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COSRX vs Clinique

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

COSRX and Clinique are distinct skincare brands known for their thoughtful arrays of serums, moisturizers, cleansers, masks, makeup removers, and eye products formulated with trusted ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, niacinamide, and caffeine. The Korean brand COSRX suits oily and acne-prone skin best, while the American brand Clinique suits dry sensitive skin and oily skin best through comforting, balancing active components. Both brands differ in their specific targeted solutions and ownership histories, yet share a commitment to effective formulations.

COSRX is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2013 and owned by Amorepacific Group since 2024.

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Clinique is an American skincare brand founded in 1968 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

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This page compares some of the most popular COSRX and Clinique products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular COSRX vs Clinique products

People Say

COSRXClinique
  • Soothing and calming for sensitive skin Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “perfect for first-time retinol users — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “No strong scent — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly like water — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “sinks in immediately — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “sinks in instantly — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
  • Deep hydration and plumping Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “woke up with soft, supple skin — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “gives me that glass skin look — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
  • Acne and pore control Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “extremely gentle — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “helped to improve my acne after only 2 weeks — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
    • “gentle enough for everyday — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
    • “You will see the dirt with one wipe — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
  • Improves skin texture and smoothness Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “skin feels softer immediately — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “Skin feels like glass — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “smoother skin — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
  • Makeup base compatibility Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “holds concealer in place — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “wake up glowing — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
  • Insufficient hydration or dryness Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “left my face tight — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “leaves skin feeling tight — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
    • “skin felt tight — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
    • “Made my skin super dry — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
  • High price and poor value Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “expensive for me — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
  • Slow or no visible results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “no change in circles — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “Takes a month to work — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “didn't help dark circles — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “don't expect miracles overnight — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
  • Sticky or greasy finish Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “hard to rinse off — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
    • “feels sticky to the touch — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “Left an oily film on my T-zone — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “texture is gooey and stringy — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”

COSRX vs Clinique routines for dry skin

Buy COSRX routine · AED 408.70 · 83% fitBuy Clinique routine · AED 1,605.23 · 66% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs Clinique routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · AED 581.27 · 91% fitBuy Clinique routine · AED 1,002.51 · 79% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

COSRX vs Clinique routines for combination skin

Buy COSRX routine · AED 475.50 · 89% fitBuy Clinique routine · AED 790.89 · 72% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Clinique: which is better?

COSRX is generally a better fit on this page, as Lovi rates its routines as Superior or High across almost all skin types compared to Clinique. Reviewers also note that COSRX delivers better deep hydration and improves skin texture.

What is the difference between COSRX and Clinique?

COSRX and Clinique are both popular skincare brands, but COSRX tends to offer superior fits for oily and acne-prone skin types while Clinique focuses more on dry sensitive and sensitive skin. Reviewers note that COSRX provides deeper hydration and better skin texture improvement, whereas Clinique is known for its makeup removers and makeup base compatibility.

COSRX or Clinique for dry skin?

For dry skin, COSRX offers better routine fit levels than Clinique across the products on this page. Reviewers note that COSRX helps with deep hydration and moisturization.

COSRX or Clinique: which cleanser is better?

When comparing cleansers on this page, COSRX features options like the Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser which is rated Superior for sensitive, acne-prone, dry, and combination skin types. In contrast, Clinique cleansers such as all about clean receive lower ratings, including a Warning for dry skin. Overall, the products on this page show that COSRX provides superior fit levels across a wider variety of skin types.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Clinique?

Clinique is known for a high price point, whereas COSRX is often noted for poor value.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of COSRX and Clinique compare?

COSRX was founded in 2013 in South Korea and is owned by Amorepacific Group. In contrast, Clinique was founded in 1968 in the United States and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Which brand performs better for deep hydration and plumping according to review themes?

According to the review themes on this page, COSRX performs better than Clinique for deep hydration and plumping.

How does the fragrance formulation differ between COSRX and Clinique products on the page?

COSRX includes fragrance in one of the products on this page, the Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen SPF 50+, while the rest of its 37 products are formulated without fragrance. In contrast, every single Clinique product listed on the page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

COSRX or Clinique for oily skin?

For oily skin, COSRX is a better fit with a Superior routine fit level compared to Clinique's High fit. Reviewers mention that COSRX products provide lightweight absorption and effective acne control.

COSRX or Clinique: which moisturizer is better?

COSRX offers better moisturizer options for most skin types, as Lovi rates its overall routine fit higher for dry, oily, combination, acne-prone, and dark spot-prone skin compared to Clinique. Both brands achieve equal High fit levels for mature skin and dry sensitive skin, but COSRX is often noted for providing deeper hydration and moisturization.

COSRX or Clinique for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, Lovi rates COSRX as Superior and Clinique as High. The products on this page help provide gentle and effective care without irritation.

COSRX or Clinique for acne-prone skin?

COSRX is the better choice for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its overall routine fit as Superior compared to Clinique's Average level. The products on this page help provide effective acne control and clearing while supporting skin health.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

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