Clarins vs Medik8
Clarins and Medik8 are established skincare houses representing distinct botanical and scientific heritages. The French pioneer is celebrated for luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, soothing eye products, and gentle toners enriched with nourishing shea and hydrating squalane, while the British brand focuses on serums, moisturizers, eye products, toners, and more built around hyaluronic acid. Sensitive and dry sensitive skin types respond best to the former, whereas the latter suits dry and dry sensitive skin best. While both cater to complexions needing targeted care, they differ through distinct formulations designed to protect and renew.
Clarins is a French skincare brand founded in 1954 and owned by Famille C (Groupe Clarins).
groupeclarins.comen.wikipedia.orghappi.com
Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.
loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com
This page compares some of the most popular Clarins and Medik8 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Clarins vs Medik8 products
People Say
Hydration and glow Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
- “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
- “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
- “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
Pleasant scent Sometimes NotedNot noted
- “smells luxurious — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
- “smells luxurious — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
- “smells like a spa — Clarins Multi-Active Nuit”
High price point Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
- “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
- “very expensive for amount — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
- “hefty price tag — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
- “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
Subtle or underwhelming results Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “didn't see a lift — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
- “no change in circles — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
- “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
- “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
Clarins vs Medik8 routines for dry skin
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Cleanser
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 297.00
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Moisturizer
Hydr8 B5 Intense
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 304.00
-
SPF
d'Alba Piedmont Waterfull Mild Sunscreen
Morning
SAR 75.00
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Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
SAR 65.11
-
Cleansing Toner
Press & Glow
Evening
SAR 190.36
-
Serum or Treatment
Bakuchiol Peptides
Evening · Once a week
SAR 321.00
-
Enzyme Powder
FANCL Facial Washing Powder
Once a week
SAR 130.30
-
Nourishing Mask
Mediheal Watermide Essential Mask
Once a week
SAR 234.73
-
Cleanser
Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 154.14
-
Hydrating Toner
Hydrating Toning Lotion
Morning
SAR 141.00
-
Moisturizer
Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 203.49
-
SPF
d'Alba Piedmont Waterfull Mild Sunscreen
Morning
SAR 75.00
-
Pre-Cleanser
Total Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
SAR 180.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Purifying Toning Lotion
Evening
SAR 141.00
- Serum or Treatment BRIGHT PLUS Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
FANCL Facial Washing Powder
Once a week
SAR 130.30
-
Nourishing Mask
Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask
Once a week
SAR 423.62
Buy Medik8 routine · SAR 1,617.50 · 95% fit
Buy Clarins routine · SAR 1,448.55 · 73% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
Clarins vs Medik8 routines for oily skin
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Cleanser
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 36.33
-
Hydrating Toner
Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
Morning · Once a week
SAR 53.04
-
Moisturizer
Hydr8 B5 Intense
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 304.00
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
SAR 46.95
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
SAR 245.95
-
Cleansing Toner
Press & Glow
Evening
SAR 190.36
-
Serum or Treatment
Oxy-R Peptides
Evening · Once a week
SAR 399.70
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
SAR 157.51
-
Cleansing Mask
Goldfaden MD Facial Detox Mask
Once a week
SAR 328.29
-
Cleanser
Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 154.14
-
Hydrating Toner
Hydrating Toning Lotion
Morning · Once a week
SAR 141.00
-
Moisturizer
Double Serum Light Texture
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 399.88
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
SAR 46.95
-
Pre-Cleanser
Total Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
SAR 180.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Purifying Toning Lotion
Evening
SAR 141.00
- Serum or Treatment BRIGHT PLUS Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
SAR 157.51
-
Cleansing Mask
Goldfaden MD Facial Detox Mask
Once a week
SAR 328.29
Buy Medik8 routine · SAR 1,762.13 · 89% fit
Buy Clarins routine · SAR 1,548.77 · 71% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
Clarins vs Medik8 routines for combination skin
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Cleanser
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 191.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
SAR 166.90
-
Moisturizer
Hydr8 B5 Intense
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 304.00
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
SAR 46.95
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
SAR 245.95
-
Cleansing Toner
Press & Glow
Evening
SAR 190.36
-
Serum or Treatment
Oxy-R Peptides
Evening · Once a week
SAR 399.70
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
SAR 157.51
-
Cleansing Mask
KORA Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask
Once a week
SAR 168.77
-
Cleanser
Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 154.14
-
Hydrating Toner
Hydrating Toning Lotion
Morning · Once a week
SAR 141.00
-
Moisturizer
Double Serum Light Texture
Morning · Evening · Once a week
SAR 399.88
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
SAR 46.95
-
Pre-Cleanser
Total Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
SAR 180.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Purifying Toning Lotion
Evening
SAR 141.00
- Serum or Treatment BRIGHT PLUS Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
SAR 157.51
-
Cleansing Mask
KORA Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask
Once a week
SAR 168.77
Buy Medik8 routine · SAR 1,871.14 · 93% fit
Buy Clarins routine · SAR 1,389.25 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
Questions and answers
Clarins or Medik8: which is better?
