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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 two respected French skincare brands offering distinct approaches to daily care. The first brand is universally loved for its versatile moisturizers, reliable sunscreens, targeted serums, and gentle cleansers formulated with glycerin, while the second is loved for its luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, soothing eye products, and gentle toners enriched with shea and squalane. The former suits acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin best with options like the Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm, Cleanance, and Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum, whereas the latter suits sensitive and dry sensitive skin best with treatments like the Double Serum Light Texture, Extra-Firming Day Cream, and Super Restorative Night Cream. Ultimately, they differ through their key ingredients and targeted benefits, as glycerin improves hydration for both, while shea reduces redness and squalane increases collagen.

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

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Avène vs Clarins routines for oily skin

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Avène vs Clarins routines for combination skin

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Questions and answers

Avène or Clarins: which is better?

Both brands perform well, but Avène and Clarins stand out for different needs based on the products on this page. Avène generally helps with oily and combination skin and soothes irritation, while Clarins is often chosen for hydration, texture, and mature skin.

What is the difference between Avène and Clarins?

Avène and Clarins both offer luxurious skincare, but Avène features a higher proportion of fragrance-free products on this page and is often noted for soothing irritation. Meanwhile, Clarins is frequently praised for its hydrating and glowing serums as well as luxurious textures.

Avène or Clarins for dry skin?

Both Avène and Clarins have a High routine fit level for dry skin, making either brand a strong choice depending on your preference for texture and hydration. Clarins excels with luxurious, hydrating moisturizers and soothing toning lotions, whereas Avène products on this page often feature gentle deep cleaning and effective skin-soothing benefits.

Avène or Clarins: which cleanser is better?

Avène is better for gentle and non-stripping cleansing, according to reviewer feedback on this page. Reviewers often note that Avène cleansers provide a gentle deep clean.

Which is more affordable, Avène or Clarins?

Avène is generally more affordable than Clarins, as high price points are noted as a negative point for Avène while they are a primary drawback for Clarins across the products on this page.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Avène or Clarins?

Avène has more fragrance-free products on this page than Clarins. Avène features 7 products that list no fragrance, whereas Clarins has only 1 fragrance-free product.

Avène or Clarins for oily skin?

Avène is a better choice for oily skin, as the routine fit for this skin type is High while Clarins is only Average. Reviewers often note that Avène provides effective oil control, and the products on this page help deliver a matte finish.

Avène or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, Avène offers strong hydration with thermal water and glycerin, while Clarins provides luxurious textures with key ingredients like shea butter and squalane. Both brands feature options with High fit levels for dry skin on this page. Reviewers note that Avène helps soothe irritation, whereas Clarins is often mentioned for delivering a dewy and glowing finish.

Avène or Clarins for sensitive skin?

Both Avène and Clarins offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Avène stands out for gentle and non-stripping cleansing and skin soothing and calmness, while Clarins is noted for its luxurious textures and hydrating moisturizers.

Avène or Clarins for acne-prone skin?

Avène is better suited for acne-prone skin, offering a High routine fit compared to Clarins's Average fit. The products on this page for Avène are particularly noted for providing gentle deep cleanses and effective oil control.

Avène or Clarins for mature skin?

Both Avène and Clarins offer a High Lovi routine fit for mature skin. Clarins features products on this page that may provide superior firming and anti-aging benefits, while Avène often helps soothe irritation and calm sensitive skin.

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

Avène or Clarins for dry sensitive skin?

Clarins is a better fit for dry sensitive skin, with a High routine fit level compared to Avène's Average fit level. Clarins offers luxurious textures and hydrating moisturizers, whereas Avène helps soothe irritation.

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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