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The Ordinary vs Clarins

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

The Ordinary and Clarins are two distinct skincare brands offering targeted serums, nourishing moisturizers, and refreshing toners to address various complexions. The Canadian brand centers its formulations around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to suit dry, dry sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin, whereas the French brand harnesses soothing shea and replenishing squalane for sensitive and mature skin, as well as acne-prone types. While the former relies on science-driven actives for targeted concerns like dark spots and fine lines, the latter utilizes natural elements to provide gentle, harmonious care.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Clarins products

People Say

The OrdinaryClarins
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
    • “woke up with baby soft skin — Clarins Multi-Active Nuit”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Value and Price Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
  • Soothing and Calming Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “calms down the redness immediately — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “deflates morning bags — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “No irritation at all — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “doesn't make me greasy — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
  • Glow and Radiance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin looks brighter immediately — Clarins Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask”
    • “Gives off the most stunning natural radiance I've ever come across. — Clarins Beauty Flash Balm”
    • “eyes look more open — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “tight, bright and shiny — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • High Price Point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive for Ordinary — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Strong Scent and Fragrance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like vinegar — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “smell is unbearable — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “has a slight chemical smell — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Sticky and Greasy Residue Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “sat on top of skin — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “Described as having a sticky, gel-like texture. — Clarins Beauty Flash Balm”
    • “Texture too thick and heavy — Clarins Extra-Firming Day Cream”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Ineffective Results and Performance Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “no change in pigment — The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG”
    • “Skin felt tight an hour later — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Didn't do anything special — The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
    • “didn't see a lift — Clarins Total Eye Lift”

The Ordinary vs Clarins routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Clarins routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Clarins routines for combination skin

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Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Clarins: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value and acne-clearing serums, while Clarins is preferred for hydration and glowing serums on the products on this page.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Clarins?

The Ordinary offers budget-friendly, fragrance-free products on this page that focus on value and acne control, whereas Clarins provides more luxurious options with strong fragrances that excel in hydration and radiance. Both brands deliver a High to Superior routine fit across all skin types.

The Ordinary or Clarins for dry skin?

For dry skin, The Ordinary offers a superior routine fit compared to the high fit provided by Clarins. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin hydration and moisture retention.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Clarins: which cleanser is better?

The products on this page show that both The Ordinary and Clarins offer solid cleansers like the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser and Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser, but The Ordinary may be a better pick for a budget-friendly option.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Clarins?

The Ordinary is more affordable than Clarins, as reviewers frequently mention its affordable prices and great value serums compared to Clarins' high price point.

Which brand has more products containing fragrance, The Ordinary or Clarins?

Clarins has significantly more products containing fragrance than The Ordinary. Every single product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas 23 out of 24 Clarins products on the page contain fragrance.

How do the founding years and parent companies of The Ordinary and Clarins compare?

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016 and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. In comparison, Clarins was founded in France in 1954 and is owned by Famille C (Groupe Clarins).

Which brand performs better for hydration and moisture according to reviewers?

Clarins performs better for hydration and moisture according to reviewers.

The Ordinary or Clarins for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary offers a superior fit compared to Clarins. The products on this page help manage oil and blemishes effectively with ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid.

The Ordinary or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and Clarins offer great moisturizers, but The Ordinary is better for budget-friendly hydration while Clarins provides luxurious textures with strong fragrance. The products on this page from The Ordinary focus on simple, fragrance-free ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps bind moisture to the skin.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Clarins for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Clarins offer a High fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page, but The Ordinary is often favored for its fragrance-free formulas. The Ordinary relies on gentle hydrators like hyaluronic acid, which helps support skin moisture.

Drug Delivery, 2017

The Ordinary or Clarins for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better choice for acne-prone skin, offering superior acne-clearing serums and soothing benefits on this page compared to Clarins. The products on this page list no fragrance, which helps reduce the risk of irritation for sensitive skin types.

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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