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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 solutions for various complexions through serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners. While the Canadian brand focuses on science-backed staples like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to suit dry, sensitive, and acne-prone skin, the French brand relies on nourishing shea and squalane to comfort sensitive and mature types. Ultimately, the two differ in their heritage and formulation approach, providing either clinical ingredient-led regimens or luxurious botanical treatments.

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

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The Ordinary vs Clarins routines for oily skin

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The Ordinary vs Clarins routines for combination skin

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Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Clarins: which is better?

The Ordinary is generally better for value, acne, and soothing, while Clarins is better for hydration and glow. Furthermore, every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance, whereas 23 of 24 Clarins products list fragrance.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Clarins?

The Ordinary offers more affordable, fragrance-free products that excel in value, acne control, and soothing, whereas Clarins features more luxurious, heavily scented formulations that provide superior hydration and radiance. Reviewers note that The Ordinary fits dry, sensitive, and dark spot-prone skin best, while Clarins is favored for sensitive, dry sensitive, and mature skin.

The Ordinary or Clarins for dry skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for dry skin, offering Superior routine fit compared to Clarins' High fit. The products on this page from The Ordinary provide key ingredients like hyaluronic acid to help maintain moisture.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Clarins: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers better cleansers for value and acne care, while the products on this page for Clarins focus more on luxurious textures and hydration. Reviewers find that The Ordinary cleansers are more affordable, whereas Clarins options provide a higher price point.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Clarins?

The Ordinary is more affordable, offering products on this page that reviewers often note for being affordable and great value serums. In contrast, reviewers mostly mention Clarins for having a high price point.

Do The Ordinary products contain fragrance?

Every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, making the brand a great pick for shoppers wanting to avoid scents.

Which brand performs better for hydration and moisture?

Clarins performs better for hydration and moisture, offering luxurious textures and hydrating moisturizers.

What are the founding years and countries of origin for The Ordinary and Clarins?

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016, whereas Clarins was founded in France in 1954.

The Ordinary or Clarins for oily skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for oily skin, offering superior routine fit compared to Clarins' average rating on this page. Reviewers note that products on this page from The Ordinary provide great value and effective acne-clearing serums.

The Ordinary or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?

The Ordinary offers better moisturizers for dry and sensitive skin on the products on this page, with superior routine fit levels. Niacinamide helps reduce pigmentation, while hyaluronic acid and glycerin help hydrate the skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Drug Delivery, 2017

The Ordinary or Clarins for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Clarins' High fit. Additionally, every product on The Ordinary's page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas almost all Clarins products contain fragrance.

The Ordinary or Clarins for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering superior routine performance compared to Clarins' average fit. The products on this page from The Ordinary also provide acne-clearing serums.

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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