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Clarins vs Olay

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

Clarins and Olay are two skincare lines known for gentle efficacy and thoughtful formulations. Clarins is a French skincare brand founded in 1954 and owned by Famille C, offering nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, delicate eye products, and refreshing toners with shea and squalane, whereas Olay features moisturizers, eye products, serums, and cleansers with niacinamide and glycerin. Both suit mature skin and acne-prone skin best, though the former favors sensitive skin while differing through its French heritage and natural botanical elements. Through targeted treatments, these brands address varied needs while utilizing ingredients that protect the barrier, increase hydration, and fight skin damage.

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

Popular Clarins vs Olay products

People Say

ClarinsOlay
  • Luxurious and lightweight texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “Absorbs so quickly! — Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum”
  • Hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Smooth and soft skin texture Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “hydrates the skin — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
    • “makes skin silky smooth — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”
  • Radiance and glow 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”
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Good makeup base and primer Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “Perfect primer for any foundation, which all glide on smoothly. — Clarins Beauty Flash Balm”
    • “concealer sits better — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
  • Anti-aging and firming results Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “neck feels smoother — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “visibly tighter, lifted skin — Clarins Super Restorative Night Cream”
    • “plumped my fine lines — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “Helps my skin and eye wrinkles — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • High price point Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “expensive for drugstore — Olay Super Serum”
    • “expensive — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Strong fragrance and scent sensitivity Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Fragrance can be an irritant — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “floral scent — Olay Super Serum”
    • “too perfumey — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Packaging and design issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “dispenses too much — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
    • “dropper is frustrating — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”

Clarins vs Olay routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Clarins vs Olay routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Clarins vs Olay routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Clarins or Olay: which is better?

Olay is better for oily skin, where Lovi rates its routine High compared to Clarins at Average, while both brands offer equal High routine fit levels for dry, combination, sensitive, and other skin types. Reviewers note that Olay does better for smooth and soft skin texture, whereas Clarins is praised for anti-aging results and acting as a good makeup base. Additionally, the products on this page for Olay feature mostly fragrance-free options, while almost all Clarins products list fragrance.

What is the difference between Clarins and Olay?

Olay tends to do better for oily skin with a Superior fit level for mature skin compared to Clarins having an Average fit level for oily skin. Olay also offers more fragrance-free options across the products on this page, while Clarins is more often noted for a strong fragrance. Both brands offer equal routine fit levels for dry, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, skin with dark spots, dry sensitive, and oily acne-prone skin.

Clarins or Olay for dry skin?

Both Clarins and Olay fit dry skin well, offering high routine fit levels across the products on this page. Hyaluronic acid helps provide intense hydration and improves skin quality.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Clarins or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Both brands offer cleansers that suit dry skin well, but Olay stands out for offering more fragrance-free choices across its products compared to Clarins. Lovi rates the routine fit for cleansers as generally high for dry and sensitive skin types across the products on this page.

Which is more affordable, Clarins or Olay?

Olay is more affordable than Clarins, as high price point is noted as a negative review theme for Clarins on this page.

Clarins or Olay: which brand has more fragrance-free options?

Olay offers many more fragrance-free options, with 26 out of 27 products on this page listing no fragrance compared to only 1 out of 24 for Clarins.

Clarins or Olay: which is better for mature skin?

Olay is better for mature skin on this page, offering a superior routine fit compared to Clarins' high fit. Olay features a higher proportion of products rated superior for mature skin, such as Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, while also providing key ingredients like retinol that help stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

Clarins or Olay: which brand offers a better makeup base and primer?

Clarins does better than Olay for providing a good makeup base and primer.

Clarins or Olay for oily skin?

Olay is a better fit for oily skin, offering a High routine fit compared to Clarins' Average level. Olay features a wider range of products that help manage oil, including lightweight and fast-absorbing options.

Clarins or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both Clarins and Olay offer hydrating moisturizers, but Olay stands out with options like Regenerist Ultra Rich Hydrating Moisturizer that provide a Superior fit for mature and dry skin. Olay's formulations frequently feature niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Clarins or Olay for sensitive skin?

Both Clarins and Olay have a High routine fit level for sensitive skin. Clarins features luxurious textures and botanical ingredients, whereas Olay provides many fragrance-free product options.

Clarins or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both Clarins and Olay fit acne-prone skin at a High level on this page. Olay may offer better fragrance-free options since almost all of its products on this page list no fragrance, while nearly all Clarins products contain fragrance.

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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