning · Evening · Once a week
$18.99
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
$14.97
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
$50.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening
$18.90
-
Serum or Treatment
C E Ferulic
Evening · Once a week
$39.99
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
$69.00
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
$58.00
-
Cleanser
Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
$33.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Hydrating Toning Lotion
Morning · Once a week
$28.05
-
Moisturizer
Double Serum Light Texture
Morning · Evening · Once a week
$142.00
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
$14.97
-
Pre-Cleanser
Total Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
$40.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Purifying Toning Lotion
Evening
$28.05
- Serum or Treatment BRIGHT PLUS Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
$69.00
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
$58.00
Buy SkinCeuticals routine · $323.53 · 96% fit
Buy Clarins routine · $413.07 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
Questions and answers
SkinCeuticals or Clarins: which is better?
SkinCeuticals is the better choice for acne-prone, oily, and combination skin, while both brands offer great options for dry sensitive skin. The products on this page show that SkinCeuticals achieves a superior routine fit across almost all skin types compared to Clarins.
What is the difference between SkinCeuticals and Clarins?
SkinCeuticals tends to focus more on fragrance-free, targeted treatment serums for concerns like aging, acne, and texture, while Clarins emphasizes luxurious, fragrant plant-based formulas focused on hydration and radiance. For routine fit levels across various skin types on this page, SkinCeuticals rates as Superior, whereas Clarins is generally rated High.
SkinCeuticals or Clarins for dry skin?
SkinCeuticals is a better choice for dry skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to High for Clarins. SkinCeuticals products on this page also feature mostly fragrance-free formulas, which helps minimize irritation for sensitive dry skin.
SkinCeuticals or Clarins: which cleanser is better?
SkinCeuticals is a better option for acne and oil control, while Clarins excels in hydration and moisture. The products on this page list key ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which help support skin hydration.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
Which is more affordable, SkinCeuticals or Clarins?
Both SkinCeuticals and Clarins have a high price point according to reviewers, meaning neither brand is more affordable than the other.
Between SkinCeuticals and Clarins, which brand performs better for radiance and brightening?
Clarins performs better for radiance and brightening on the products on this page. Reviewers frequently mention Clarins for its radiance and glow-boosting moisturizers.
How do the fragrance options differ between SkinCeuticals and Clarins products?
SkinCeuticals products on this page are mostly fragrance-free, with only 3 out of 37 listing fragrance, whereas Clarins products almost always include fragrance, with 23 out of 24 containing it.
Which brand offers better results for acne and oil control according to reviewers?
SkinCeuticals does better for acne and oil control according to reviewers. The products on this page help target breakouts and manage excess oil more effectively than Clarins.
SkinCeuticals or Clarins for oily skin?
SkinCeuticals is a better choice for oily skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Clarins's Average fit. The products on this page help control oil and target blemishes with specialized serums.
SkinCeuticals or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?
SkinCeuticals is better for moisturizers on this page, achieving a Superior routine fit for dry skin compared to High for Clarins. Additionally, the products on this page from SkinCeuticals are mostly fragrance-free, whereas almost all Clarins moisturizers contain fragrance.
SkinCeuticals or Clarins for sensitive skin?
SkinCeuticals is a better choice than Clarins for sensitive skin because Lovi rates SkinCeuticals as having a Superior routine fit compared to Clarins' High fit. Furthermore, the products on this page for SkinCeuticals mostly feature no fragrance, whereas nearly all Clarins products on this page list fragrance.
SkinCeuticals or Clarins for acne-prone skin?
SkinCeuticals is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Clarins's High fit level. The products on this page for SkinCeuticals include acne and oil-controlling serums that are often mentioned by reviewers.
Research behind their key ingredients
The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review
Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
Effects of menthol and cold on histamine-induced itch and skin reactions in man
Anti-Wrinkle Benefits of Peptides Complex Stimulating Skin Basement Membrane Proteins Expression
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Apigenin inhibits UVA-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and prevents signs of skin aging in vivo
Vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin
Microneedling by dermapen and glycolic acid peel for the treatment of acne scars: Comparative study
Evaluation of anti-acne properties of phloretin in vitro and in vivo
Mechanism of action and clinical benefits of colloidal oatmeal for dermatologic practice
Efficacy of olive leaf extract-containing cream for facial rejuvenation: A pilot study
Taurine bromamine (TauBr)--its role in immunity and new perspectives for clinical use
Allergy to oxidized limonene and linalool is frequent in the U.K
Oxidized citrus oil (R-limonene): a frequent skin sensitizer in Europe
Colloidal Oatmeal <em>(Avena Sativa)</em> Improves Skin Barrier Through Multi-Therapy Activity
Skin improvement and stability of Echinacea purpurea dermatological formulations
The impacts of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in facial cleanser on facial skin microbiome and lipidome
Semi-solid functionalized nanostructured lipid carriers loading thymol for skin disorders
Modulating effects of oatmeal extracts in the sodium lauryl sulfate skin irritancy model
Moisturizing effect of stable cream containing Crocus sativus extracts
Histometric assessment of the age-related skin response to 2-hydroxy-5-octanoyl benzoic acid
Functional properties and skin care effects of sodium trehalose sulfate
Peptide-pro complex serum: Investigating effects on aged skin
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Microcirculation-Promoting Effect of Escin on Cutaneous Tissue via Gsk3β Down-Regulation
Saccharide isomerate ameliorates cosmetic scalp conditions in a Chinese study population
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.
-

Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

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.


























