Medik8 is generally better for a wider range of skin types, offering Superior routine fit for dry skin, combination skin, sensitive skin, and acne-prone skin compared to Clarins. Both brands feature hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.
What is the difference between Clarins and Medik8?
Clarins has a Superior routine fit for mature skin and skin with dark spots, while Medik8 achieves a Superior routine fit for dry skin, dry sensitive skin, and sensitive skin. Both brands offer hydrating formulas, but Clarins often uses strong fragrance across its products on this page compared to Medik8.
Clarins or Medik8 for dry skin?
Medik8 is a better fit than Clarins for dry skin, as the products on this page offer a Superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Clarins' Average fit level. Topical hyaluronic acid, a key ingredient featured across Medik8 products, helps provide deep hydration and skin plumping.
Clarins or Medik8: which cleanser is better?
Medik8 is better for cleansers, as its Surface Radiance Cleanse has a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, oily acne-prone skin, and skin with dark spots, while Clarins cleansers have Average or Low fit levels for those skin types.
Which is more affordable, Clarins or Medik8?
Medik8 is more frequently noted by reviewers for a high price point compared to Clarins.
Clarins or Medik8: which brand has more fragrance-free products?
Medik8 has more fragrance-free products on this page, as 11 of its 12 items list no fragrance compared to only 1 of the 24 Clarins products.
Which brand was founded earlier, Clarins or Medik8?
Clarins was founded earlier than Medik8, having started in France in 1954 compared to Medik8 which was founded in the United Kingdom in 2009.
Clarins or Medik8: which brand uses more key ingredients like Shea butter and Oat?
Clarins uses more key ingredients like shea butter and oat across the products on this page, whereas Medik8 relies primarily on hyaluronic acid. Topical application of ingredients like hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and hydration.
Clarins or Medik8 for oily skin?
Medik8 is a better fit for oily skin, earning a High Lovi routine fit level compared to Clarins's Average level. Medik8 helps deliver deep hydration and a smoother texture without heavy oils.
Clarins or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?
Medik8 is the better choice for moisturizers, as Lovi rates its dry-skin routine as Superior compared to Clarins' Average level. Medik8 also features deeply hydrating and plumping products on this page, such as Hydr8 B5 Intense, which helps improve skin texture and moisture levels.
Clarins or Medik8 for sensitive skin?
Medik8 has a Superior fit level for sensitive skin, whereas Clarins has a High fit level.
Clarins or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?
For acne-prone skin, Medik8 is a better fit with a Superior routine level, whereas Clarins has a High level. Medik8 helps deliver targeted anti-aging and brightening benefits, while topical hyaluronic acid helps improve overall skin quality.
Research behind their key ingredients
The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review
Topical anti-inflammatory effects of isorhamnetin glycosides isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Apigenin inhibits UVA-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and prevents signs of skin aging in vivo
Vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin
Effects of glyceryl glucoside on AQP3 expression, barrier function and hydration of human skin
Mechanism of action and clinical benefits of colloidal oatmeal for dermatologic practice
A comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne
Colloidal Oatmeal <em>(Avena Sativa)</em> Improves Skin Barrier Through Multi-Therapy Activity
Evaluation of moisturizing and irritation potential of sacha inchi oil
Skin improvement and stability of Echinacea purpurea dermatological formulations
The impacts of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in facial cleanser on facial skin microbiome and lipidome
Modulating effects of oatmeal extracts in the sodium lauryl sulfate skin irritancy model
Moisturizing effect of stable cream containing Crocus sativus extracts
The anti wrinkle efficacy of synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) in Chinese Subjects
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Microcirculation-Promoting Effect of Escin on Cutaneous Tissue via Gsk3β Down-Regulation
Saccharide isomerate ameliorates cosmetic scalp conditions in a Chinese study population
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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