🇸🇬Singapore

Cetaphil vs Clinique

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

Cetaphil and Clinique are American skincare brands known for their thoughtful ranges of cleansers, moisturizers, serums, sunscreens, makeup removers, and eye products formulated with nourishing ingredients like glycerin, niacinamide, panthenol, and hyaluronic acid. Cetaphil suits combination skin and acne-prone skin best, whereas Clinique suits dry skin and oily skin best, owing to compositions that balance moisture and control oil. Through core ingredients that increase hydration, decrease hyperpigmentation, and improve aging signs, both provide proven benefits for targeted concerns like acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin.

Cetaphil is an American skincare brand founded in 1947 and owned by Galderma Group AG.

en.wikipedia.orgcetaphil.co.uk

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

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.combusinesswire.comglossy.co

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

Popular Cetaphil vs Clinique products

People Say

CetaphilClinique
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “The only thing my reactive skin tolerates. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “No breakouts since switching to this. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “cleans without stripping — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
  • Hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “cleared up flaky skin — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “healed my dry patches — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft, not tight. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Absorbs quickly into skin without residue — Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “sinks in instantly — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
  • Works well under makeup Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “holds concealer in place — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “perfect primer base — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
    • “Layers really well under makeup — Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion”
  • Smoother skin and texture improvement Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
    • “leaves face porcelain smooth — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
    • “Skin looks smoother and even-toned — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
    • “Skin felt softer after one use — Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser”
  • Gentle exfoliation Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “gentle enough for everyday — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
    • “You will see the dirt with one wipe — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
    • “Micro-fine granules don't irritate — Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub”
  • Lack of lather or unusual texture Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “hard to rinse off — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
    • “Left an oily film on my T-zone — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “feels a bit sticky — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “Miss the bubbles, feels like washing with lotion. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
  • Unpleasant scent or chemical smell Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Smells like nail polish remover — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
    • “Smells like old oil — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “Has a weird plastic-like smell — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “Overpowering masking fragrance — Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar”
  • High price point Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “expensive for drugstore — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”

Cetaphil vs Clinique routines for dry skin

Buy Clinique routine · S$253.28 · 95% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · S$257.68 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Cetaphil vs Clinique routines for oily skin

Buy Clinique routine · S$486.90 · 94% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · S$330.00 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Cetaphil vs Clinique routines for combination skin

Buy Clinique routine · S$382.80 · 94% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · S$348.51 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Cetaphil or Clinique: which is better?

Cetaphil is better for gentle, budget-friendly hydration, while Clinique is often preferred for specialized texture improvement and makeup compatibility.

What is the difference between Cetaphil and Clinique?

Cetaphil is generally gentler on sensitive skin and offers more affordable hydration, whereas Clinique often excels at smoothing texture, providing effective makeup bases, and offering specialized exfoliants.

Cetaphil or Clinique for dry skin?

Both brands offer solid options for dry skin, though Cetaphil's routine fit is rated High and Clinique's routine fit is rated Superior. Cetaphil features products like the Rich Hydrating Night Cream which provides Superior fit for dry skin, while Clinique relies on key ingredients like hyaluronic acid to help maintain moisture.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Cetaphil or Clinique: which cleanser is better?

Cetaphil is better for cleansers overall, as reviewers on the products on this page mostly mention its cleansers as gentle and non-stripping. In comparison, Clinique reviewers note issues such as a lack of lather or unusual texture.

Which is more affordable, Cetaphil or Clinique?

Cetaphil is more affordable than Clinique, as high price point is a noted drawback for Clinique while Cetaphil offers better affordability.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Cetaphil or Clinique?

Cetaphil and Clinique are both nearly fragrance-free on this page, as Clinique lists no fragrance in any of its products and Cetaphil does so in 26 of its 27 products.

How do the founding years and parent companies of Cetaphil and Clinique compare?

Cetaphil was founded in the United States in 1947 and is owned by Galderma Group AG, whereas Clinique was founded in the United States in 1968 and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Which brand performs better when it comes to gentle on sensitive skin and hydration?

Cetaphil performs better than Clinique for being gentle on sensitive skin and providing hydration, as reviewers mostly note its gentle cleansers and hydrating moisturizers.

Cetaphil or Clinique for oily skin?

Both brands offer products that help with oily skin, but Clinique has a superior routine fit overall on this page. Reviewers report that Clinique provides oil-controlling and smoothing moisturizers, while Lovi rates the routine fit for oily skin as Superior.

Cetaphil or Clinique: which moisturizer is better?

Both Cetaphil and Clinique offer effective moisturizers, with Cetaphil often noted for providing gentle hydration and Clinique recognized for lightweight, fast-absorbing formulas. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging in moisturizers from both brands.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Cetaphil or Clinique for sensitive skin?

Both Cetaphil and Clinique are suitable choices for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates the routine fit for sensitive skin as High for Cetaphil and Superior for Clinique. Reviewers note that Cetaphil performs better for being gentle on sensitive skin.

Cetaphil or Clinique for acne-prone skin?

Both brands offer products for acne-prone skin, but Cetaphil is rated High for overall routine fit compared to Clinique. Cetaphil features key ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide that help support blemish-prone complexions.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play