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Clarins vs Dr. Barbara Sturm

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

Clarins and Dr. Barbara Sturm are established skincare houses that offer distinct approaches to complexions. The French house, founded in 1954, is loved for its nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, delicate eye products, and refreshing toners harnessing soothing shea and replenishing squalane, suiting sensitive and mature skin best. Conversely, the German house, founded in 2014, is deeply loved for its gentle moisturizers, clarifying exfoliants, and nourishing serums built on scientifically advanced formulas, suiting sensitive, dry, and balanced skin best. Ultimately, while both brands feature standout solutions for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin, the first relies on natural elements for gentle yet effective care, whereas the second focuses on deep hydration and barrier support to keep the complexion calm, smooth, and radiant.

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

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Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by Puig since 2024.

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

Popular Clarins vs Dr. Barbara Sturm products

People Say

ClarinsDr. Barbara Sturm
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
    • “skin drank it up — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “skin feels softer — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
  • Awakening and Radiance Effect Often MentionedOften 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”
    • “skin looks brighter — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “healthy glow — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Luxurious Texture and Feel 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”
    • “sinks in quickly — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
  • Gentle on Eyes and Sensitive Skin Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “reduced redness — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “no irritation for contact wearers — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Anti-Aging and Firming Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “neck feels smoother — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “visibly tighter, lifted skin — Clarins Super Restorative Night Cream”
    • “lines less visible — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Hydration and Softness Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin texture is immediately more even — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “skin feels nourished — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
  • High Price and Cost Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “too expensive for results — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “very expensive — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “way too expensive — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Strong Fragrance and Scent Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “smells a bit weird — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Subtle or Ineffective Results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “didn't see a lift — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “no change in circles — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “didn't do much — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “did nothing — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Irritation and Breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “caused redness — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “quite red after — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “appearance of imperfections — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”

Questions and answers

Clarins or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which is better?

Dr. Barbara Sturm is gentler on sensitive skin because every product on this page lists no fragrance, whereas almost all Clarins products contain fragrance. Reviewers note that Dr. Barbara Sturm does better for hydration and softness, while Clarins has a higher price point and strong fragrance.

What is the difference between Clarins and Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Clarins is a French brand founded in 1954 with products on this page frequently featuring fragrances and luxurious textures, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German brand founded in 2014 where every product on this page lists no fragrance. Reviewers note that Dr. Barbara Sturm does better for being gentle on sensitive skin, while Clarins is recognized for its luxurious textures and feel.

Clarins or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which moisturizer is better?

Clarins offers a wider range of moisturizers with options like Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream rated Superior for dry skin, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm features only one moisturizer, Hyaluronic Serum, rated High for oily skin and Average for dry skin. Both brands provide hydration, but Clarins products on this page frequently list fragrance while Dr. Barbara Sturm formulas are fragrance-free.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Clarins or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Reviewers note that Clarins has a high price point.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Clarins or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Both Clarins and Dr. Barbara Sturm are considered equal when it comes to the likelihood of irritation and breakouts. The products on this page from Clarins frequently feature strong added fragrances, whereas every product from Dr. Barbara Sturm lists no fragrance.

How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between Clarins and Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Clarins was founded in 1954 in France, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm was established later in 2014 in Germany.

Which brand offers products with no fragrance, and how many Clarins products contain fragrance?

Dr. Barbara Sturm offers products with no fragrance, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. For Clarins, 23 of the 24 products on this page contain fragrance.

Which brand performs better for luxurious texture and feel according to review themes?

Clarins performs better for luxurious texture and feel.

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

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