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Clarins vs The INKEY List

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

Clarins and The INKEY List are distinct skincare brands offering moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products, though they differ significantly in their heritage, pricing, and formulation approaches. The French luxury house relies on nourishing shea and hydrating squalane to comfort sensitive and dry skin, while the British newcomer centers its accessible range on glycerin to support hydration and barrier function. Both accommodate diverse concerns through targeted treatments, such as specialized solutions for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and aging.

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

groupeclarins.comen.wikipedia.orghappi.com

The INKEY List is a British skincare brand founded in 2018 and owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited.

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

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

Popular Clarins vs The INKEY List products

People Say

ClarinsThe INKEY List
  • Hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedOften 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”
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing texture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “feels like applying straight up water to the skin — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
  • Affordable price and value Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Good for the price — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “One of the best balms for quality and also price — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “unbeatable value — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
  • 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”
    • “Brilliant makeup base — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
  • Texture smoothing and exfoliation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Glass skin — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “makes skin silky smooth — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”
  • Acne clearing and blemish control Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “calms redness instantly — The INKEY List 10% Azelaic Acid Serum”
    • “Skin instantly looks less oily — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
  • Fragrance and scent issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Smells like BBQ/meat — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Smells like chemicals — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “smells plasticky — The INKEY List ECTOIN HYDRO-BARRIER SERUM”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Packaging and pump design flaws Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “dispenses too much — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Very difficult to squeeze out at first — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • High price point Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Skin irritation and breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “caused redness — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “made my face burn — Clarins Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask”
    • “did cause major breakouts — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”

Clarins vs The INKEY List routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Clarins vs The INKEY List routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Clarins vs The INKEY List routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Clarins or The INKEY List: which is better?

The INKEY List is generally better for budget-conscious shoppers and specialized blemish control, while Clarins excels in providing luxurious hydration and smoothing textures. Reviewers find that The INKEY List offers more affordable skincare options, whereas Clarins focuses on premium formulations that may feature strong fragrances.

What is the difference between Clarins and The INKEY List?

The INKEY List generally offers a more affordable price point and better value, whereas Clarins is known for its luxurious textures and high price point. The products on this page for The INKEY List feature no fragrance across the range, while Clarins includes fragrance in almost all of its products.

Clarins or The INKEY List for dry skin?

The INKEY List is a better choice for dry skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Clarins and providing deeply hydrating products like Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Clarins or The INKEY List: which cleanser is better?

The INKEY List is a better choice for cleansers because it offers targeted options like the Salicylic Acid Cleanser that provides high fit levels for oily, acne-prone, and combination skin. Reviewers note that The INKEY List excels in acne clearing and blemish control compared to Clarins.

Which is more affordable, Clarins or The INKEY List?

The INKEY List is more affordable than Clarins, as the products on this page highlight affordable price and value.

Between Clarins and The INKEY List, which brand is better suited for dry sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is better suited for dry sensitive skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Clarins and offering fragrance-free formulas. Topical hyaluronic acid, a key ingredient found in the products on this page, helps improve skin quality and hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

How do the fragrance options compare between Clarins and The INKEY List products?

The products on this page show that Clarins includes fragrance in almost all of its formulas, whereas every product from The INKEY List lists no fragrance.

Which brand performs better when it comes to texture smoothing and exfoliation?

The INKEY List performs better when it comes to texture smoothing and exfoliation compared to Clarins. Lovi indicates that the products on this page for this category help refine skin texture effectively.

Clarins or The INKEY List for oily skin?

For oily skin, The INKEY List is a better choice with a High routine fit, whereas Clarins has an Average fit on the products on this page. Reviewers note that The INKEY List offers lightweight, fast-absorbing moisturizers and better acne clearing and blemish control.

Clarins or The INKEY List: which moisturizer is better?

The INKEY List offers superior routines for dry skin and better overall value with hydrating moisturizers like Polyglutamic Acid Serum and Omega Water Cream, whereas Clarins focuses on luxurious textures and botanical ingredients at a higher price point. Hyaluronic acid and related compounds help improve skin quality and hydration according to clinical studies.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

Clarins or The INKEY List for sensitive skin?

Both brands are a good choice for sensitive skin, but The INKEY List offers a Superior fit level while Clarins provides a High fit level. The INKEY List features fragrance-free formulas across the products on this page, whereas Clarins incorporates fragrance in many of its items.

Clarins or The INKEY List for acne-prone skin?

The INKEY List is a better choice for acne-prone skin, offering a High routine fit compared to Clarins's Average fit level.

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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