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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 two distinct skincare lines offering serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more. The Canadian brand centers its formulations around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry and oily acne-prone skin best, while the French brand uses nourishing shea and squalane to care for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Both brands differ in their founding heritage and targeted formulas, as the former utilizes specific acids and niacinamide for various concerns, whereas the latter relies on gentle daily creams and a signature serum.

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 · S$164.78 · 92% fitBuy Clarins routine · S$247.61 · 75% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Clarins routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · S$393.06 · 89% fitBuy Clarins routine · S$455.72 · 75% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Clarins routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · S$289.36 · 88% fitBuy Clarins routine · S$455.72 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Clarins: which is better?

The Ordinary provides better value and acne-control options, while Clarins excels in hydration, glow, and luxurious textures. For dry skin and mature skin routines, The Ordinary offers a Superior fit level, whereas Clarins offers a High fit level.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Clarins?

The Ordinary focuses on affordable, fragrance-free products that excel in value, acne control, and soothing care, whereas Clarins offers a more luxurious experience with a higher price point and strong fragrances while generally performing better in hydration and glow.

The Ordinary or Clarins for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Clarins offer great options for dry skin, with routines rated Superior and High respectively. The Ordinary stands out for its budget-friendly hydration and value, while Clarins is known for its luxurious, hydrating moisturizers.

The Ordinary or Clarins: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary is a better choice for cleansers because reviewers frequently note its affordability and great value, unlike Clarins which is largely associated with a high price point. The Ordinary also offers products on this page featuring fragrance-free formulas, whereas Clarins cleansers often contain added scent.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Clarins?

The Ordinary is more affordable, as reviewers often mention its affordable and great value serums, whereas Clarins has a frequently mentioned high price point.

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

The Ordinary offers more fragrance-free products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, only 1 of the 24 products on the Clarins page lists no fragrance.

Which brand is better for dark spots?

Both brands offer products with a High Lovi fit level for skin with dark spots. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppresses melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or Clarins for oily skin?

Both The Ordinary and Clarins offer a High routine fit for oily skin, but they differ significantly in cost and formulation. The Ordinary features fragrance-free products on this page and is often praised for being affordable and great for acne-clearing, while Clarins is known for its luxurious textures and glow-boosting moisturizers.

The Ordinary or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?

Both brands offer great moisturizers, but The Ordinary achieves a superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Clarins' high fit. The Ordinary products on this page list no fragrance, whereas almost all Clarins moisturizers contain fragrance.

The Ordinary or Clarins for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Clarins offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin. The products on this page by The Ordinary are completely fragrance-free, whereas almost all Clarins products contain fragrance.

The Ordinary or Clarins for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is often preferred for acne-prone skin because the products on this page offer better blemish control and value. Niacinamide helps reduce blemishes, while the formulations remain entirely fragrance-free to minimize irritation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The Ordinary or Clarins for mature skin?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for mature skin, whereas Clarins has a High fit on the products on this page.

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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