Clinique vs Medik8
Clinique and Medik8 are established skincare houses representing distinct transatlantic heritages, with the American pioneer launched in 1968 and the British counterpart founded in 2009. The former is celebrated for moisturizers, serums, makeup removers, and eye products featuring hydrating hyaluronic acid, nourishing glycerin, and invigorating caffeine that suit dry sensitive skin and oily skin best, while the latter offers serums, moisturizers, eye products, and toners built around hyaluronic acid to primarily fit dry skin and dry sensitive skin. Both labels differ in their targeted formulations and ownership, as the heritage brand is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and addresses diverse concerns through solutions like the Clarifying Do-Over Peel, whereas the newer brand became owned by L'Oréal Groupe in 2025 and utilizes focused offerings such as the Surface Radiance Cleanse and Oxy-R Peptides.
Clinique is an American skincare brand founded in 1968 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..
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Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.
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This page compares some of the most popular Clinique and Medik8 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Clinique vs Medik8 products
People Say
Sensitive skin soothing and gentle formulas Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
- “No strong scent — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
- “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
- “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
Plumping and smoothing effect Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
- “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
- “Reduces fine lines — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
- “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
Lightweight and non-greasy texture Mostly 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+”
- “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
Hydration and moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
- “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
- “Plumps skin with moisture — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
- “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
Radiance and brightening Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
- “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
- “pigmentation lightened slightly — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
- “wake up glowing — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
Makeup compatibility and base Often MentionedRarely Noted
- “Melts waterproof mascara — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
- “foundation glides on — Clinique moisture surge”
- “holds concealer in place — Clinique All About Eyes”
- “layers well under sunscreen — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
High price and cost concerns Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
- “quite pricey — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
- “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
- “very expensive for amount — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
Causes breakouts Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
- “made me break out constantly — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
- “caused breakouts — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
- “caused me to breakout — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
- “Woke up with whiteheads on my chin — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
Packaging issues Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
- “Unhygienic tub — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
- “prefer a pump dispenser — Clinique All About Eyes”
- “pump dispenses too much — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
- “Glass bottle breaks easily — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
Clinique vs Medik8 routines for dry skin
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Cleanser
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
£8.29
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Hydrating Toner
Dear, Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner
Morning
£11.49
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Moisturizer
Hydr8 B5 Intense
Morning · Evening · Once a week
£60.00
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SPF
Torriden DIVE-IN Mild Sunscreen
Morning
£22.00
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Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
£13.58
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Serum or Treatment
Bakuchiol Peptides
Evening · Once a week
£55.00
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Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Vita Essential Mask
Once a week
£17.00
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Cleanser
all about clean
Morning · Evening · Once a week
£16.50
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Hydrating Toner
Dear, Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner
Morning
£11.49
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Moisturizer
Smart Clinical Repair Lifting Face + Neck Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
£57.75
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SPF
Torriden DIVE-IN Mild Sunscreen
Morning
£22.00
-
Pre-Cleanser
Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
£24.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum
Evening · Once a week
£46.87
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Nourishing Mask
Moisture Surge Overnight Mask
Once a week
£31.50
Buy Medik8 routine · £187.36 · 97% fit
Buy Clinique routine · £210.11 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit
Clinique vs Medik8 routines for oily skin
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Cleanser
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
£8.29
-
Hydrating Toner
Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
Morning · Once a week
£13.98
-
Moisturizer
Hydr8 B5 Intense
Morning · Evening · Once a week
£60.00
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SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
£11.29
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Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
£17.00
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Cleansing Toner
Press & Glow
Evening
£29.00
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Serum or Treatment
Oxy-R Peptides
Evening · Once a week
£65.00
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Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
£19.00
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Cleansing Mask
Dr. Sebagh Deep Exfoliating Mask
Once a week
£61.99
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Cleanser
Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
£20.80
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Hydrating Toner
Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
Morning · Once a week
£13.98
-
Moisturizer
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel
Morning · Evening · Once a week
£26.50
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
£11.29
-
Pre-Cleanser
Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
£24.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Clarifying Lotion 2
Evening
£16.50
- Serum or Treatment Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
£19.00
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Cleansing Mask
Dr. Sebagh Deep Exfoliating Mask
Once a week
£61.99
Buy Medik8 routine · £285.55 · 89% fit
Buy Clinique routine · £194.06 · 78% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
Clinique vs Medik8 routines for combination skin
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Cleanser
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
£14.99
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
£30.37
-
Moisturizer
Hydr8 B5 Intense
Morning · Evening · Once a week
£60.00
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pyunkang Yul Deep Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
£23.92
-
Cleansing Toner
Press & Glow
Evening
£29.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Oxy-R Peptides
Evening · Once a week
£65.00
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
£19.00
-
Cleansing Mask
VT Cosmetics Cica Purifying Mask
Once a week
£19.00
-
Cleanser
all about clean
Morning · Evening · Once a week
£16.50
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
£30.37
-
Moisturizer
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel
Morning · Evening · Once a week
£26.50
-
Pre-Cleanser
Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
£24.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Clarifying Lotion 2
Evening
£16.50
- Serum or Treatment Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
£19.00
-
Cleansing Mask
VT Cosmetics Cica Purifying Mask
Once a week
£19.00
Buy Medik8 routine · £261.28 · 92% fit
Buy Clinique routine · £151.87 · 72% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
Questions and answers
Clinique or Medik8: which is better?
