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Clarins vs Elemis

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

Clarins and Elemis are established European skincare houses that offer luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, and gentle toners enriched with nourishing shea. The French brand suits sensitive and dry sensitive skin best with formulations featuring squalane, whereas the British brand suits dry and mature skin best through preparations combining glycerin and shea. Both lines feature standout treatments for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature concerns, but they differ in their foundational heritage, specific key ingredients, and precise targeted benefits.

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

groupeclarins.comen.wikipedia.orghappi.com

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

Popular Clarins vs Elemis products

People Say

ClarinsElemis
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Glow and Radiance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “eyes look more open — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “healthy glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
  • Anti-Aging and Firming Often MentionedSometimes 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”
    • “My neck doesn't sag... plumps my skin to look more youthful. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
  • Pleasant Scent Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like a spa — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “smells like a holiday — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “smells like a tropical cocktail — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “smells luxurious — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
  • Cleansing and Exfoliation Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “melts waterproof mascara — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “non-stripping formula — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “removes every last trace — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”
  • High Price Point Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “too expensive for results — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “very expensive — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
  • Strong Fragrance and Scent Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “smell is too strong — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “Only small negative is the smell is quite strong. — Elemis Superfood Facial Oil”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “jar looks half empty — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “tube feels half empty — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “pump broke quickly — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Skin Irritation and Breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “caused redness — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “Developed milia and closed comedones. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “caused cystic acne — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”

Clarins vs Elemis routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Clarins vs Elemis routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Clarins vs Elemis routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Clarins or Elemis: which is better?

Both brands are great, but Clarins stands out for glow and anti-aging care, while Elemis performs better for oily, combination, and oily acne-prone skin. Both brands offer high hydration and soothing benefits.

What is the difference between Clarins and Elemis?

Clarins is a French brand founded in 1954, while Elemis is a British brand founded in 1989. Clarins products on this page achieve a High Lovi fit for sensitive skin, dry sensitive skin, and mature skin, whereas Elemis products on this page achieve a High Lovi fit for dry skin, mature skin, and dry sensitive skin.

Clarins or Elemis for dry skin?

Both brands offer an equal fit level for dry skin, with Clarins offering High fit and Elemis offering High fit on the products on this page. Reviewers note that both brands provide hydrating moisturizers.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Clarins or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

Elemis is better for cleansing and exfoliation among the products on this page. Reviewers note that Elemis does better in this category, and its line includes options like the Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash and Superfood Glow Cleansing Butter.

Which is more affordable, Clarins or Elemis?

Both Clarins and Elemis feature a high price point as a commonly mentioned drawback by reviewers, meaning neither brand is clearly more affordable than the other based on the products on this page.

Clarins or Elemis: which brand is better for anti-aging and firming?

Clarins is better for anti-aging and firming, as review themes show it does better than Elemis in this area. Additionally, the products on this page include key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E that help support skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

Clarins or Elemis: which brand offers better glow and radiance?

Clarins offers better glow and radiance compared to Elemis, according to reviewers on this page. Reviewers specifically highlighted Clarins for its radiance and glow-boosting moisturizers as well as its hydrating and glowing serums.

Clarins or Elemis: which brand has fewer issues with strong fragrance?

Clarins has fewer issues with strong fragrance compared to Elemis, where strong fragrance is sometimes noted as a negative point by reviewers. Elemis lists fragrance in 18 of its 22 products on this page, whereas Clarins has strong fragrance more often mentioned as a drawback.

Clarins or Elemis for oily skin?

Elemis is a better fit for oily skin, offering a High routine fit level compared to Clarins's Average fit. Elemis products on this page help deliver strong performance for oily complexions with key ingredients like glycerin.

Clarins or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

Both Clarins and Elemis offer hydrating moisturizers on this page, but they suit different skin types best. Clarins fits dry skin and mature skin well with its extra-firming and super restorative creams, while Elemis provides a High fit for oily and combination skin types alongside dry and mature skin.

Clarins or Elemis for sensitive skin?

Both Clarins and Elemis fit sensitive skin well, with Lovi fit levels reaching High for both brands on this page. Clarins is best suited for sensitive skin, dry sensitive skin, and mature skin, while Elemis also features gentle and hydrating options.

Clarins or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

Both Clarins and Elemis achieve a High Lovi fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Clarins focuses on gentle foaming cleansers and hydrating toners, while Elemis offers clarifying treatments like the Papaya Enzyme Peel.

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

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