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COSRX vs Kiehl's

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

COSRX and Kiehl's are two prominent skincare brands founded in South Korea and the United States, respectively. The former offers a thoughtful array of serums, moisturizers, cleansers, masks, and more formulated with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit oily and acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, the latter features an array of moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and more anchored by glycerin and squalane to suit skin with dark spots and dry skin best. While both utilize glycerin to increase hydration, they differ in their additional key ingredients and primary skin types.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

Kiehl's is an American skincare brand founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000.

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular COSRX vs Kiehl's products

People Say

COSRXKiehl's
  • Glow and skin texture improvement Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly like water — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “sinks in immediately — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
  • Gentle and non-stripping formula Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “no stinging — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “savior for dry patches — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “skin drinks it up — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
  • Effective acne and pore control Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “helped to improve my acne after only 2 weeks — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
    • “cleared up my spots — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “Melted blackheads right off — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “sucked the gunk out of my pores — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
  • High price and poor value Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for me — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Allergic reactions and skin irritation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “stings really bad if it accidentally gets in the eyes — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
    • “burns eyes when sweating — COSRX Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen”
    • “burned my face immediately — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “stings my face and feels like burning — Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
  • Dryness or insufficient moisture Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “some extremely dry skin types need a thicker balm or oil on top — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “left my face tight — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
  • No visible or slow results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Takes a month to work — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “didn't do anything — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Takes months to see — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”

COSRX vs Kiehl's routines for dry skin

Buy Kiehl's routine · AED 1,652.44 · 84% fitBuy COSRX routine · AED 408.70 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · AED 581.27 · 91% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · AED 1,609.62 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

COSRX vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

Buy COSRX routine · AED 475.50 · 89% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · AED 1,639.74 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Kiehl's: which is better?

COSRX is better for oily and acne-prone skin because Lovi rates its fit as Superior, whereas Kiehl's is rated High. Reviewers note that COSRX provides effective acne control and clearing, and its products on this page are gentler and less stripping. Additionally, Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

What is the difference between COSRX and Kiehl's?

COSRX is well-suited for acne-prone skin, oily skin, and sensitive skin, whereas Kiehl's specializes in treating skin with dark spots and dry skin. Reviewers often mention that COSRX provides effective acne control and gentle formulas, while Kiehl's is known for deep hydration and lightweight moisturizers.

COSRX or Kiehl's for dry skin?

Both COSRX and Kiehl's are a High fit for dry skin on this page, with Kiehl's offering deep hydration and moisturization and COSRX being a gentle and non-stripping formula.

COSRX or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

COSRX is better for a gentle and non-stripping formula as well as effective acne and pore control, whereas Kiehl's is better for deep hydration and moisturization.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Kiehl's?

Kiehl's has a high price point and poor value, whereas COSRX is considered better for price and value.

COSRX or Kiehl's: which brand is better for managing acne and pore control?

COSRX is better for managing acne and pore control, as the products on this page achieve a Superior fit level for oily acne-prone skin compared to Kiehl's High fit.

COSRX or Kiehl's: how do their fragrance-free product percentages compare?

COSRX offers a higher percentage of fragrance-free products on this page, with 37 out of 38 products listing no fragrance, compared to Kiehl's, which has 26 out of 28 fragrance-free products.

COSRX or Kiehl's: which brand is better suited for mature skin?

Both COSRX and Kiehl's are well suited for mature skin, matching a High fit level on this page. COSRX offers products like the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence which helps provide deep hydration, while Kiehl's features the Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum which helps stimulate collagen accumulation.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

COSRX or Kiehl's for oily skin?

For oily skin, COSRX is Superior while Kiehl's has a High fit level.

COSRX or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

COSRX offers superior moisturizers for oily and sensitive skin, while Kiehl's provides deep hydration that makes it a strong choice for dry skin. Both brands feature lightweight, fast-absorbing options on the products on this page.

COSRX or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

COSRX is better for sensitive skin because Lovi rates the brand as Superior compared to Kiehl's at High.

COSRX or Kiehl's: which sunscreen is better?

COSRX has the Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen, while Kiehl's features the Better Screen UV Serum on this page. Lovi fit for acne-prone skin is Superior for COSRX and High for Kiehl's.

COSRX or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

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

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?

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