Medik8 is better than Clinique for hydration, plumping, radiance, and most skin-type routines on the products on this page, while Clinique is better for lightweight textures and makeup compatibility. Both brands offer equal soothing for sensitive skin and share high price concerns.
What is the difference between Clinique and Medik8?
Medik8 is superior for dry, sensitive, and mature skin types, whereas Clinique is known for its lightweight, non-greasy textures and better makeup compatibility. Medik8 also delivers better results in hydration, plumping, and brightening, while both brands share similar high price points.
Clinique or Medik8 for dry skin?
Medik8 is a better fit than Clinique for dry skin, as Lovi rates Medik8 as Superior for a dry skin routine compared to Clinique's Average rating. Medik8's products on this page help deliver deep hydration and plumping, while Clinique's moisturizers are noted for being lightweight and fast-absorbing.
Clinique or Medik8: which cleanser is better?
Medik8 stands out with its Surface Radiance Cleanse, which achieves a Superior fit level for acne-prone skin, skin with dark spots, and oily acne-prone skin on this page. In contrast, Clinique cleansers on this page generally reach only Average or lower fit levels for those skin types.
Which is more affordable, Clinique or Medik8?
Both Clinique and Medik8 feature a high price point as a common concern among reviewers on this page. Price comparisons depend on specific items, as both brands span various product categories without a single overall cost advantage stated here.
Clinique or Medik8: which brand has fragrance-free products?
Both brands offer fragrance-free products on this page, as every Clinique product lists no fragrance in its ingredients, and 11 out of 12 Medik8 products are also fragrance-free.
Clinique or Medik8 for oily skin?
Clinique and Medik8 both achieve a High Lovi fit for oily skin on the products on this page. Reviewers report that Clinique provides lightweight and fast-absorbing moisturizers, whereas Medik8 offers deep hydration and plumping.
Clinique or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?
Medik8 stands out for hydration and moisture, while Clinique is known for lightweight and non-greasy textures. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry skin as Superior for Medik8 and Average for Clinique.
Clinique or Medik8 for sensitive skin?
For sensitive skin, both brands work well, but Lovi rates Medik8 as Superior and Clinique as High. The products on this page from both brands avoid added fragrance.
Clinique or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?
Medik8 is the better choice for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as High compared to Clinique's Average fit level.
Clinique or Medik8 for mature skin?
Medik8 is a better fit for mature skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Clinique's High fit level. Medik8 offers targeted products like Oxy-R Peptides, which is rated Superior for mature skin.
Clinique or Medik8 for skin with dark spots?
Research behind their key ingredients
Topical anti-inflammatory effects of isorhamnetin glycosides isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin
Effects of glyceryl glucoside on AQP3 expression, barrier function and hydration of human skin
A comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne
Evaluation of moisturizing and irritation potential of sacha inchi oil
The synergistic effect of retinyl propionate and hydroxypinacolone retinoate on skin aging
Algae extract protection effect on oxidized protein level in human stratum corneum
The anti wrinkle efficacy of synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) in Chinese Subjects
Safety of a preservative system containing 1,2-hexanediol and caprylyl glycol
Functional properties and skin care effects of sodium trehalose sulfate
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
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
How does it fit your skin?
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