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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 distinct skincare brands offering a thoughtful range of serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners tailored for sensitive and dry sensitive skin. The Canadian brand centers its formulations around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to address specific concerns like acne, dark spots, and aging, while the French house relies on nourishing shea and squalane to comfort the complexion through luxurious creams and potent treatments. Ultimately, both options differ in their heritage and sensory experience, yet each meets delicate skin needs with precision and care.

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

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 814.57 · 90% fitBuy Clarins routine · SAR 1,448.55 · 73% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Clarins routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 867.55 · 92% fitBuy Clarins routine · SAR 1,548.77 · 71% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Clarins routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 981.41 · 92% fitBuy Clarins routine · SAR 1,389.25 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Clarins: which is better?

The Ordinary delivers better value and acne-fighting results across the products on this page, whereas Clarins focuses more on hydration and luxury textures. Both brands fit various skin types well, but The Ordinary achieves superior routine fit levels for dry, oily, and combination skin.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Clarins?

The Ordinary excels in value and acne care with fragrance-free formulas, whereas Clarins focuses on luxurious textures, hydration, and radiance despite often containing fragrance.

The Ordinary or Clarins for dry skin?

For dry skin, The Ordinary is the better choice because it achieves a Superior routine fit compared to Clarins and offers high-value, highly rated products like the Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA moisturizer. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin hydration and moisture retention.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Clarins: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary offers a better cleanser range, with products on this page rated as a High fit for dry, oily, combination, and sensitive skin types. Reviewers also highlight The Ordinary for providing better value and price compared to Clarins.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Clarins?

The Ordinary is more affordable, offering budget-friendly serums and great overall value compared to Clarins' higher price point.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, The Ordinary or Clarins?

The Ordinary offers more fragrance-free options, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas only one product on the Clarins page does.

How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between The Ordinary and Clarins?

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

Which brand performs better for glow and radiance according to review themes?

Clarins performs better for glow and radiance, as its moisturizers and serums are frequently noted by reviewers for delivering a glow-boosting and radiant finish.

The Ordinary or Clarins for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary provides a Superior routine fit, whereas Clarins offers an Average fit. The Ordinary is noted for better acne and blemish control, while Clarins reviewers more frequently mention a high price point and strong fragrance.

The Ordinary or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?

The Ordinary offers better moisturizers for hydration and value, while Clarins is known for luxurious textures and glow. Hyaluronic acid helps bind moisture to the skin, improving overall hydration.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Clarins for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both The Ordinary and Clarins are great choices, with Lovi giving The Ordinary a Superior fit and Clarins a High fit. Reviewers note that The Ordinary offers better soothing and calming benefits, while Clarins is praised for its hydrating and glowing serums.

The Ordinary or Clarins for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page, offering superior routine results compared to Clarins. Reviewers also rank The Ordinary higher for acne and blemish control.

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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