🇦🇪United Arab Emirates

COSRX vs SK-II

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

COSRX and SK-II are esteemed Asian beauty labels originating from South Korea and Japan, respectively. The Korean house is celebrated for its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks featuring hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, while the Japanese counterpart is known for its moisturizers, serums, masks, and toners centered on pitera. Both lines suit acne-prone skin, though the former particularly benefits oily complexions with its oil-balancing ingredients, and the latter supports dry sensitive skin through pitera's restorative properties. They differ primarily in their core active components and founding origins, offering distinct approaches to improving skin hydration, texture, and clarity.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

SK-II is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

en.wikipedia.orgdiscoversk-ii.wixsite.comglossy.co

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

Popular COSRX vs SK-II products

People Say

COSRXSK-II
  • 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”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Absorbs into the skin quickly. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization 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 a healthy glow — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Improves skin texture and smoothness Often 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”
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Gentle and non-stripping formula Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “perfect for first-time retinol users — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “Leaves skin soft, feels moisturized, does not dry out skin. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
  • Radiance and glow enhancement Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “gives a glass skin look — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “leaves me with a red carpet glow — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Skin looks brighter — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
  • Effective acne and oil control Often MentionedRarely 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”
    • “Controls T-zone oil — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
  • Exorbitant and high price point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • No visible or slow results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Takes a month to work — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “didn't do anything — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “did absolutely nothing — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Unpleasant scent or fragrance Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like chemicals — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “smells like onions — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “smells slightly like saliva — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Drying or insufficient for dry skin Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “quite thick consistency — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “Need extra moisturizer — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “left my face tight — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”

COSRX vs SK-II routines for dry skin

Buy COSRX routine · AED 408.70 · 83% fitBuy SK-II routine · AED 2,470.10 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs SK-II routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · AED 581.27 · 91% fitBuy SK-II routine · AED 2,468.63 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

COSRX vs SK-II routines for combination skin

Buy COSRX routine · AED 475.50 · 89% fitBuy SK-II routine · AED 2,424.45 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or SK-II: which is better?

COSRX is better for oily and sensitive skin because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior, whereas SK-II earns a High fit level for those skin types.

What is the difference between COSRX and SK-II?

COSRX is a South Korean brand founded in 2013 that helps with acne and oil control, whereas SK-II is a Japanese brand founded in 1980 that focuses on radiance and glow enhancement using Pitera.

COSRX or SK-II for dry skin?

Both COSRX and SK-II achieve a High routine fit level for dry skin on this page, but they rely on different core ingredients. COSRX features key components like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, whereas SK-II centers its formulations around Pitera.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

COSRX or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

COSRX offers moisturizers that may provide deeper hydration and better acne and oil control compared to SK-II, with Lovi fit levels reaching Superior for oily and acne-prone skin. SK-II moisturizers feature Pitera as a key ingredient, with Lovi fit levels reaching High for dry, mature, and sensitive skin on the products on this page.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or SK-II?

COSRX is more affordable, whereas SK-II has an exorbitant and high price point.

Between COSRX and SK-II, which brand offers better radiance and glow enhancement?

SK-II does better than COSRX when it comes to radiance and glow enhancement.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of COSRX and SK-II compare?

COSRX was founded in 2013 in South Korea and has been owned by Amorepacific Group since 2024, whereas SK-II was founded earlier in 1980 in Japan and has been owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

Which brand performs better for deep hydration and moisturization according to reviewers?

COSRX does better than SK-II for deep hydration and moisturization according to reviewers.

COSRX or SK-II for oily skin?

COSRX is a better fit than SK-II for oily skin, as Lovi rates COSRX as Superior and SK-II as High for this skin type.

COSRX or SK-II for sensitive skin?

COSRX is better suited for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its fit for sensitive skin as Superior while rating SK-II's fit as High. Reviewers also find COSRX's formulas to be more gentle and non-stripping.

COSRX or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

Both COSRX and SK-II are a Superior fit for acne-prone skin. The products on this page help provide effective acne and oil control, and ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid help support skin health and barrier recovery.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

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.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play