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COSRX vs MAC

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

COSRX and MAC are distinct beauty lines, with the former being a Korean skincare brand founded in 2013 and owned by Amorepacific Group since 2024, and the latter being a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994. Both offer thoughtful arrays of products, with COSRX known for serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks featuring hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit oily and acne-prone skin best, while MAC is beloved for reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas to suit balanced skin best. They differ primarily in their ingredients and target audiences, as the Korean line utilizes specific actives to balance excess oil and soothe irritation, whereas the Canadian line provides a calm and measured foundation for daily maintenance.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

MAC is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

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

Popular COSRX vs MAC products

People Say

COSRXMAC
  • Deep hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Absorbs in a snap — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Leaves skin feeling soft and supple, never tight. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “skin drinks it up — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
  • Skin texture improvement Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “gives me that glass skin look — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “skin feels softer immediately — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “Reduces appearance of pores — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “petal-soft skin — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Excellent makeup base and primer Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly like water — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “sinks in immediately — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “absorbs practically immediately — COSRX Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)”
    • “Emulsifies beautifully and rinses off without a greasy film. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Soothing and calming Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “perfect for first-time retinol users — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “calms down my redness — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
  • Effective acne and pore control Often MentionedNot 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”
  • Price per value and high price point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for me — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Caused breakouts and acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “too slimy and sticky — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “gave me fungal acne — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Breaks me out, I got pimples from this. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Drying for dry skin Often MentionedNot noted
    • “left my face tight — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”

Questions and answers

COSRX or MAC: which is better?

COSRX is better for acne control and soothing care, while MAC is better known for makeup bases and primers. The products on this page help improve skin texture and provide deep hydration, though MAC items often have a higher price point and strong fragrance.

What is the difference between COSRX and MAC?

COSRX excels in lightweight texture, soothing care, and acne control, whereas MAC stands out for deep hydration, excellent makeup bases, and primers. The products on this page for COSRX are fragrance-free except for one, while all MAC products on this page contain fragrance.

COSRX or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

COSRX offers moisturizers like the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence that provide superior hydration and soothing benefits especially for dry, sensitive, and acne-prone skin. MAC features options like the Hyper Real Serumizer which helps deliver moisture but generally suits specific skin types at a higher price point.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or MAC?

COSRX does better than MAC on price per value. MAC has a high price point mentioned by reviewers.

Which causes fewer breakouts, COSRX or MAC?

COSRX is more likely to cause fewer breakouts, as review themes note that it does better than MAC for effective acne and pore control, whereas breakouts are equally reported for both brands.

Which brand has more products that contain fragrance, COSRX or MAC?

COSRX has far more products that contain fragrance, as 37 of its 38 products on this page list no fragrance, leaving only one fragranced product, whereas all 3 MAC products on this page contain fragrance.

Where and when were COSRX and MAC founded, and who owns them now?

COSRX was founded in 2013 in South Korea and is owned by Amorepacific Group, while MAC was founded in 1984 in Canada and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

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

MAC performs better for deep hydration and moisture according to the review themes on this page.

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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