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Clinique vs Elemis

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

Clinique and Elemis are established skincare names, with the American brand founded in 1968 and the British brand established in 1989. Clinique offers thoughtful moisturizers, serums, makeup removers, and eye products utilizing hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and caffeine to suit dry sensitive skin and oily skin best, whereas Elemis provides curated serums, rich moisturizers, gentle cleansers, and refining toners featuring glycerin and shea to suit dry skin and mature skin best. While both incorporate nourishing glycerin, they differ as the former relies on hyaluronic acid and caffeine for balanced hydration and protection, and the latter leans on shea butter to deeply restore and reduce inflammation.

Clinique is an American skincare brand founded in 1968 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.combusinesswire.comglossy.co

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

Popular Clinique vs Elemis products

People Say

CliniqueElemis
  • Hydration and Plumping Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “skin feels soft and smooth — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Sensitivity and Gentle Formula Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “No stinging eyes — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “keeps the redness at bay — Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “sinks in instantly — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
    • “Absorbs quickly without feeling sticky — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Smoother Skin Texture Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
    • “leaves face porcelain smooth — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “skin feels baby-soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
  • Makeup Compatibility Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “foundation glides on — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “holds concealer in place — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “perfect primer base — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
    • “Sits nicely under make up... perfect base. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Spa-Like or Pleasant Scent Not 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”
  • High Price Point Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “quite pricey — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
    • “Expensive for cleanser — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Causes Breakouts Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “terrible spots — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “clogged my pores — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “Woke up with whiteheads on my chin — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
  • Strong Fragrance Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”

Clinique vs Elemis routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Clinique vs Elemis routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Clinique vs Elemis routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Clinique or Elemis: which is better?

Elemis is better suited for dry skin, where the products on this page achieve a High routine fit, compared to Clinique's Average fit. Elemis also features luxurious textures and spa-like scents, though the products on this page frequently include fragrance.

What is the difference between Clinique and Elemis?

Clinique features fragrance-free formulas with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and caffeine, while Elemis offers products with luxury scents and ingredients like shea butter. For skin care routines on this page, Elemis has a high fit for dry skin, whereas Clinique's fit for dry skin is average.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2013

Clinique or Elemis for dry skin?

Elemis is a better fit for dry skin, as the products on this page achieve a High routine fit level compared to Clinique's Average level. Elemis features nourishing hydrators like hyaluronic acid that help improve moisture retention and skin quality.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Clinique or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

Clinique is better for gentle and effective cleansers, as the products on this page are rated High for sensitive skin and feature fragrance-free formulas.

Which is more affordable, Clinique or Elemis?

Both Clinique and Elemis feature a high price point among the products on this page.

Clinique or Elemis: which brand has fragrance-free products?

Clinique features fragrance-free options across all the products on this page, whereas only a few products from Elemis list no fragrance.

Clinique or Elemis: which brand offers better options for mature skin?

Both Clinique and Elemis offer high fit levels for mature skin on the products on this page, but Elemis also features a superior fit for mature skin in its focused routines. Reviewers frequently note that Elemis delivers a radiant glow and luxurious texture moisturizers, while Clinique is often recognized for lightweight and fast-absorbing moisturizers and fragrance-free formulas.

Clinique or Elemis: which is better for smoothing skin texture?

Both Clinique and Elemis perform equally well for smoothing skin texture. Reviewers on the products on this page note that both brands help deliver a smoother skin texture.

Clinique or Elemis for oily skin?

Both Clinique and Elemis have products on this page that fit oily skin well. Clinique has a High routine fit for oily skin, while Elemis also has a High routine fit for oily skin.

Clinique or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

When choosing a moisturizer, Elemis generally offers a high fit for dry skin, whereas Clinique's moisturizers vary in performance depending on the specific skin type on the products on this page. Elemis features luxurious textures with key ingredients like glycerin and shea butter, while Clinique focuses on fragrance-free formulas utilizing hyaluronic acid and glycerin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Clinique or Elemis for sensitive skin?

Both Clinique and Elemis fit sensitive skin well, with Lovi fit levels of High for the products on this page. Clinique offers a fragrance-free approach across its entire range, whereas Elemis features a spa-like scent but can sometimes cause skin irritation for some users.

Clinique or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Elemis fits better with a High routine fit level compared to Clinique's Average routine fit level. Reviewers note that Elemis offers products that help provide a radiant glow, though it may cause breakouts in some cases.

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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