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Clarins vs MAC

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

Clarins and MAC are respected beauty houses offering distinct approaches to daily maintenance. Clarins is a French skincare brand founded in 1954 and owned by Famille C, known for luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, soothing eye products, and gentle toners enriched with nourishing shea and hydrating squalane. Conversely, MAC is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994, beloved for reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas. While the former suits sensitive and dry sensitive skin best through formulations that reduce redness and increase collagen, the latter suits balanced skin best with gentle and effective ingredients.

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

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MAC is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

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

Popular Clarins vs MAC products

People Say

ClarinsMAC
  • Hydration and Glow Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • High Price Point Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “too expensive for results — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “A bit expensive — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”

Questions and answers

Clarins or MAC: which is better?

Clarins offers a much wider range of skincare products on this page with High to Superior Lovi fit levels for sensitive, dry sensitive, and mature skin types, whereas MAC features only three skincare options. Both brands share similar feedback regarding their high price point.

What is the difference between Clarins and MAC?

Clarins, founded in 1954 in France and owned by Famille C, offers a wide product range with a high fit for sensitive skin, dry sensitive skin, and mature skin. In contrast, MAC, founded in 1984 in Canada and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994, features a much smaller selection focused on items like the Hyper Real Serumizer.

Clarins or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

Clarins offers moisturizers like Super Restorative Night Cream and Extra-Firming Day Cream that Lovi rates as Superior for mature skin, whereas MAC moisturizers such as Hyper Real Serumizer and Mineralize Timecheck Lotion achieve High or Average fit levels. Hyaluronic acid helps maintain moisture and skin quality.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Clarins or MAC?

Both Clarins and MAC are equal in having a high price point as a negative review theme on their respective pages.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Clarins or MAC?

Neither Clarins nor MAC is noted as causing fewer breakouts than the other on this page.

When was Clarins founded compared to MAC, and who owns each company?

Clarins was founded in 1954 in France and is owned by Famille C, whereas MAC was founded in 1984 in Canada and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Which Clarins products achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for mature skin?

For mature skin, the products on this page by Clarins that achieve a Superior Lovi fit level are Total Eye Lift, Extra-Firming Day Cream, and Super Restorative Night Cream.

What are the main criticisms reviewers have about Clarins products compared to MAC products?

Reviewers note that both Clarins and MAC share the same main criticism regarding a high price point. However, shoppers also mention distinct drawbacks for Clarins products on this page, such as a strong fragrance, a lack of dramatic or subtle results, and pump or packaging design issues.

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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