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Cetaphil vs Clarins

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

Cetaphil and Clarins are renowned skincare brands established in America and France, respectively, with the former known for its cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and sunscreens featuring glycerin, niacinamide, and panthenol, and the latter celebrated for its luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, soothing eye products, and gentle toners enriched with shea and squalane. While the American brand's gentle formulations suit combination and sensitive skin best, the French brand excels in nurturing sensitive and dry sensitive skin. Both lines address specific concerns through targeted treatments, differing primarily in their geographic heritage, specific ingredient profiles, and overall sensory experiences.

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

en.wikipedia.orgcetaphil.co.uk

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

Popular Cetaphil vs Clarins products

People Say

CetaphilClarins
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “cleared up flaky skin — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “healed my dry patches — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Gentle for Sensitive Skin Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “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”
    • “no irritation for contact wearers — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Non-Greasy Absorption Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Absorbs quickly into skin without residue — Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion”
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
  • Smoother Skin and Complexion Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Skin felt softer after one use — Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser”
    • “Skin feels instantly softer — Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub”
    • “neck feels smoother — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “makes skin silky smooth — Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion”
  • Awakening and Radiance Effect Not 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”
  • Luxurious Texture Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “melting non-oily texture — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “Creamy texture feels luxurious upon application — Clarins Extra-Firming Day Cream”
    • “feels like silk — Clarins Double Serum”
  • High Price Point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for drugstore — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Scent Complaints Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Overpowering masking fragrance — Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar”
    • “Scent is overwhelmingly artificial. — Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser”
    • “smells like masking fragrance — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • Packaging Issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “hate dipping fingers in — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “wish it had a pump — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Lack of Lather and Texture Issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “sat on top of skin — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “made my face burn — Clarins Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask”
    • “Described as having a sticky, gel-like texture. — Clarins Beauty Flash Balm”
    • “Miss the bubbles, feels like washing with lotion. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”

Cetaphil vs Clarins routines for dry skin

Buy Cetaphil routine · £92.66 · 83% fitBuy Clarins routine · £170.89 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Cetaphil vs Clarins routines for oily skin

Buy Cetaphil routine · £191.77 · 84% fitBuy Clarins routine · £249.57 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Cetaphil vs Clarins routines for combination skin

Buy Cetaphil routine · £172.93 · 88% fitBuy Clarins routine · £201.99 · 73% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Cetaphil or Clarins: which is better?

Cetaphil is better for oily and combination skin with its High fit levels, whereas both brands offer an equal High fit for dry, sensitive, acne-prone, mature, and other skin types. Cetaphil is generally more affordable and fragrance-free across the products on this page, while Clarins is often noted for its luxurious textures and radiance effects.

What is the difference between Cetaphil and Clarins?

Cetaphil is generally better suited for oily and combination skin with a high routine fit, whereas Clarins focuses more on luxury textures and an awakening radiance effect. Reviewers note that Cetaphil offers gentle, non-stripping cleansers while Clarins provides luxurious textures, though Clarins products frequently come with a higher price point and strong fragrance compared to Cetaphil's largely fragrance-free range.

Cetaphil or Clarins for dry skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for dry skin. Cetaphil features mostly fragrance-free products on this page, while Clarins is known for its luxurious textures.

Cetaphil or Clarins: which cleanser is better?

Both brands offer cleansers on this page, but Cetaphil is generally better for sensitive skin according to the review themes. Cetaphil features gentle, non-stripping cleansers, whereas Clarins cleansers sometimes receive notes on texture issues.

Which is more affordable, Cetaphil or Clarins?

Cetaphil is more affordable than Clarins, as high price point is a widely mentioned drawback for Clarins products on this page.

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

Cetaphil has more fragrance-free products on the page, with 26 out of 27 products listing no fragrance, compared to only 1 out of 24 for Clarins.

Cetaphil or Clarins for oily skin?

Cetaphil is the better choice for oily skin, offering a High routine fit compared to Clarins' Average fit. The products on this page from Cetaphil are largely fragrance-free, whereas almost all Clarins products contain fragrance.

Cetaphil or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?

Cetaphil is better for simple, fragrance-free hydration, whereas Clarins offers more luxurious, glowing textures that often come with a strong fragrance. Both brands feature high or average fit levels for moisturizers depending on your specific skin type.

Cetaphil or Clarins for sensitive skin?

Both Cetaphil and Clarins offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin. Cetaphil is often noted for gentle, non-stripping cleansers, while Clarins provides luxurious textures and hydration.

Cetaphil or Clarins for acne-prone skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin. Cetaphil is particularly noted for gentle, non-stripping cleansers, while Clarins is often chosen for its luxurious textures.

Cetaphil or Clarins for mature skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for mature skin. Cetaphil features products on this page that are fragrance-free, whereas Clarins is noted for luxurious textures and radiance effects.

Cetaphil or Clarins for skin with dark spots?

Both brands offer a High fit for skin with dark spots across the products on this page. Cetaphil is generally priced lower and is fragrance-free in nearly all its formulas, whereas Clarins often features a strong fragrance and a high price point.

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

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