Clinique vs Estée Lauder
Clinique and Estée Lauder are American skincare brands owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Founded in 1968, the former is widely loved for its thoughtful range of moisturizers, serums, makeup removers, and eye products, which thoughtfully incorporate hydrating hyaluronic acid, nourishing glycerin, and invigorating caffeine. Founded in 1946, the latter is beloved for a comprehensive range of moisturizers, serums, eye products, and cleansers, all expertly formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid and glycerin. While the first suits dry sensitive skin and oily skin best, the second suits acne-prone skin and mature skin best, with both differing in their founding years, specific ingredient combinations, and targeted product solutions.
Clinique is an American skincare brand founded in 1968 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..
en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.combusinesswire.comglossy.co
Estée Lauder is an American skincare brand founded in 1946 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..
en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.com
This page compares some of the most popular Clinique and Estée Lauder products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Clinique vs Estée Lauder products
People Say
Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “skin drinks it up immediately — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
- “The formula is incredibly hydrating and leaves my skin feeling smooth. — Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv”
- “texture is dreamy — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme”
- “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Texture Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
- “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 quickly into the skin — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
Gentle and Suitable for Sensitive Skin Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
- “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
- “No stinging eyes — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
- “doesn't dry out — Clinique all about clean”
- “doesn't strip the skin — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée”
Skin Texture Improvement 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”
- “skin feels like a baby's bottom — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
- “silky smooth — Estée Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion”
Exfoliation and Cleansing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “gentle enough for everyday — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
- “You will see the dirt with one wipe — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
- “Skin feels squeaky clean — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
- “Lathers well — Estée Lauder Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser”
Good Base for Makeup Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “foundation glides on — Clinique moisture surge”
- “holds concealer in place — Clinique All About Eyes”
- “perfect primer base — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
- “doesn't pill — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme”
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”
- “way too expensive for the size — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair”
Unpleasant Scent or Strong Fragrance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “Smells like old oil — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
- “Has a weird plastic-like smell — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
- “smells like plastic — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
- “Scent is too overpowering — Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+”
Packaging Issues Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
- “Unhygienic tub — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
- “prefer a pump dispenser — Clinique All About Eyes”
- “pump dispenses too much — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
- “lid is hard to open — Estée Lauder Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée”
Clinique vs Estée Lauder routines for dry skin
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Cleanser
Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€19.76
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Hydrating Toner
Micro Essence Treatment Lotion
Morning
€109.00
-
Moisturizer
Revitalizing Supreme+
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€119.00
- SPF DayWear Moisturizer Morning
-
Pre-Cleanser
Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion
Evening · Once a week
€31.28
- Serum or Treatment Perfectionist Pro Evening · Once a week
-
Nourishing Mask
Nutritious Melting Soft Creme/Mask
Once a week
€31.00
-
Cleanser
all about clean
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€34.50
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Advanced Replenishing Toner
Morning
€34.00
-
Moisturizer
Smart Clinical Repair Lifting Face + Neck Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€48.89
-
SPF
Purito Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen
Morning
€12.98
-
Pre-Cleanser
Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
€22.53
-
Serum or Treatment
Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum
Evening · Once a week
€71.30
-
Nourishing Mask
Moisture Surge Overnight Mask
Once a week
€24.50
Clinique vs Estée Lauder routines for oily skin
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Cleanser
Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€25.50
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
€36.00
-
Moisturizer
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€24.46
-
SPF
d'Alba UVessence Mild Waterfull Sun Cream SPF 50
Morning
€16.99
-
Pre-Cleanser
Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
€22.53
-
Cleansing Toner
Clarifying Lotion 2
Evening
€34.39
-
Serum or Treatment
Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum
Evening · Once a week
€71.30
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€48.55
-
Cleansing Mask
VT Cosmetics Cica Purifying Mask
Once a week
€16.79
-
Cleanser
Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€19.76
-
Hydrating Toner
Micro Essence Treatment Lotion
Morning · Once a week
€109.00
-
Moisturizer
Revitalizing Supreme+
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€119.00
- SPF DayWear Moisturizer Morning
-
Pre-Cleanser
Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion
Evening · Once a week
€31.28
-
Cleansing Toner
Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Toner
Evening
€16.90
- Serum or Treatment Perfectionist Pro Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€48.55
-
Cleansing Mask
VT Cosmetics Cica Purifying Mask
Once a week
€16.79
Clinique vs Estée Lauder routines for combination skin
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Cleanser
Advanced Night Cleansing Gelée
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€19.76
-
Hydrating Toner
Micro Essence Treatment Lotion
Morning · Once a week
€109.00
- Moisturizer Re-Nutriv Morning · Evening · Once a week
- SPF DayWear Moisturizer Morning
-
Pre-Cleanser
Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion
Evening · Once a week
€31.28
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening
€16.98
-
Serum or Treatment
Advanced Night Repair
Evening · Once a week
€75.00
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€48.55
-
Cleansing Mask
Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay
Once a week
€28.50
-
Cleanser
all about clean
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€34.50
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
€36.00
-
Moisturizer
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€24.46
-
Pre-Cleanser
Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
€22.53
-
Cleansing Toner
Clarifying Lotion 2
Evening
€34.39
-
Serum or Treatment
Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum
Evening · Once a week
€71.30
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€48.55
-
Cleansing Mask
Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay
Once a week
€28.50
Questions and answers
Clinique or Estée Lauder: which is better?
