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Avène vs Clarins

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

Avène and Clarins are French skincare brands that offer distinct approaches for those seeking targeted daily care. Avène is loved for its gentle moisturizers, protective sunscreens, targeted serums, and soothing cleansers formulated with glycerin, making it best suited for oily acne-prone skin and combination skin. Conversely, Clarins is celebrated for its nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, delicate eye products, and refreshing toners harnessing soothing shea and replenishing squalane, which suit sensitive skin and mature skin best. Ultimately, they differ through their core formulations and targeted skin types, as both deliver specialized solutions ranging from the Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm to the Double Serum Light Texture.

Avène is a French skincare brand founded in 1990 and owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre.

pierre-fabre.comavene.co.ukaveneusa.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 Avène and Clarins products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Avène vs Clarins products

People Say

AvèneClarins
  • Texture and Absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
    • “melting non-oily texture — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “Thick but absorbs well eventually — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
  • 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”
    • “Restores moisture barrier — Avène Cold Cream”
  • Gentle and Non-Stripping Cleansing Often MentionedNot noted
    • “leaves face clean but not dry — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “Squeaky clean but soft — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
  • Skin Soothing and Calmness Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Calmed my angry red skin overnight — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Nothing has ever worked to soothe or heal my skin like these before. — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “no irritation at all — Avène Hydrance+”
    • “calms my skin — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”
  • Dewy and Glowing Finish Sometimes 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”
    • “gives a healthy morning glow — Clarins Multi-Active Nuit”
    • “immediate radiance boost — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
  • Strong Fragrance and Scent Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “The fragrance is very present. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “smell is too strong — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Smells like grandma — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • High Price Point and Value Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Its a bit pricey but so worth it!! — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “a bit pricey — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Tiny tube for the money — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Packaging and Design Issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Tube cracked on the side — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Cap leaks in bag — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
    • “Good product bad packaging. — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
    • “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Formula Changes and Discontinuation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “bring it back — Avène Antirougeurs Fort Relief Concentrate”
    • “They have changed the formula recently, and it... is not as good. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “New formulation has been met with widespread disappointment. — Clarins Beauty Flash Balm”
    • “miss the old yellow toner — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”

Avène vs Clarins routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Avène vs Clarins routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Avène vs Clarins routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Avène or Clarins: which is better?

Both brands perform well, but Avène has a High routine fit for oily skin while Clarins has an Average fit, and Clarins has a High routine fit for dry sensitive skin while Avène has an Average fit. For shoppers comparing scents, Avène has 7 out of 15 products on this page without added fragrance compared to only 1 out of 24 for Clarins.

What is the difference between Avène and Clarins?

Avène and Clarins both offer high fit levels across most skin types, though Clarins has a High fit for dry sensitive skin while Avène has an Average fit. Avène focuses best on oily acne-prone, combination, and acne-prone skin with fragrance-free options in nearly half its products, whereas Clarins focuses best on sensitive, mature, and dark-spot-prone skin with fragrance included in almost all its products on this page.

Avène or Clarins for dry skin?

Both Avène and Clarins offer a High routine fit for dry skin based on the products on this page. Shoppers often mention Clarins for luxurious textures and hydrating moisturizers, while Avène is frequently noted for soothing irritation and gentle deep-cleaning cleansers.

Avène or Clarins: which cleanser is better?

Avène is better for gentle and non-stripping cleansing, making it the preferred choice for this skincare step. Reviewers frequently note that Avène cleansers provide a gentle deep clean while remaining soothing on the skin.

Which is more affordable, Avène or Clarins?

Reviewers of the products on this page note a high price point for both Avène and Clarins as a negative aspect.

Between Avène and Clarins, which brand has a higher percentage of fragrance-free products?

Avène has a higher percentage of fragrance-free products on this page, with nearly half of its products listing no fragrance compared to only one product for Clarins.

How do the founding years and corporate ownerships of Avène and Clarins compare?

Avene was founded in 1990 in France and is owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre, whereas Clarins was founded earlier in 1954 in France and is owned by Famille C through Groupe Clarins.

Which brand performs better specifically for dry sensitive skin according to the routine fit levels?

Clarins performs better specifically for dry sensitive skin, achieving a High routine fit level compared to Avène which reaches an Average fit level.

Avène or Clarins for oily skin?

Avène is better for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as High compared to Clarins at Average. Reviewers also note that Avène provides effective oil control and gentle deep-cleaning cleansers.

Avène or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?

Both Avène and Clarins offer high-performing moisturizers, with Avène featuring options like the Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm that achieves a Superior fit for dry skin, while Clarins provides rich formulas like the Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream that also reaches a Superior fit for dry skin.

Avène or Clarins for sensitive skin?

Both Avène and Clarins fit sensitive skin with a High level. Avène is often noted for soothing irritation and gentle cleansing, while Clarins offers luxurious textures and hydrating moisturizers.

Avène or Clarins for acne-prone skin?

Both Avène and Clarins have a High routine fit level for acne-prone skin on the products on this page.

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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