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La Roche-Posay vs Clarins

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

La Roche-Posay and Clarins are two respected French skincare brands that cater to distinct complexions with their specialized formulations. La Roche-Posay is loved for its nourishing serums, rich moisturizers, gentle cleansers, and targeted eye products formulated with glycerin, soothing thermal water, and niacinamide, suiting mature skin and skin with dark spots best. Conversely, Clarins is loved for its luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, soothing eye products, and gentle toners, which are thoughtfully enriched with nourishing shea and hydrating squalane to suit sensitive skin and dry sensitive skin best. While both brands offer standout treatments like targeted daily creams and specialized cleansers for various concerns, they differ primarily in their core active ingredients and the specific skin types they best accommodate.

La Roche-Posay is a French skincare brand founded in 1975 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 1989.

laroche-posay.com.aufr.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 La Roche-Posay and Clarins products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular La Roche-Posay vs Clarins products

People Say

La Roche-PosayClarins
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer”
    • “skin feels plump — La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum”
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Gentle on Sensitive Skin Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Great retinol for beginners — La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum”
    • “Only cream that doesn't sting — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Eye Cream”
    • “Calmed my skin after a chemical peel — La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water”
    • “no irritation for contact wearers — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Fast Absorption and Lightweight Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
    • “absorbs quickly without grease — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “absorbs in seconds — La Roche-Posay Anthelios”
  • Skin Texture and Smoothing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin feels smoother — La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum”
    • “softens forehead lines — La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum”
    • “neck feels smoother — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “makes skin silky smooth — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”
  • Brightening and Dark Spots 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”
    • “radiant youthful glow — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
    • “skin looks brighter — La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Serum”
  • Texture and Quality Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “melting non-oily texture — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “Creamy texture feels luxurious upon application — Clarins Extra-Firming Day Cream”
    • “feels like silk — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “lightweight and absorbs quickly — La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Serum”
  • Price and Value Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for the size — La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum”
    • “Too expensive for the size — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Eye Cream”
    • “Tube is tiny for the price — La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Gel B5”
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Fragrance and Scent Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “scent is awful — La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Serum”
    • “overwhelming floral smell — La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum”
    • “Smells like cheap fragrance — La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Packaging and Pump Issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “pump stops working — La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+M Triple Repair Moisturizing Cream”
    • “Pump stopped working halfway — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Eye Cream”
    • “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “dispenses too much — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
  • Product Pilling and Texture Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “sat on top of skin — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “Described as having a sticky, gel-like texture. — Clarins Beauty Flash Balm”
    • “leaves a sticky film — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”
    • “pills like crazy — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer”

La Roche-Posay vs Clarins routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

La Roche-Posay vs Clarins routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

La Roche-Posay vs Clarins routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

La Roche-Posay or Clarins: which is better?

La Roche-Posay is generally better because the products on this page offer a High routine fit across almost all skin types, including dry, oily, and acne-prone skin, whereas Clarins achieves an Average fit for those skin types. Additionally, La Roche-Posay features significantly more fragrance-free options, as 21 of its 35 products list no fragrance compared to only 1 of 24 Clarins products.

What is the difference between La Roche-Posay and Clarins?

La Roche-Posay is better for sensitive and acne-prone skin with fragrance-free options, while Clarins is preferred for luxurious textures, brightening, and fast absorption. Both brands offer high routine fit levels for mature skin, sensitive skin, and skin with dark spots.

La Roche-Posay or Clarins for dry skin?

La Roche-Posay is better suited for dry skin, as the products on this page offer a High routine fit compared to the Average fit of Clarins. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

La Roche-Posay or Clarins: which cleanser is better?

La Roche-Posay helps provide a better option for most skin types on this page, as its cleansers achieve High fit levels for oily, acne-prone, and dry sensitive skin, whereas Clarins cleansers generally reach Average or Low fit levels for those same types. Reviewers also indicate that La Roche-Posay does better with price and value, while Clarins is noted for a high price point.

Which is more affordable, La Roche-Posay or Clarins?

La Roche-Posay is more affordable than Clarins, as price and value concerns are more frequently noted for Clarins while La Roche-Posay is rated better for price and value.

La Roche-Posay or Clarins: which has more fragrance-free products?

La Roche-Posay has more fragrance-free products on the page, with 21 of its 35 items listing no fragrance compared to only 1 of the 24 Clarins products.

La Roche-Posay or Clarins: which is better for brightening and dark spots?

Clarins is better for brightening and dark spots, as it does better in reviews for brightening and dark spots and the products on this page feature ingredients like vitamin E which helps with skin brightening. Meanwhile, La Roche-Posay is known for having a high fit level for skin with dark spots across many products on this page and includes ingredients like niacinamide which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

La Roche-Posay or Clarins for oily skin?

La Roche-Posay is a better fit for oily skin, offering High routine fit levels compared to Clarins's Average levels. The products on this page for La Roche-Posay include multiple specialized options like the Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser and Anthelios UVMune 400 Oil Control Fluid SPF 50+ that help manage oily skin.

La Roche-Posay or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?

La Roche-Posay is better for moisturizers because the products on this page achieve a High routine fit for dry skin, compared to an Average fit for Clarins. La Roche-Posay is also gentler on sensitive skin and features more fragrance-free options across its range.

La Roche-Posay or Clarins for sensitive skin?

Both brands offer High routine fit for sensitive skin, but La Roche-Posay may be preferred by shoppers concerned with fragrance since most products on this page list no fragrance, whereas almost all Clarins products on this page contain fragrance.

La Roche-Posay or Clarins for acne-prone skin?

La Roche-Posay is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering High routine fit compared to Clarins' Average level. The products on this page help manage breakouts and improve skin texture with key ingredients like niacinamide, which may help regulate pigmentation and support skin barrier functions.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

La Roche-Posay or Clarins for mature skin?

Both brands offer High routine fit for mature skin. La Roche-Posay helps address signs of aging with ingredients like retinol, while Clarins provides luxurious textures and formulas that reviewers frequently praise for hydration and glow.

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

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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