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COSRX vs Avène

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

COSRX and Avène are a Korean skincare brand founded in 2013 and a French skincare brand founded in 1990, respectively. The former is beloved for its thoughtful array of serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks, while the latter is loved for its gentle moisturizers, protective sunscreens, targeted serums, and soothing cleansers. Both brands suit oily skin, acne-prone skin, and combination skin best. They differ primarily in their specific product lineups and key ingredient combinations, as the Korean brand utilizes hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, whereas the French brand formulates with glycerin.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

Avène is a French skincare brand founded in 1990 and owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre.

pierre-fabre.comavene.co.ukaveneusa.com

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

Popular COSRX vs Avène products

People Say

COSRXAvène
  • Gentle and Non-Stripping Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “extremely gentle — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “leaves face clean but not dry — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
  • Hydration and Moisture 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”
    • “Restores moisture barrier — Avène Cold Cream”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorption Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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)”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
  • Skin Texture and Smoothing Mostly 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”
    • “I've noticed a definite improvement in the fine lines around my eyes — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
  • Soothing and Calming Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Calmed my angry red skin overnight — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Nothing has ever worked to soothe or heal my skin like these before. — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “Calms angry, red skin — Avène Soothing Radiance Mask”
    • “calms down my redness — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
  • Acne and Pores 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”
    • “Cleared my cystic acne — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
  • Unpleasant Texture and 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”
    • “Tube squirted water everywhere — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Leaves a greasy film — Avène Cold Cream”
  • Strong Scent or Fragrance Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “smells like chemicals — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “smells like onions — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “smells like tea tree/medicinal — COSRX Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)”
    • “The fragrance is very present. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
  • Packaging Issues and Size Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Tube cracked on the side — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Cap leaks in bag — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
    • “Good product bad packaging. — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
    • “only 20mls... significantly less product — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”

COSRX vs Avène routines for dry skin

Buy COSRX routine · CA$218.38 · 91% fitBuy Avène routine · CA$265.85 · 76% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

COSRX vs Avène routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · CA$288.29 · 92% fitBuy Avène routine · CA$307.37 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs Avène routines for combination skin

Buy COSRX routine · CA$271.24 · 91% fitBuy Avène routine · CA$393.55 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Avène: which is better?

COSRX is better for hydration, lightweight absorption, and acne control, while Avène is better for soothing irritation. For dry sensitive skin, Lovi rates COSRX as Superior and Avène as Average.

What is the difference between COSRX and Avène?

COSRX generally outperforms Avène in providing deeper hydration, lighter absorption, and better acne and pore control, whereas Avène stands out for soothing irritation. Additionally, COSRX offers superior routine fits for dry sensitive and oily acne-prone skin types compared to Avène.

COSRX or Avène for dry skin?

COSRX is a better fit for dry skin than Avène, with a Superior routine fit compared to Avène's High fit level. The products on this page help provide deep hydration and moisturization, making COSRX particularly well-suited for dry skin types.

COSRX or Avène: which cleanser is better?

COSRX offers cleansers with superior fit levels for sensitive and acne-prone skin, whereas Avène cleansers tend to show average or lower fit levels for those specific concerns. Additionally, COSRX cleansers generally lack added fragrance, while several Avène cleansers include fragrance.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Avène?

This page does not provide pricing information or compare the affordability of COSRX and Avène.

Between COSRX and Avène, which brand offers better soothing and calming benefits for the skin?

Avène does better than COSRX when it comes to soothing and calming the skin. Avène's products often help soothe irritation, while COSRX performs better in categories like hydration and acne control.

How do the fragrance options compare between COSRX and Avène product lines?

COSRX offers significantly more fragrance-free choices, with 37 of its 38 products listing no fragrance compared to only 7 of 15 Avène products on this page. This makes COSRX a more suitable brand for shoppers wanting to avoid added scents.

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

COSRX performs better regarding hydration and moisture according to review themes. The products on this page provide deep hydration and moisturization.

COSRX or Avène for oily skin?

COSRX is the better fit for oily skin, with a Lovi fit level of Superior compared to Avène's High. Reviewers note that COSRX products provide lightweight absorption and effective acne control.

COSRX or Avène: which moisturizer is better?

COSRX offers better moisturizers for hydration and lightweight absorption, while Avène provides better options for soothing irritation. Overall, Lovi rates COSRX moisturizers as a Superior fit for dry skin and Avène as a High fit.

COSRX or Avène for sensitive skin?

COSRX is the better choice for sensitive skin because its routine fit is Superior, compared to Avène which has a High fit level. Furthermore, 37 of the 38 COSRX products on this page list no fragrance, whereas nearly half of the Avène products contain fragrance.

COSRX or Avène: which sunscreen is better?

COSRX offers a range of sunscreens featuring options like the Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen and Aloe Soothing Sun Cream, which achieve High to Superior fit levels across most skin types on this page. Avène also provides sunscreens like Cleanance, though users should note that fragrance is listed in several of its sunscreen products.

COSRX or Avène for acne-prone skin?

COSRX is the better choice for acne-prone skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Avène's High fit level. The products on this page help provide effective acne control and clearing while maintaining a lightweight texture.

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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