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Clinique vs Simple

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

Clinique and Simple are established skincare brands known for their thoughtful ranges of moisturizers, makeup removers, and targeted treatments incorporating hydrating hyaluronic acid, nourishing glycerin, and soothing niacinamide. The American brand suits dry sensitive skin and oily skin best with comforting, balancing ingredients, whereas the British brand suits acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots best owing to its gentle formulations. While both utilize glycerin to improve skin hydration and restore barrier function, they differ in their heritage, ownership, and signature active ingredients.

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

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.combusinesswire.comglossy.co

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

Popular Clinique vs Simple products

People Say

CliniqueSimple
  • Sensitive Skin Friendly Mostly MentionedMostly 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”
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
  • 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”
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “sinks in instantly — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Good Makeup Base Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “foundation glides on — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “holds concealer in place — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “makeup lays well — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “works well under foundation — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
  • Value and Options Rarely 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”
    • “lasts forever — Clinique all about clean”
  • Luxurious Texture and Glow Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
    • “wake up glowing — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “absorbs quickly — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “removes last traces of makeup — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
  • Causes Breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Woke up with whiteheads on my chin — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “gave me tiny bumps — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “caused major breakouts — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Price and Value Complaints Often MentionedNot noted
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
  • Insufficient Hydration Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “skin felt tight — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”

Clinique vs Simple routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Clinique vs Simple routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Clinique vs Simple routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Clinique or Simple: which is better?

Simple tends to be better for value and offers more options for acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots, while Clinique stands out for luxurious textures and glow. Both brands provide fragrance-free formulas, though reviewers note that Clinique has a higher price point.

What is the difference between Clinique and Simple?

Clinique and Simple are both fragrance-free skincare brands, but they differ in pricing, ingredients, and review highlights. Reviewers frequently note Clinique for its luxurious texture and glow, while Simple is often praised for offering better value and sensitive-skin-friendly makeup removers.

Clinique or Simple for dry skin?

Simple fits dry skin better with a High routine fit, while Clinique has an Average fit for dry skin. Reviewers note that Simple offers lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers.

Clinique or Simple: which cleanser is better?

Simple stands out for sensitive skin friendly cleansing, whereas the products on this page for Clinique include options like all about clean, which receives lower fit levels and warnings for dry skin. Reviewers note that Simple offers gentle and effective daily makeup removers, making it a reliable choice for cleansing.

Which is more affordable, Clinique or Simple?

Simple is more affordable than Clinique, as reviewers often mention Clinique for its high price point while praising Simple for value-friendly products.

Clinique or Simple for oily skin?

Clinique and Simple are both a High fit for oily skin. The products on this page for Clinique feature key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and salicylic acid, while Simple features niacinamide and glycerin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Clinique or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Clinique is better for dry skin and dry sensitive skin moisturizers because Lovi rates the products on this page as High for those skin types, while Simple rates as Average. Reviewers also say Clinique provides luxurious texture and glow.

Clinique or Simple for sensitive skin?

Both Clinique and Simple are good choices for sensitive skin. Lovi rates Clinique High and Simple High for this skin type, and every product on the Clinique and Simple pages lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Clinique or Simple: which makeup remover is better?

Clinique features makeup removers that are Lovi-rated High for dry sensitive skin, dry skin, and skin with dark spots, while Simple provides makeup removers that are Lovi-rated High for sensitive skin, oily skin, and dry skin. Reviewers note that Clinique offers deeply dissolving makeup removers, whereas Simple is known for gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly and effective daily makeup removers.

Clinique or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Simple fits acne-prone skin better than Clinique, as Lovi rates Simple with a High routine fit compared to Clinique's Average routine fit. Reviewers mention that Simple offers lightweight and value-friendly moisturizers, though some note it may cause breakouts or irritations.

Clinique or Simple for dry sensitive skin?

Simple offers a High routine fit for dry sensitive skin, while Lovi rates Clinique at High as well. Both brands feature fragrance-free products on this page.

Clinique or Simple for mature skin?

Both Clinique and Simple fit mature skin well, with Lovi giving Clinique a High fit level and Simple an Average fit level. Simple offers better value and options, while Clinique stands out for its luxurious texture and glow.

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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