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Clinique vs Dr. Barbara Sturm

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

Clinique and Dr. Barbara Sturm are two esteemed skincare lines designed to nurture the complexion with thoughtful formulations. The American brand, established in 1968, features balancing moisturizers, serums, and makeup removers formulated with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and caffeine, making it ideal for dry sensitive and oily skin. Conversely, the German brand founded in 2014 offers gentle moisturizers, exfoliants, and serums built on advanced science to support sensitive, dry, and balanced skin. While both prioritize deep hydration and barrier support, they differ in their foundational approaches, ingredient combinations, and targeted solutions for specific skin concerns.

Clinique is an American skincare brand founded in 1968 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

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Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by Puig since 2024.

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This page compares some of the most popular Clinique and Dr. Barbara Sturm products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Clinique vs Dr. Barbara Sturm products

People Say

CliniqueDr. Barbara Sturm
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “skin feels soft and smooth — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “skin drank it up — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “skin feels softer — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
  • Smooth Skin and Fine Lines Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin texture is immediately more even — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “lines less visible — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
  • Gentle and Fragrance-Free Formula Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “No strong scent — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
  • Lightweight Texture and Fast Absorption Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “sinks in instantly — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
    • “Absorbs quickly without feeling sticky — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “sinks in immediately — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Oil Control and Morning Glow Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin looks brighter — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “healthy glow — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “keeps me matte — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
  • Exfoliation and Deep Cleansing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “gentle enough for everyday — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
    • “You will see the dirt with one wipe — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
    • “deep yet gentle cleanse — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
  • High Price and Value Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “quite pricey — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
    • “Expensive for cleanser — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “way too expensive — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Slow or Minimal Results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “didn't help dark circles — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “don't expect miracles overnight — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
    • “did not reduce facial redness in any way — Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream”
    • “did nothing — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Application and Consistency Issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Blurry vision after use — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “feels a bit heavy/greasy — Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream”
    • “hard to rinse — Clinique all about clean”
    • “pills under makeup — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Drying and Irritating Formula Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Made my skin super dry — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
    • “Face stung and became red — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
    • “face feels a bit tight — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “quite red after — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”

Questions and answers

Clinique or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which is better?

Clinique and Dr. Barbara Sturm each perform better in different areas, with Dr. Barbara Sturm taking the lead for smooth skin, fine lines, oil control, and morning glow, while Clinique delivers better lightweight texture and fast absorption. Both brands provide equal hydration, gentle and fragrance-free formulas, and effective exfoliation and deep cleansing.

What is the difference between Clinique and Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Clinique features a broader range of products with High and Superior Lovi fit levels for dry sensitive, oily, and mature skin, while Dr. Barbara Sturm offers fewer options focused on hydration, Vitamin C, and exfoliation. Reviewers note that Clinique excels in lightweight textures and fast absorption, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm performs better for oil control and smooth skin.

Clinique or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which moisturizer is better?

Clinique features a wider variety of moisturizers tailored to different skin concerns, such as the Smart Clinical Repair Lifting Face + Neck Cream which has a High fit level for dry skin. Shoppers often mention that Clinique moisturizers are hydrating and fast-absorbing.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Clinique or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Clinique is more affordable, though reviewers on the Lovi page frequently mention its high price point as well.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Clinique or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Reviewers note that Clinique products on this page sometimes cause breakouts. Dr. Barbara Sturm does not have reported breakouts in its reviews on this page.

Between Clinique and Dr. Barbara Sturm, which brand has been established longer and where are they based?

Clinique was founded earlier in 1968 in the United States, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm was established in 2014 in Germany.

Which of the two brands includes products that are fragrance-free across their entire page selection?

Both Clinique and Dr. Barbara Sturm include products that are fragrance-free across their entire page selection, as every single product listed for both brands contains no fragrance in its ingredients.

How do the skin types that Clinique fits best compare to Dr. Barbara Sturm according to their brand-focused routines?

According to the brand-focused routines on the page, Clinique fits best on dry sensitive skin, oily skin, and mature skin. In contrast, Dr. Barbara Sturm has no skin types listed as best fits on the page.

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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