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Clarins vs MAC

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

Clarins and MAC are respected beauty brands originating from France and Canada, respectively. Clarins offers nourishing moisturizers, serums, eye products, and toners enriched with shea and squalane, suiting sensitive and acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, MAC provides reliable daily moisturizers and makeup removers crafted for balanced skin. While both rely on gentle formulations, the first brand specializes in targeted botanical care for various concerns, whereas the second focuses on a measured foundation for everyday maintenance.

Clarins is a French skincare brand founded in 1954 and owned by Famille C (Groupe Clarins).

groupeclarins.comen.wikipedia.orghappi.com

MAC is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

elcompanies.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Clarins vs MAC products

People Say

ClarinsMAC
  • Hydration and Glow Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • High Price Point Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “too expensive for results — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “A bit expensive — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”

Questions and answers

Clarins or MAC: which is better?

Clarins offers a much wider range of products on this page than MAC, with options that achieve a Superior fit for mature and dry skin. Both brands share common drawbacks like a high price point.

What is the difference between Clarins and MAC?

Clarins offers a much larger variety of skincare products on this page compared to MAC, with options tailored for sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin. Reviewers often mention that both brands share a high price point.

Clarins or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

Clarins offers a much wider range of moisturizers with varying fit levels, such as the Extra-Firming Day Cream achieving a Superior fit for mature and sensitive skin, whereas MAC features fewer options like the Hyper Real Serumizer with an average fit across most skin types.

Which is more affordable, Clarins or MAC?

Both Clarins and MAC are noted for a high price point among the products on this page, meaning neither brand is more affordable.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Clarins or MAC?

When it comes to breakouts, neither brand stands out as better since both share similar acne-related drawbacks noted by reviewers, though Clarins offers several products with low or warning fit levels for acne-prone skin.

Between Clarins and MAC, which brand was founded earlier and in which country?

Clarins was founded earlier, in 1954 in France, while MAC was founded in 1984 in Canada.

How many products listed for Clarins and MAC contain fragrance?

All 24 of the products listed for Clarins on this page contain fragrance, except for 1 product. Meanwhile, all 3 of the products listed for MAC on this page contain fragrance.

What are the main review criticisms mentioned for Clarins skincare products?

Reviewers note a high price point for the products on this page from Clarins, alongside concerns about strong fragrance, a lack of dramatic or subtle results, and pump or packaging design issues.

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?

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