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CeraVe vs Clinique

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

CeraVe and Clinique are American skincare brands offering daily formulas like reliable moisturizers, gentle cleansers, and targeted serums enriched with hyaluronic acid and glycerin. The brand founded in 2005 suits mature and dry skin best through formulations that support moisture retention and barrier health, while the 1968 counterpart suits dry sensitive and oily skin best with comforting, balancing ingredients. Both utilize hyaluronic acid to lengthen wrinkle reduction duration and glycerin to improve hydration and restore barrier function. Ultimately, they differ through distinct additional ingredients and specialized options tailored to unique skin concerns.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.com

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

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.combusinesswire.comglossy.co

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

Popular CeraVe vs Clinique products

People Say

CeraVeClinique
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “sinks in instantly — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
  • Fragrance-Free and Gentle Formulas Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “No strong scent — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “cured my dry patches — CeraVe Eye Repair Cream”
    • “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
  • Skin Texture and Clarity Improvements Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “difference in my skin's texture is noticeable — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
    • “lightened dark spots — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
    • “leaves face porcelain smooth — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
  • Makeup Removal and Application Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Melts waterproof mascara — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “foundation glides on — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “holds concealer in place — Clinique All About Eyes”
  • Value and Pricing Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “reasonably priced — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “Huge tub lasts forever — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Great everyday moisturizer — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “lasts forever — Clinique all about clean”
  • Breakouts and Acne Purging Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Gave me cystic acne — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “gave me closed comedones — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “Woke up with whiteheads on my chin — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “gave me tiny bumps — Clinique moisture surge”
  • Price and Cost Complaints Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “expensive Vaseline — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
  • Packaging Complaints Often MentionedRarely 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”
    • “no safety seal included — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”

CeraVe vs Clinique routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

CeraVe vs Clinique routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

CeraVe vs Clinique routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Clinique: which is better?

CeraVe and Clinique both offer fragrance-free formulas, but the products on this page show CeraVe offering superior fit levels for mature skin and better value for money. CeraVe also achieves higher routine fits for combination, acne-prone, and dark spot-prone skin types compared to Clinique.

What is the difference between CeraVe and Clinique?

CeraVe outperforms Clinique on this page for value, pricing, and overall hydration, while Clinique stands out for makeup removal. Lovi finds that CeraVe offers superior fit levels for mature skin and better options for combination skin, acne-prone skin, and dark spots.

CeraVe or Clinique for dry skin?

Both CeraVe and Clinique are good options for dry skin. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry skin as High for both brands.

CeraVe or Clinique: which cleanser is better?

CeraVe provides a high fit level across a wide variety of cleansers for different skin types, whereas Clinique cleansers on this page generally receive lower fit levels. Reviewers frequently note that CeraVe offers gentle, non-stripping cleansers and effective options for acne and oil.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or Clinique?

CeraVe is more affordable than Clinique, as the products on this page offer better value and pricing. Reviewers frequently note that Clinique has a high price point.

CeraVe or Clinique for fading dark spots?

CeraVe has a High fit level for skin with dark spots among the products on this page, while Clinique has an Average fit level. Niacinamide helps reduce skin pigmentation by suppressing melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

CeraVe or Clinique: which is better for removing makeup?

Clinique does better for makeup removal and application among the products on this page.

CeraVe or Clinique for oily skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for oily skin among the products on this page. Reviewers note that CeraVe provides effective cleansers for acne and oil, while Clinique offers oil-controlling and smoothing moisturizers.

CeraVe or Clinique: which moisturizer is better?

CeraVe offers superior healing and texture in its moisturizers compared to Clinique, and the products on this page provide better overall hydration and value. Lovi rates CeraVe's routine fit for mature skin as Superior, while Clinique's fit for mature skin is High.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

CeraVe or Clinique for sensitive skin?

Both CeraVe and Clinique offer routines with a High Lovi fit level for sensitive skin, and every product listed for the products on this page is fragrance-free. CeraVe helps provide deep hydration with ceramide-dominant barrier repair lipids, while Clinique may provide gentle relief with soothing cleansers and daily creams.

CeraVe or Clinique for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, CeraVe is the better choice because Lovi rates its routine fit as High, compared to Average for Clinique. The products on this page help manage breakouts with key ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

CeraVe or Clinique for mature skin?

For mature skin, CeraVe offers superior routine fit compared to Clinique. Both brands feature fragrance-free formulas, but the products on this page for CeraVe help deliver deeper hydration and better value.

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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