Clinique is better for lightweight textures and suitability for sensitive skin, while Estée Lauder excels in hydration and moisture. The products on this page from Clinique are fragrance-free, whereas two Estée Lauder products list fragrance. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality across both brands.
What is the difference between Clinique and Estée Lauder?
Clinique is better for lightweight textures, gentle care for sensitive skin, and exfoliation, while Estée Lauder stands out for deep hydration. Both brands share similar price points and feature key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin across the products on this page.
Clinique or Estée Lauder for dry skin?
Both Clinique and Estée Lauder offer an average routine fit for dry skin on this page, but Clinique helps better with gentle care for sensitive skin types, while Estée Lauder provides deep hydration.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015
Clinique or Estée Lauder: which cleanser is better?
Clinique is better for cleansers on this page because Lovi gives its Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser a High fit for dry sensitive, sensitive, and dry skin, whereas Estée Lauder cleansers tend to rate lower for those types. Clinique also has no fragrance listed across its products, unlike some Estée Lauder cleansers.
Which is more affordable, Clinique or Estée Lauder?
Reviewers note a high price point for both brands, but Lovi lists a high price point as a negative review theme specifically for Clinique.
Clinique or Estée Lauder: which brand has better fragrance-free options?
Clinique has better fragrance-free options on this page because every single one of its products lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas two of Estée Lauder's products contain fragrance.
Clinique or Estée Lauder for oily skin?
Clinique is better for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as High compared to Average for Estée Lauder. The products on this page for Clinique also help provide oil-controlling and smoothing moisturizers.
Clinique or Estée Lauder: which moisturizer is better?
Clinique is better for lightweight and fast-absorbing moisturizers, while Estée Lauder excels in deep hydration. Reviewers often mention Clinique for oil-controlling and smoothing formulas, whereas Estée Lauder stands out for providing deep moisture. For the products on this page, Lovi rates Clinique moisturizers like the for Men Oil-Free Moisturizer as a High fit for oily skin, and Estée Lauder moisturizers like the DayWear Moisturizer as a Superior fit for dry skin.
Clinique or Estée Lauder for sensitive skin?
Both Clinique and Estée Lauder are good for sensitive skin, as Lovi gives each brand a High fit for this skin type. Clinique may be a better choice for shoppers who prefer completely fragrance-free formulas, since all products on this page list no fragrance, whereas two Estée Lauder products include fragrance.
Clinique or Estée Lauder for acne-prone skin?
Estée Lauder is a better fit for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as High compared to Clinique's Average. Estée Lauder's products on this page help provide deep hydration while remaining gentle.
Clinique or Estée Lauder for mature skin?
Both Clinique and Estée Lauder achieve equal levels for mature skin, as Lovi rates both brands with a High routine fit level. Reviewers often note that Estée Lauder helps provide deep hydration, while Clinique helps deliver lightweight and fast-absorbing textures.
Clinique or Estée Lauder for dry sensitive skin?
Clinique is a better fit for dry sensitive skin, offering High routine fit compared to Estée Lauder's Average fit on the products on this page. Clinique's fragrance-free formulas help deliver gentle hydration to dry sensitive skin.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
Research behind their key ingredients
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Chrysin protects epidermal keratinocytes from UVA- and UVB-induced damage
Vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin
Reduction in the appearance of facial hyperpigmentation by topical N-acetyl glucosamine
Another Reason for Using Caffeine in Dermocosmetics: Sunscreen Adjuvant
The synergistic effect of retinyl propionate and hydroxypinacolone retinoate on skin aging
Nanostructured Lipid Carrier for Topical Application of N-Acetyl Glucosamine
Algae extract protection effect on oxidized protein level in human stratum corneum
Skin recovery by Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract: Redox control of Nrf2 signaling
The anti wrinkle efficacy of synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) in Chinese Subjects
Safety of a preservative system containing 1,2-hexanediol and caprylyl glycol
Functional properties and skin care effects of sodium trehalose sulfate
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
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.
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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
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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