🇮🇪Ireland

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 · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Clarins routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Clarins: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value, acne control, and soothing benefits, while Clarins excels in hydration and glow with more luxurious formulas. The products on this page show that The Ordinary generally achieves higher fit levels across most skin types, whereas Clarins formulas frequently contain added fragrance.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Clarins?

The Ordinary focuses on affordable, single-ingredient serums that help with acne and dark spots, while Clarins offers luxurious, heavily fragranced moisturizers with great hydration and glow.

The Ordinary or Clarins for dry skin?

For dry skin, The Ordinary fits better with a Superior routine level compared to Clarins at High. The products on this page from The Ordinary provide fragrance-free options that help deliver deep moisture.

The Ordinary or Clarins: which cleanser is better?

When it comes to cleansers, The Ordinary is a better choice for shoppers seeking affordability and targeted care, while Clarins offers more luxurious textures. Lovi rates the cleansers on the products on this page as having a High fit for dry and sensitive skin across both brands.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Clarins?

The Ordinary offers more affordable products and better value compared to Clarins. Reviewers frequently note The Ordinary for its affordable and great value serums, whereas Clarins has a high price point.

Do The Ordinary products contain fragrance?

The Ordinary products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients. This makes them a suitable option if you prefer to avoid scents in your skincare routine.

Which brand performs better for hydration and moisture?

Clarins performs better for hydration and moisture, offering luxurious textures and hydrating moisturizers. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin hydration and counter signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

What are the main skin types that Clarins fits best?

Clarins fits sensitive skin, mature skin, and skin with dark spots best, according to its brand-focused routines on this page. Reviewers note that the brand helps provide hydration, glowing results, and luxurious textures.

The Ordinary or Clarins for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, The Ordinary fits better than Clarins, earning a Superior routine fit compared to Clarins' High fit. The Ordinary products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients, whereas almost all Clarins products contain fragrance.

The Ordinary or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, The Ordinary generally offers better value and superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Clarins excels in luxurious textures and hydration. The Ordinary products on this page list no added fragrance, while nearly all Clarins moisturizers contain fragrance. Hyaluronic acid helps both brands deliver effective moisture.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Clarins for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and Clarins offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin. The Ordinary features fragrance-free formulas and includes targeted acne-clearing serums, whereas Clarins relies on luxurious textures that may be fragranced.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play