🇬🇧United Kingdom

Simple vs Elemis

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

Simple and Elemis are British skincare brands established in 1960 and 1989, respectively. Simple is beloved for its gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners crafted with niacinamide and glycerin, which suit acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots best. Conversely, Elemis is celebrated for nourishing serums, rich moisturizers, gentle cleansers, and refining toners featuring glycerin and shea, making them ideal for dry and mature skin. These offerings differ as the former relies on niacinamide to reduce hyperpigmentation and aging signs, while the latter utilizes shea butter to reduce inflammation and relieve skin pruritus.

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular Simple vs Elemis products

People Say

SimpleElemis
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
  • Hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy texture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “whipped silk feel — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “cloud-light gel formula — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
  • Skin smoothing and radiance Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “healthy glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
  • Affordable price and value Often MentionedNot noted
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Can't beat the price for the quality. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Effective cleansing and makeup removal Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Takes off any makeup residue and makes my face feel refreshed. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Best morning cleanser — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “melts waterproof mascara — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
  • High price point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Caused breakouts or skin reactions Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “terrible spots — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “clogged my pores — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Insufficient hydration or richness Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “not hydrating enough for winter — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “Great product, a bit heavy. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “need more moisture — Elemis Peptide4 Eye Recovery Cream”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”

Simple vs Elemis routines for dry skin

Buy Elemis routine · £324.88 · 88% fitBuy Simple routine · £136.73 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Simple vs Elemis routines for oily skin

Buy Simple routine · £221.50 · 87% fitBuy Elemis routine · £290.16 · 76% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Simple vs Elemis routines for combination skin

Buy Simple routine · £185.60 · 85% fitBuy Elemis routine · £263.56 · 78% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Simple or Elemis: which is better?

Simple tends to be better for sensitive skin due to being gentle and fragrance-free across the products on this page, whereas Elemis excels in skin smoothing and radiance. Both brands achieve high routine fit levels for all skin types.

What is the difference between Simple and Elemis?

Simple offers more affordable, fragrance-free products that reviewers note are gentle and effective for sensitive skin, whereas Elemis provides a more luxurious, higher-priced range featuring key ingredients like shea butter and glycerin that reviewers highlight for improving skin texture and radiance.

Simple or Elemis for dry skin?

Both Simple and Elemis have an equal High routine fit for dry skin. The products on this page for Simple list no fragrance, whereas most Elemis products contain fragrance.

Simple or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

Simple does better for gentle cleansing on sensitive skin, while the products on this page for Elemis offer options like the Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash that help with skin smoothing and radiance.

Which is more affordable, Simple or Elemis?

Simple offers better affordability, as reviewers mostly mention its high price point as a negative for Elemis while praising Simple for value-friendly products.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of Simple and Elemis compare?

Simple was founded in 1960 in the United Kingdom and has been owned by Unilever PLC since 2011, whereas Elemis was founded in 1989 in the United Kingdom and has been owned by the L'Occitane Group since 2019.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Simple or Elemis?

Simple has more fragrance-free products, as every product on the page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas most Elemis products on this page include added fragrance.

What are the key shared ingredients across products in both Simple and Elemis skincare lines?

Both Simple and Elemis share glycerin as a key ingredient across the products on this page.

Simple or Elemis for oily skin?

Both Simple and Elemis have an equal High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that Simple offers lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers and gentle makeup removers, while Elemis provides lightweight and absorbing eye products along with a radiant glow.

Simple or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

Simple offers more lightweight and value-friendly moisturizers, whereas Elemis provides luxurious and hydrating moisturizers.

Simple or Elemis for sensitive skin?

Simple is better for sensitive skin because reviews note it is gentle on sensitive skin, and every product on this page for Simple lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Simple or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

Simple and Elemis both offer an equal routine fit level of High for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Simple features key ingredients like niacinamide, which may help control skin pigmentation and aging, while every Simple product on this page lists no fragrance.

Antioxidants, 2021

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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