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Clarins Haute Exigen… vs Drunk Elephant A-Pas… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Clarins Haute Exigence Jour vs Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream

Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream scores 9.0/9.8 vs Clarins Haute Exigence Jour at 8.2/9.8. Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream wins for active ingredients.

Head to head

Clarins

Haute Exigence Jour

moisturiser

8.2

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

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Drunk Elephant

A-Passioni Retinol Cream

serumpremium

9.0

Score comparison

Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream edges ahead, winning 1 of 5 attributes.

Clarins wins 1

Tied 3

Drunk Elephant wins 1

41Clarins

12Shared

56Drunk Elephant

Only in Clarins Haute Exigence Jour

29 unique

Aqua/Water/Eau Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides Peg-100 Stearate Cetearyl Glucoside Dimethicone Ascorbyl Glucoside Steareth-21 Parfum/Fragrance Tromethamine+19 more

Shared ingredients

12 in common

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Glycerin Cetearyl Alcohol Pentylene Glycol Glyceryl Stearate Phenoxyethanol Carbomer Tocopheryl Acetate Ethylhexylglycerin Tocopherol+2 more

Only in Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream

44 unique

Water/Aqua/Eau Coco-Caprylate Stearic Acid Coconut Alkanes Niacinamide Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil Retinol Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil

Why Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream comes out ahead

Where Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 9.3 compared to Clarins Haute Exigence Jour's 4.1. Its formula features Niacinamide, Retinol, and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Clarins Haute Exigence Jour scores 9.4 here versus 8.7 for Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream brings Niacinamide, Retinol, and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 as actives, while clarins Haute Exigence Jour relies on Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, and Tocopherol. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Clarins Haute Exigence Jour is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Niacinamide does the heavy lifting

Value comparison

Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream comes in at premium pricing with a 9.0 score, which is solid value at that tier.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+0.8 lead

Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but Clarins Haute Exigence Jour is still a solid pick.

8.2Clarins

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9.0Drunk Elephant

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Clarins Haute Exigence Jour or Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream?

Based on ingredient analysis, Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do Clarins Haute Exigence Jour and Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between Clarins Haute Exigence Jour and Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: Clarins Haute Exigence Jour→Full analysis: Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream→

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