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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Avène RetrinAL DAY Cream versus Clarins Extra Firming Energy .

Published on October 20, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe day moisturizers. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants, hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Day Moisturizer French Brand France
Day Moisturizer French Brand France

Day Moisturizer

Day Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin during the daytime.

Day Moisturizer

Day Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin during the daytime.

Price

Shop

Buy RetrinAL DAY Cream

Shop

Buy Extra Firming Energy

Starts at $96.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Avène RetrinAL DAY Cream 27 ingredients

Clarins Extra Firming Energy 51 ingredients

alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Avène RetrinAL DAY Cream 27 ingredients

Clarins Extra Firming Energy 51 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E
Exfoliators
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Brightening (2)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (3)

Notable Ingredients

AHA
Vitamin E (2)
Exfoliators (3)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (6)
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Scar Healing
Brightening (4)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Irritating
Rosacea (2)
Eczema
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Avène RetrinAL DAY Cream 27 ingredients

Clarins Extra Firming Energy 51 ingredients

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.

Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.

Avène RetrinAL DAY Cream contains this as ingredient number 2.

Clarins Extra Firming Energy contains this as ingredient number 4.

2
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

Avène RetrinAL DAY Cream contains this as ingredient number 3.

Clarins Extra Firming Energy contains this as ingredient number 20.

3
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Avène RetrinAL DAY Cream contains this as ingredient number 4.

Clarins Extra Firming Energy contains this as ingredient number 2.

4
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter is a plant lipid from the fruit of the Shea Tree. It is an effective skin hydrator and emollient.

Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. It does this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.

Shea butter is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may harm the body. It is also full of fatty acids including stearic acid and linoleic acid. These acids help replenish the skin and keep skin moisturized.

While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.

Shea butter may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Avène RetrinAL DAY Cream contains this as ingredient number 6.

Clarins Extra Firming Energy contains this as ingredient number 7.

5
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA

Avène RetrinAL DAY Cream contains this as ingredient number 17.

Clarins Extra Firming Energy contains this as ingredient number 25.

6
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Parfum

Avène RetrinAL DAY Cream contains this as ingredient number 18.

Clarins Extra Firming Energy contains this as ingredient number 19.

7
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

Avène RetrinAL DAY Cream contains this as ingredient number 22.

Clarins Extra Firming Energy contains this as ingredient number 28.

8
What it does: Cosmetic Colorant
Community Rating: Disliked

Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.

It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.

Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.

Learn more about CI 77891

Avène RetrinAL DAY Cream contains this as ingredient number 24.

Clarins Extra Firming Energy contains this as ingredient number 8.

9
What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate

Avène RetrinAL DAY Cream contains this as ingredient number 25.

Clarins Extra Firming Energy contains this as ingredient number 26.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

Avène RetrinAL DAY Cream 27 ingredients

Clarins Extra Firming Energy 51 ingredients

19% are loved or liked
15% have mixed ratings
59% are disliked or very disliked
7% have no rating yet
18% are loved or liked
14% have mixed ratings
35% are disliked or very disliked
33% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Avène RetrinAL DAY Cream 27 ingredients

Clarins Extra Firming Energy 51 ingredients

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Our Dupe Finder has found 4 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Clarins Extra Firming Energy.

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