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Clinique vs Elemis

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

Clinique and Elemis are established skincare brands from America and Britain that offer thoughtful ranges of moisturizers, serums, cleansers, and eye products. The American brand combines hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and caffeine to suit dry and oily skin, while the British brand relies on glycerin and shea to best support dry, balanced, and sensitive skin. Both lines address specific concerns like acne, dark spots, and aging through targeted peels and creams. Ultimately, they differ in their heritage and precise active ingredients, balancing moisture and controlling oil or delivering gentle, deep hydration.

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

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.combusinesswire.comglossy.co

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 Clinique and Elemis products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Clinique vs Elemis products

People Say

CliniqueElemis
  • Hydration and Plumping Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “skin feels soft and smooth — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Sensitivity and Gentle Formula Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “No stinging eyes — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “keeps the redness at bay — Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “sinks in instantly — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
    • “Absorbs quickly without feeling sticky — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Smoother Skin Texture Sometimes 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”
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “skin feels baby-soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
  • Makeup Compatibility Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “foundation glides on — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “holds concealer in place — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “perfect primer base — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
    • “Sits nicely under make up... perfect base. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Spa-Like or Pleasant Scent Not 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”
  • High Price Point Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “quite pricey — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
    • “Expensive for cleanser — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Causes Breakouts Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “terrible spots — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “clogged my pores — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “Woke up with whiteheads on my chin — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
  • Strong Fragrance Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”

Clinique vs Elemis moisturizers

Questions and answers

Clinique or Elemis: which is better?

Clinique is better for sensitive and fragrance-free skincare, as every product on the page lists no fragrance and Lovi rates its cleansers and soothing creams with a High fit for sensitive skin. Elemis is often noted for a spa-like scent and glowing textures, but 18 of its 22 products list fragrance, which may cause skin irritation for some users.

What is the difference between Clinique and Elemis?

Clinique is better for sensitivity and gentle formulas because every product on this page lists no fragrance, whereas Elemis often includes fragrance and may cause skin irritation. Additionally, Clinique provides more lightweight and fast-absorbing moisturizers, while Elemis is known for offering a spa-like or pleasant scent.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2013

Clinique or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

Clinique is better for sensitive skin because its cleansers, such as the Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser, achieve a High fit level for sensitive and dry sensitive skin, whereas Elemis has more reports of skin irritation. Lovi gives Clinique's cleansers a better rating for gentle formulations.

Which is more affordable, Clinique or Elemis?

Clinique is more affordable, as reviewers often mention a high price point for both brands while Clinique ranks better on pricing concerns. The products on this page for both brands feature hydrating moisturizers that help improve skin quality.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which causes fewer breakouts, Clinique or Elemis?

Clinique causes fewer breakouts than Elemis, as reviewer feedback for Elemis notes it sometimes causes breakouts while Clinique has fewer reports in this category. Lovi fit levels for acne-prone skin on the products on this page also tend to be slightly more favorable for Clinique overall.

Clinique or Elemis: which brand has more fragrance-free products?

Clinique has more fragrance-free products, as every single product on the Clinique page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas only 4 of the 22 products on the Elemis page are fragrance-free.

Which brand is better for sensitive skin, Clinique or Elemis?

Clinique is better for sensitive skin because the products on this page list no fragrance and review themes show Clinique does better for sensitivity and gentle formula. Elemis features more fragrance and may cause skin irritation in some reviewers.

Clinique or Elemis: which brand is older and where was it founded?

Clinique is older, having been founded in 1968 in the United States, while Elemis was founded later in 1989 in the United Kingdom.

Clinique or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

Clinique is better for lightweight, hydrating, and fragrance-free moisturizers, whereas Elemis offers luxurious, smoothing formulas that often contain fragrance. Reviewers note that Clinique has hydrating and oil-controlling moisturizers, while Elemis provides luxurious textures and radiant glow. For example, the Lovi fit level for dry skin is High for Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream and Average for Clinique moisture surge.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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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