Is Clarins Double Serum worth it? Who it suits, and who should skip it
Double Serum is Clarins' best-known product: a water-based formula and an oil-based one, kept in separate chambers and pumped out together. Clarins updated it in 2024 for the ninth time. This is a research-based guide rather than a hands-on test. It covers what's in it, how to use it and who it's worth it for, using Clarins' own product information and UK retailers' listings.
Clarins Double Serum 50ml
What works
- Combines a water-based and an oil-based formula in one pump, so it hydrates and nourishes in a single step
- Clarins says the 2024 formula has 27 active ingredients, 22 of them plant extracts, including organic Provence giant reed and turmeric
- Clarins says 95% of its ingredients are of natural origin
- Designed for all skin types, and quick to use: warm it between your palms and press it on
- Sold in 30ml, 50ml and 75ml, so you can start with the smallest bottle
Worth knowing
- It's a premium-priced serum designed for use twice a day, so the cost adds up
- Very oily skin may find it too rich; Clarins makes a Double Serum Light Texture for oilier skin and warm weather
- With 22 plant extracts it has a long ingredient list, so patch-test it first if your skin reacts easily
- Clarins changed the formula in 2024, so reviews from before then describe the previous version
Who it's for
It's worth it if you want a single, easy serum that covers hydration and nourishment, particularly if you have normal, combination or dry skin, or if you're buying for someone whose routine you don't know. Skip the original if your skin is very oily (choose the Light Texture version) or if you want one specific active, such as retinol or vitamin C, rather than an all-rounder.
The bottle has two chambers. One holds a water-based ('hydric') formula and the other an oil-based ('lipidic') one, and the pump dispenses both at once so they mix in your hand. Clarins says the balance of water and oil is designed to match skin's own.
The ninth-generation formula arrived in 2024. Clarins says it has 27 active ingredients: 22 plant extracts and five pure active molecules. The headline new ingredient is an extract of organic giant reed from Provence, which Clarins says had never been used in cosmetics before. Others on the ingredient list include turmeric root, oat kernel and banana fruit extracts, and avocado oil. Clarins says 95% of the formula's ingredients are of natural origin.
Clarins' directions are to use it morning and evening on freshly cleansed skin, before your moisturiser. Pump it into your palm, rub your hands together to warm it, then press your palms over your face and neck rather than rubbing. Let it sink in before your moisturiser and, in the morning, sunscreen.
Clarins ran its own four-week test in which 388 women rated their skin, and they said their skin looked more radiant and firmer, with less visible wrinkles and pores. These are self-assessments in a test organised by the brand, not independent measurements, so treat them as a guide to how users felt rather than proof.
It comes in 30ml, 50ml and 75ml bottles; the link on this page is for the 50ml. If it's not quite right for your skin, Clarins has two variations worth a look: Double Serum Light Texture for oily skin and warm weather, and Hydra-Essential Bi-Phase Serum if hydration is your main concern. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair is the other big-name all-rounder, and is oil-free and fragrance-free.
How this page was written: I haven't tested this serum myself. Everything here comes from Clarins' product information, major UK retailers' listings and press coverage of the 2024 launch. If I test it, I'll update this page with a hands-on verdict.
The verdict
Double Serum is a good choice if you want one serum that does a bit of everything with very little effort, and it's one of the safest skincare gifts when you don't know someone's routine. If your skin is very oily, choose the Light Texture version, and if you want a single targeted active, a dedicated serum will serve you better.
Clarins Double Serum 50ml
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