🇫🇷France

Clarins vs Simple

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

Clarins and Simple are distinct skincare lines, with the former being a French brand founded in 1954 and owned by Famille C, and the latter a British brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC. Clarins is loved for its nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, delicate eye products, and refreshing toners harnessing soothing shea and replenishing squalane, while Simple is beloved for its gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners thoughtfully crafted with niacinamide and glycerin. The former brand suits sensitive skin and mature skin best, offering standout solutions like the Double Serum Light Texture, Extra-Firming Day Cream, and Super Restorative Night Cream, whereas the latter suits acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots best, featuring standout choices such as the Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner, Micellar Cleansing Water, and Micellar Water. Ultimately, both brands differ through these specialized formulations and targeted ingredients, as shea butter and squalane work harmoniously to reduce redness, protect the skin, increase collagen, and fight damage, while niacinamide and glycerin improve hyperpigmentation, aging signs, skin hydration, and barrier function.

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

groupeclarins.comen.wikipedia.orghappi.com

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular Clarins vs Simple products

People Say

ClarinsSimple
  • Deep hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “no irritation for contact wearers — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Lightweight and fast absorbing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Luxurious texture and scent Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “melting non-oily texture — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “Creamy texture feels luxurious upon application — Clarins Extra-Firming Day Cream”
    • “feels like silk — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “Love that it has absolutely no scent. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Makeup compatibility and base Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “Perfect primer for any foundation, which all glide on smoothly. — Clarins Beauty Flash Balm”
    • “makeup lays well — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “works well under foundation — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
  • Affordable value Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Can't beat the price for the quality. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • High price point Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Strong fragrance and scent Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Smells like chemicals — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Subtle or insufficient results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “didn't see a lift — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “no change in circles — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”

Clarins vs Simple routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Clarins vs Simple routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Clarins vs Simple routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Clarins or Simple: which is better?

Simple is better for being gentle on sensitive skin and offering affordable value, whereas Clarins is better for a luxurious texture and scent. Both brands offer an equal routine fit across all skin types on this page.

What is the difference between Clarins and Simple?

Clarins and Simple offer different skincare experiences, with Clarins focusing on luxurious textures and botanical ingredients while Simple provides budget-friendly, fragrance-free products for sensitive skin.

Clarins or Simple for dry skin?

Both Clarins and Simple offer an equal High routine fit for dry skin among the products on this page, with Clarins leaning toward luxurious textures and Simple providing budget-friendly hydration. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging, and vitamin E helps provide antioxidant and brightening effects.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

Clarins or Simple: which cleanser is better?

Simple may be more suitable for sensitive skin as Lovi rates its cleansers well for that skin type, whereas the products on this page for Clarins feature potential irritants like fragrance.

Which is more affordable, Clarins or Simple?

Simple is more affordable, as reviewers on the page frequently mention its affordable value and lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers. In contrast, the high price point of Clarins is a commonly mentioned drawback.

Which brand has more fragrance in its products, Clarins or Simple?

Clarins has more fragrance in its products, as almost all the products on this page contain fragrance, whereas every product from Simple on this page lists no fragrance.

Which brand is owned by Unilever, Clarins or Simple?

Simple is owned by Unilever PLC. Clarins is owned by Famille C.

What are some of the key ingredients found across Clarins products?

Shea butter, Squalane, Oat, and Hyaluronic acid are some of the key ingredients found across the products on this page for Clarins.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Clarins or Simple for oily skin?

Both Clarins and Simple achieve an equal High routine fit level for oily skin. The products on this page for Simple are completely free of added fragrance, whereas most Clarins products list fragrance.

Clarins or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Clarins and Simple offer moisturizers with equal routine fits across all skin types on this page, but Clarins stands out for luxurious textures and scents while Simple is better known for affordable value and fragrance-free formulas.

Clarins or Simple for sensitive skin?

Both Clarins and Simple are well-suited for sensitive skin, with Lovi rating both brands at equal levels for this skin type.

Clarins or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both Clarins and Simple offer an equal High routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Simple may be better suited for this skin type overall as its products on this page are fragrance-free, whereas almost all Clarins products list fragrance.

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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