All scans / Serums / Clarins Double Serum (9th Generation)
Clarins Double Serum (9th Generation) ingredients: is it worth it?
A prestige multi-peptide serum with impressive botanical breadth but held back by fragrance, weak peptide positioning, and missing stabilization for its antioxidant claims.
A prestige multi-peptide serum with impressive botanical breadth but held back by fragrance, weak peptide positioning, and missing stabilization for its antioxidant claims.
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The efficacy score of 3.7 reflects a well-formulated hydration and barrier-support base (Squalane, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides absent but compensated by Oat and Avocado oils) paired with two cell-communicating peptides (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 and Tetrapeptide-7) positioned at the end of the INCI list, suggesting sub-0.5% concentrations—below typical efficacy thresholds for visible firming. The 22 plant extracts deliver antioxidant and soothing benefits, but many appear as trace ingredients (positions 20+). Critically, Fragrance is present and undeclared in the marketing, which reduces the safety score to 4.4 due to irritation risk for sensitive skin. The formula lacks Vitamin C (removed from the 8th generation per user feedback), relying instead on weaker Acerola extract and Tocopherol derivatives. The 2/3 hydric + 1/3 lipidic ratio is elegant for absorption, but the peptides and antioxidants lack encapsulation or stabilization systems, making them vulnerable to oxidation and reducing real-world efficacy below the ingredient list suggests.
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DemythSkin rates Clarins Double Serum (9th Generation) 3.8/5 for efficacy and 4.3/5 for safety.
CONTAINS COMMON SENSITISERS⌄
Fragrance components and essential oils that more often cause reactions in sensitive skin: Parfum/Fragrance. Most people tolerate them; patch test if your skin reacts easily.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS BY TIER
Gold Standards
High clinical proof | Skin-transformativeReliable
Proven resultsPotent
Developing evidenceOverhyped | Marketing
Hype | Limited dataDocumented Irritants
Evidence-backed flagFORMULATION BASE (16)⌄
FULL INGREDIENT LIST⌄
Aqua/Water/Eau, Squalane, Hexyl Laurate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Parfum/Fragrance, Fructose, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Escin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Coco-Glucoside, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Dipsacus Sylvestris Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Arundo Donax Stem Extract, Jania Rubens Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Citrate, Malpighia Emarginata (Acerola) Seed Extract, Arbutus Unedo Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, CI 14700/Red 4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil Unsaponifiables, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Caramel, Hippophae Rhamnoides Kernel Extract, Sodium Lactate
WHAT EACH INGREDIENT DOES (24)⌄
- Aqua/Water/Eau
- Solvent, hydration base
- Squalane
- Skin-identical emollient, barrier support
- Hexyl Laurate
- Emollient, texture enhancer
- Glycerin
- Humectant, skin-identical moisturizer
- Pentylene Glycol
- Humectant, preservative booster
- Propanediol
- Humectant, solvent
- Silybum Marianum Seed Oil
- Antioxidant, emollient
- Butylene Glycol
- Humectant, solvent
- Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
- Film-former, texture control
- Parfum/Fragrance
- Scent (potential irritant)
- Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract
- Antioxidant, soothing, emollient
- Escin
- Circulation support, anti-inflammatory
- Tocopheryl Acetate
- Antioxidant (Vitamin E derivative)
- Ethylhexylglycerin
- Preservative
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
- Soothing, humectant
- Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
- Humectant, hydration booster
- Tocopherol
- Antioxidant (Vitamin E)
- Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract
- Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, brightening
- Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil Unsaponifiables
- Antioxidant, soothing, emollient
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
- Cell-communicating peptide, firming
- Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
- Cell-communicating peptide, anti-inflammatory
- Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Extract
- Antioxidant, circulation support
- Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract
- Antioxidant, soothing
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
- Emollient, texture enhancer
EXTERNAL CITATIONS
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 & Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7: Cell-communicating peptides; clinical efficacy typically requires 0.5–2% concentration for visible firming effects.
Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory; supports cell communication and skin brightening.
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate: Humectant; boosts skin hydration and supports barrier function.
Tocopheryl Acetate & Tocopherol: Vitamin E derivatives; antioxidant but weaker than L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C).
Arundo Donax Stem Extract: Provence tall reed; marketed as barrier-strengthening and stress-protective (Epi-Aging Defense Technology).
Fragrance/Parfum: Potential irritant; increases risk of sensitization and barrier disruption in reactive skin types.
DISCLAIMER: THIS ANALYSIS IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. AI-GENERATED DATA BASED ON PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INGREDIENT LISTS. VERIFY WITH A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.
A cheaper serum that scores as high or higher
A different formula for the same concern (anti-aging) that scores at least as high on both efficacy and safety.
Clarins Double Serum (9th Generation): common questions
Is Clarins Double Serum (9th Generation) worth it?
Clarins Double Serum (9th Generation) scores 3.8 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Modest) and 4.3 out of 5.0 for safety (Gentle) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. A prestige multi-peptide serum with impressive botanical breadth but held back by fragrance, weak peptide positioning, and missing stabilization for its antioxidant claims.
What are the key active ingredients in Clarins Double Serum (9th Generation)?
Clarins Double Serum (9th Generation) contains no gold-standard actives. Its formula is built on supporting and base ingredients rather than clinically transformative actives.
Does Clarins Double Serum (9th Generation) contain fragrance or known irritants?
DemythSkin flags these ingredients in Clarins Double Serum (9th Generation) as documented irritants: Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Parfum/Fragrance. This product does contain fragrance.
How is Clarins Double Serum (9th Generation) scored?
DemythSkin grades every product on two independent scores: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are graded S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. Brand and price are not part of the score, and no brand pays for one.
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