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The Ordinary vs COSRX

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

The Ordinary and COSRX are two popular skincare brands known for offering serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and more. The Canadian brand founded in 2016 features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to suit dry skin and dry sensitive skin best. Conversely, the Korean brand founded in 2013 harnesses hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit oily skin and sensitive skin best. While both brands share core hydrating components, they differ in their specialized formulations and targeted approaches to specific skin concerns.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs COSRX products

People Say

The OrdinaryCOSRX
  • Miscellaneous Performance Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “dark skin friendly — COSRX Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen”
    • “calms down my redness — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
  • Smooth and Improved Skin Texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “gives me that glass skin look — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “skin feels softer immediately — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “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”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Care Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “extremely gentle — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “perfect for first-time retinol users — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Value and Pricing Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “huge bottle — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
  • Hydration and Moisture Sometimes NotedMostly 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”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Texture and Pilling Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “texture is gooey and stringy — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “too slimy and sticky — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “Leaves a sticky film — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Irritation and Harshness Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “left my face tight — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “leaves skin feeling tight — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
  • Miscellaneous Complaints Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “Hard to layer — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”

The Ordinary vs COSRX routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · A$192.91 · 96% fitBuy COSRX routine · A$239.37 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs COSRX routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · A$285.78 · 92% fitBuy COSRX routine · A$330.57 · 92% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs COSRX routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · A$219.69 · 91% fitBuy COSRX routine · A$311.08 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or COSRX: which is better?

Both brands offer great options, but COSRX is better for acne-prone skin with a Superior fit level compared to The Ordinary's High level. The Ordinary offers better value and pricing, while COSRX does better for hydration and moisture.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and COSRX?

The Ordinary provides great value and pricing for its targeted serums, whereas COSRX does better with hydration and moisture. Lovi fit for acne-prone skin is Superior for COSRX and High for The Ordinary.

The Ordinary or COSRX for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and COSRX are a Superior fit for dry skin based on the products on this page. Reviewers note that COSRX provides better hydration and moisture, while The Ordinary offers better value and pricing.

The Ordinary or COSRX: which cleanser is better?

When comparing cleansers, both The Ordinary and COSRX offer top-tier options for various skin types, but COSRX is noted for doing better with sensitive skin care and hydration. The Ordinary provides great value and pricing across its cleansing products on this page.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or COSRX?

The Ordinary provides better value and pricing among the products on this page compared to COSRX.

The Ordinary or COSRX for dark spots?

For dark spots, The Ordinary offers a Superior Lovi fit level across the products on this page compared to the High level of COSRX. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Which brand has fragrance-free products, The Ordinary or COSRX?

Both brands offer fragrance-free products on the products on this page. Every product from The Ordinary lists no fragrance in its ingredients, and 37 of the 38 products from COSRX are also fragrance-free.

The Ordinary or COSRX for oily skin?

Both brands offer an equal level of fit for oily skin, with routines rated as Superior for this skin type. Reviewers note that the products on this page from The Ordinary provide great value and affordable serums, while COSRX is often praised for lightweight absorption and deep hydration.

The Ordinary or COSRX: which moisturizer is better?

COSRX is better for hydration and moisture among the products on this page, while The Ordinary offers better value and pricing. COSRX features a routine fit for dry skin that is equal to The Ordinary, and sodium hyaluronate helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

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

The Ordinary or COSRX for sensitive skin?

Both brands fit sensitive skin at a Superior level on Lovi. COSRX does better for sensitive skin according to reviewer themes.

The Ordinary or COSRX for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, COSRX is superior while Lovi rates The Ordinary as High. The products on this page from COSRX often feature effective acne control and clearing.

The Ordinary or COSRX for mature skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for mature skin, reaching a Superior routine fit level compared to COSRX which reaches a High level. Reviewers on the page frequently note The Ordinary for its affordable and great value serums as well as effective texture-smoothing and dark spot fading serums.

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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