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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 varied formulas for daily routines. The Canadian brand centers on serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the French brand is loved for luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, soothing eye products, and gentle toners enriched with shea and squalane. The former suits dry skin and dry sensitive skin best, whereas the latter suits sensitive skin and dry sensitive skin best. They differ notably in their target solutions, as the first brand provides specialized acids for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin, while the second brand utilizes standout treatments like the Double Serum Light Texture, Extra-Firming Day Cream, and Super Restorative Night Cream to address those same concerns.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

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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 · £90.51 · 97% fitBuy Clarins routine · £170.89 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Clarins routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · £120.07 · 93% fitBuy Clarins routine · £249.57 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Clarins routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · £134.25 · 92% fitBuy Clarins routine · £201.99 · 73% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Clarins: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value and superior performance for acne, blemishes, and soothing, while Clarins is better for hydration, moisture, and glow. Both brands have a routine fit that is rated as Superior for dry skin on Lovi.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Clarins?

The Ordinary offers more affordable, fragrance-free products that focus on value, acne control, and soothing, whereas Clarins provides luxurious, higher-priced formulas with strong fragrances that excel in hydration, radiance, and glowing serums. Routine fit for dry skin is Superior for The Ordinary and High for Clarins.

The Ordinary or Clarins for dry skin?

For dry skin, both The Ordinary and Clarins are great choices, with routine fit levels of Superior and High respectively. The Ordinary products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients, while almost all Clarins products contain fragrance.

The Ordinary or Clarins: which cleanser is better?

Both The Ordinary and Clarins offer effective cleansers, but The Ordinary may be a better choice for shoppers seeking budget-friendly options that perform well across multiple skin types. Clarins cleansers, on the other hand, provide luxurious textures with options like the Total Cleansing Oil and Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Clarins?

The Ordinary offers much better value and affordability compared to Clarins, whose products often come with a high price point. Shoppers frequently mention affordable and great value serums as a key benefit for The Ordinary.

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

The Ordinary has more fragrance-free products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas only one product on the Clarins page is fragrance-free.

How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between The Ordinary and Clarins?

The Ordinary was founded in Canada in 2016, whereas Clarins was established earlier in France in 1954.

Which brand performs better for glow and radiance according to reviewers?

Clarins performs better for glow and radiance according to reviewers, who frequently highlight its radiance and glow-boosting moisturizers as well as hydrating and glowing serums. The Ordinary features a high price point and strong scent and fragrance among its common complaints, while Clarins excels in glow and radiance.

The Ordinary or Clarins for oily skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for oily skin, offering a Superior routine compared to Clarins, which has an Average routine fit. Reviewers note that The Ordinary products on this page help with acne and blemish control.

The Ordinary or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary offers better value with more fragrance-free moisturizer options, while Clarins is known for luxurious, hydrating textures that may carry a strong scent. Lovi finds that The Ordinary achieves a Superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Clarins which has a High fit.

The Ordinary or Clarins for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Clarins offer a High or better routine fit for sensitive skin, but The Ordinary is typically preferred for its budget-friendly pricing and lack of fragrance across the products on this page. Clarins formulas often feature a strong scent, which may irritate sensitive skin.

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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