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CeraVe vs Clarins

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

CeraVe and Clarins are two prominent skincare brands offering gentle yet effective daily care through expertly formulated moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and more. The American brand utilizes nourishing hyaluronic acid and glycerin to suit mature skin and oily acne-prone skin best, while the French counterpart harnesses soothing shea and replenishing squalane to suit sensitive skin and mature skin best. Ultimately, they differ in their origins, specific ingredient profiles, and nuanced formulations designed to address distinct complexion concerns.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.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 CeraVe and Clarins products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular CeraVe vs Clarins products

People Say

CeraVeClarins
  • Lightweight and non-greasy texture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks in immediately — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
  • Fragrance-free and gentle formulation Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “no irritation for contact wearers — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Deep hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “cured my dry patches — CeraVe Eye Repair Cream”
    • “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Improves skin texture, barrier, and acne Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “dialed back oiliness — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “healed cracked hands — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “difference in my skin's texture is noticeable — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
    • “visibly tighter, lifted skin — Clarins Super Restorative Night Cream”
  • Luxurious skincare and glow Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “insane how cooling it is — Clarins Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask”
    • “melting non-oily texture — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
  • High price point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive Vaseline — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Packaging and design issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “no safety seal included — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “jar is tiny — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “dispenses too much — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
  • Unpleasant scent or fragrance complaints Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like plastic — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Causes breakouts, irritation, or burning Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “caused redness — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “made my face burn — Clarins Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask”
    • “face feels stripped — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”

CeraVe vs Clarins routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

CeraVe vs Clarins routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

CeraVe vs Clarins routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Clarins: which is better?

CeraVe is generally better because the products on this page offer fragrance-free formulations and lightweight, non-greasy textures that help maintain skin hydration and barrier repair.

What is the difference between CeraVe and Clarins?

CeraVe offers fragrance-free, lightweight formulas with ceramides and hyaluronic acid that generally suit oily skin better, whereas Clarins features luxurious, often scented textures with ingredients like shea butter and squalane aimed at a glowing finish. Both brands provide similar high routine fits for dry, sensitive, and mature skin types on the products on this page.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

CeraVe or Clarins for dry skin?

Both CeraVe and Clarins achieve a High routine fit level for dry skin. CeraVe offers fragrance-free moisturizers with key ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid that help restore the skin barrier, whereas Clarins provides luxurious textures with ingredients such as shea butter and squalane.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

CeraVe or Clarins: which cleanser is better?

CeraVe offers better cleansers on this page, as every cleanser lists no fragrance and the products help provide gentle, non-stripping cleansing along with effective care for acne and oil. Reviewers mention that CeraVe does better with fragrance-free and gentle formulations as well as improving skin texture, barrier, and acne compared to Clarins.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or Clarins?

CeraVe is more affordable than Clarins, as Clarins is noted for its high price point.

CeraVe or Clarins: which brand offers more fragrance-free products?

CeraVe offers more fragrance-free products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas almost all of Clarins' products contain fragrance.

CeraVe or Clarins: which has better options for mature skin?

Both brands offer solid options for mature skin, with Lovi fit levels reaching Superior across several CeraVe and Clarins products on this page. CeraVe stands out for its fragrance-free formulations and ceramide-dominant barrier repair lipids, while Clarins is often chosen for its luxurious textures and glow-boosting routines.

CeraVe or Clarins: which brand is better for reducing dark spots?

Both CeraVe and Clarins have products on this page that achieve a high fit level for skin with dark spots. CeraVe includes ingredients like niacinamide, which may help reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

CeraVe or Clarins for oily skin?

CeraVe fits oily skin better than Clarins, as Lovi rates CeraVe's routine fit for oily skin as High and Clarins's as Average. Reviewers also mention that CeraVe offers lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and effective cleansers for oil, whereas Clarins products on this page frequently list fragrance and are often noted for a high price point.

CeraVe or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?

CeraVe offers better moisturizers than Clarins, thanks to lightweight, fragrance-free formulas that provide deep hydration with ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

CeraVe or Clarins for sensitive skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin, but CeraVe stands out for its fragrance-free and gentle formulation across the products on this page. CeraVe utilizes ceramide-dominant barrier repair lipids, which help restore the skin barrier as shown in clinical studies.

CeraVe or Clarins for acne-prone skin?

Both CeraVe and Clarins have a High routine fit for acne-prone skin, but CeraVe stands out for its fragrance-free formulations and effective cleansers targeting oil and breakouts. Reviewers mention that CeraVe is better at improving acne, whereas Clarins formulas frequently contain fragrance and can sometimes cause breakouts.

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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