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COSRX vs The INKEY List

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

COSRX and The INKEY List are popular skincare brands that offer serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more. The Korean brand is known for utilizing hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, while the British brand focuses on formulations built around glycerin. Both options suit different complexions, as the former suits oily and acne-prone skin best, and the latter fits sensitive and combination skin best. They differ primarily in their origin, founding years, and targeted skin types.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

The INKEY List is a British skincare brand founded in 2018 and owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited.

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

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

Popular COSRX vs The INKEY List products

People Say

COSRXThe INKEY List
  • 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”
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly like water — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “sinks in immediately — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “feels like applying straight up water to the skin — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
  • Texture improvement and smoothing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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 like glass — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Gentle and non-stripping formula Often 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”
    • “Never tight or stripped — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
  • Value for money Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Good for the price — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “One of the best balms for quality and also price — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “unbeatable value — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “huge bottle — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
  • 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”
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
  • Packaging issues and small size Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “only 20mls... significantly less product — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “tube is tiny — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “tube cracked on the side — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Drying or insufficient for dry skin Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “left my face tight — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “leaves skin feeling tight — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
    • “have dry skin but this doesn't feel hydrating at all — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “leaves under eye dry — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
  • Unpleasant texture and sticky finish Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “texture is gooey and stringy — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “too slimy and sticky — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “Feels tacky on skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Leaves a greasy film on face after washing — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”

COSRX vs The INKEY List routines for dry skin

Buy COSRX routine · AED 408.70 · 83% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · AED 474.43 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs The INKEY List routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · AED 581.27 · 91% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · AED 776.59 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

COSRX vs The INKEY List routines for combination skin

Buy COSRX routine · AED 475.50 · 89% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · AED 725.13 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or The INKEY List: which is better?

COSRX is better for oily and acne-prone skin, where Lovi rates its routines as Superior, whereas The INKEY List rates as High. Both brands achieve equal Lovi fit levels for dry, sensitive, combination, mature, and dry sensitive skin. Reviewers note that COSRX does better for texture improvement, acne control, and gentle formulas.

What is the difference between COSRX and The INKEY List?

COSRX and The INKEY List both offer effective hydration, but COSRX is superior for oily and acne-prone skin while The INKEY List focuses on sensitive and combination skin.

COSRX or The INKEY List for dry skin?

Both COSRX and The INKEY List fit dry skin well, offering high routine fit levels on this page. COSRX provides a range with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and snail mucin that helps deliver deep hydration, while sodium hyaluronate may also assist in skin moisturization and wound healing.

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

COSRX or The INKEY List: which cleanser is better?

Both COSRX and The INKEY List feature well-received cleansers on the products on this page, but COSRX is noted for doing better on gentle and non-stripping formulas. For specific skin types, Lovi finds that COSRX offers a Superior fit for sensitive skin with its Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or The INKEY List?

The INKEY List is more affordable than COSRX.

COSRX or The INKEY List: which brand is better for acne and pore control?

COSRX is better for acne and pore control. Lovi rates COSRX as having a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin and oily acne-prone skin, compared to High for The INKEY List.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, COSRX or The INKEY List?

The INKEY List has more fragrance-free products on the page, as every single product listed for the brand is fragrance-free. In comparison, COSRX features 37 fragrance-free products out of 38.

COSRX or The INKEY List: which brand performs better for mature skin?

Both COSRX and The INKEY List perform well for mature skin, achieving an equal High routine fit level across the products on this page. COSRX also has specific items like the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence with a Superior fit level for mature skin, while retinol helps reduce signs of aging.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

COSRX or The INKEY List for oily skin?

COSRX is superior to The INKEY List for oily skin because the products on this page achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for this skin type compared to High for The INKEY List.

COSRX or The INKEY List: which moisturizer is better?

Both COSRX and The INKEY List offer effective moisturizers, with COSRX achieving a Superior Lovi fit level for dry skin while The INKEY List provides budget-friendly hydration. The products on this page help improve skin texture and moisture retention.

COSRX or The INKEY List for sensitive skin?

Both COSRX and The INKEY List fit sensitive skin at a Superior Lovi level. The products on this page help improve skin texture and maintain a gentle and non-stripping formula.

COSRX or The INKEY List for acne-prone skin?

COSRX is superior for acne-prone skin, while The INKEY List offers a high fit level for this skin type. Reviewers note that COSRX excels in 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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