Clarins vs Elemis
Clarins and Elemis are esteemed European skincare houses that offer nourishing moisturizers, serums, toners, and more. The French brand suits sensitive and acne-prone skin best with gentle formulations featuring shea and squalane, while the British brand favors dry, balanced, and sensitive skin through deeply hydrating blends of glycerin and shea. Ultimately, the two differ in their founding heritages, specific key ingredients, and tailored standout treatments for unique skin concerns.
Clarins is a French skincare brand founded in 1954 and owned by Famille C (Groupe Clarins).
groupeclarins.comen.wikipedia.orghappi.com
Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.
elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org
This page compares some of the most popular Clarins and Elemis products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Clarins vs Elemis products
People Say
Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
- “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
- “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
- “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
- “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
- “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
Glow and Radiance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “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”
- “healthy glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
Anti-Aging and Firming Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “neck feels smoother — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
- “visibly tighter, lifted skin — Clarins Super Restorative Night Cream”
- “plumped my fine lines — Clarins Double Serum”
- “My neck doesn't sag... plumps my skin to look more youthful. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
Pleasant Scent Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “smells like a spa — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “smells like a holiday — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
- “smells like a tropical cocktail — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
- “smells luxurious — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
Cleansing and Exfoliation Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “melts waterproof mascara — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
- “non-stripping formula — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
- “removes every last trace — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”
High Price Point Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
- “too expensive for results — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
- “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “very expensive — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
Strong Fragrance and Scent Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “smell is too strong — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “Only small negative is the smell is quite strong. — Elemis Superfood Facial Oil”
- “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
Packaging Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
- “jar looks half empty — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
- “tube feels half empty — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
- “pump broke quickly — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
- “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
Skin Irritation and Breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “caused cystic acne — Clarins Double Serum”
- “caused redness — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
- “Developed milia and closed comedones. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “caused cystic acne — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
Clarins vs Elemis moisturizers
Questions and answers
Clarins or Elemis: which is better?
Clarins and Elemis perform similarly for texture, absorption, hydration, and price, but Clarins is noted for better glow, radiance, anti-aging, and firming results. Both brands frequently feature hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid to help improve skin quality and signs of aging.
What is the difference between Clarins and Elemis?
When it comes to skin care, Clarins offers better results for anti-aging and glow, while Elemis stands out for cleansing and exfoliation.
Clarins or Elemis: which cleanser is better?
Elemis is better for cleansing and exfoliation among the products on this page. Elemis features options like the Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash and Superfood Glow Cleansing Butter, which reviewers highlight for effective cleansing.
Which is more affordable, Clarins or Elemis?
Both Clarins and Elemis feature a high price point among the products on this page, so neither brand is more affordable.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Clarins or Elemis?
Both Clarins and Elemis perform equally well regarding skin irritation and breakouts, with reviewers noting similar experiences for both brands on the products on this page.
Between Clarins and Elemis, which brand offers better results for anti-aging and firming?
Clarins offers better results for anti-aging and firming according to reviewers. The products on this page help deliver smoother skin and target signs of aging.
Which brand has more products that list no fragrance, Clarins or Elemis?
Elemis has more products that list no fragrance than Clarins, with 4 out of 22 products having no fragrance compared to only 1 out of 24 products for Clarins.
How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between Clarins and Elemis?
Clarins was founded in France in 1954, while Elemis was established in the United Kingdom in 1989.
Clarins or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?
When it comes to moisturizers, Clarins and Elemis are quite evenly matched for hydration and moisture. However, the products on this page show that Clarins does better for glow, radiance, anti-aging, and firming.
Research behind their key ingredients
The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer
The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review
Bacterial cellulose membranes as drug delivery systems: an in vivo skin compatibility study
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
Microneedling by dermapen and glycolic acid peel for the treatment of acne scars: Comparative study
Topical beta-carotene protects against infra-red-light-induced free radicals
Mechanism of action and clinical benefits of colloidal oatmeal for dermatologic practice
Colloidal Oatmeal <em>(Avena Sativa)</em> Improves Skin Barrier Through Multi-Therapy Activity
A Rose Extract Protects the Skin against Stress Mediators: A Potential Role of Olfactory Receptors
Skin improvement and stability of Echinacea purpurea dermatological formulations
The impacts of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in facial cleanser on facial skin microbiome and lipidome
Comparative measurement of hydration effects of herbal moisturizers
Topical Almond Oil for Prevention of Pressure Injuries: A Single-Blinded Comparison Study
Skin recovery by Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract: Redox control of Nrf2 signaling
Modulating effects of oatmeal extracts in the sodium lauryl sulfate skin irritancy model
Moisturizing effect of stable cream containing Crocus sativus extracts
Formulation and evaluation of exotic fat based cosmeceuticals for skin repair
Nanocomplex of quaternized cyclodextrin grafted chitosan and hyaluronic acid for a skin delivery
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Effects of fermented tea seed oil on the skin lipid barrier and microbiome of sensitive skin
Microcirculation-Promoting Effect of Escin on Cutaneous Tissue via Gsk3β Down-Regulation
Saccharide isomerate ameliorates cosmetic scalp conditions in a Chinese study population
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
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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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