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COSRX vs Clarins

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

COSRX and Clarins are renowned skincare brands offering distinct approaches to daily wellness, with the former originating in Korea in 2013 and the latter established in France in 1954. COSRX is beloved for its thoughtful array of serums, moisturizers, cleansers, masks, and more, all formulated with trusted ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide that suit oily and acne-prone skin best. Conversely, Clarins is loved for its luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, soothing eye products, and gentle toners thoughtfully enriched with nourishing shea and hydrating squalane, which suit sensitive and dry sensitive skin best. While both brands feature standout treatments for specific concerns like acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin, they differ fundamentally through their specific ingredients and targeted skin types.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

Clarins is a French skincare brand founded in 1954 and owned by Famille C (Groupe Clarins).

groupeclarins.comen.wikipedia.orghappi.com

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

Popular COSRX vs Clarins products

People Say

COSRXClarins
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
    • “woke up with baby soft skin — Clarins Multi-Active Nuit”
    • “skin drinks it up — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
  • 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 immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
  • Skin texture improvement and smoothness 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”
    • “neck feels smoother — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
  • Gentle and non-stripping formula Often MentionedRarely 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”
    • “no irritation for contact wearers — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Effective acne and pore 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”
    • “doesn't make me greasy — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
  • Luxurious texture Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “melting non-oily texture — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “Creamy texture feels luxurious upon application — Clarins Extra-Firming Day Cream”
    • “feels like silk — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Scent and fragrance issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “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)”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • High price and value concerns Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for me — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Packaging and size issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “only 20mls... significantly less product — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “tube is tiny — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “dispenses too much — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
  • Ineffective or slow results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “no change in circles — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “Takes a month to work — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “didn't see a lift — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “no change in circles — Clarins Double Serum Eye”

COSRX vs Clarins routines for dry skin

Buy COSRX routine · CA$218.38 · 91% fitBuy Clarins routine · CA$332.00 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

COSRX vs Clarins routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · CA$288.29 · 92% fitBuy Clarins routine · CA$468.45 · 71% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs Clarins routines for combination skin

Buy COSRX routine · CA$271.24 · 91% fitBuy Clarins routine · CA$408.46 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Clarins: which is better?

COSRX has a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Clarins has a High routine fit for dry skin. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between COSRX and Clarins?

COSRX is well-suited for oily, acne-prone, and dry skin with a focus on gentle formulas, while Clarins is tailored for sensitive, dry sensitive, and mature skin, offering luxurious textures. The products on this page show that COSRX generally emphasizes fragrance-free options, whereas Clarins frequently includes added fragrance in its formulas.

COSRX or Clarins for dry skin?

For dry skin, COSRX has a Superior routine fit while Clarins has a High routine fit, making COSRX the better match for this skin type. COSRX products on this page help provide deep hydration and improve skin texture, while almost all formulas are fragrance-free.

COSRX or Clarins: which cleanser is better?

COSRX is better for acne-prone skin, with cleansers like the Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser offering Superior fit levels for sensitive, acne-prone, and dry skin types compared to Clarins. Additionally, the products on this page from COSRX generally feature fragrance-free formulas, whereas most Clarins cleansers contain fragrance.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Clarins?

Clarins has a high price point while COSRX does not, making COSRX the more affordable option.

Between COSRX and Clarins, which brand offers a better routine fit for dry sensitive skin?

For dry sensitive skin, Lovi rates COSRX as a Superior fit and Clarins as a High fit, with COSRX offering better overall routine suitability. COSRX helps provide deep hydration and skin barrier support through ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which aids in skin quality and moisture retention.

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

How do the fragrance profiles of COSRX and Clarins products compare?

COSRX products on this page have almost no fragrance, with only one product listing fragrance, whereas most Clarins products on this page contain fragrance.

Which brand performs better when it comes to skin texture improvement and smoothness?

COSRX performs better than Clarins for skin texture improvement and smoothness. The products on this page help refine texture while remaining gentle.

COSRX or Clarins for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi fit for COSRX is Superior while Clarins is Average. COSRX helps with acne and pore control, and the products on this page are mostly free of added fragrance.

COSRX or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?

COSRX is better for moisturizers on the products on this page, offering Superior fit levels for dry skin with formulas that help provide deep hydration and lightweight absorption. Clarins also offers hydrating moisturizers, but reviewers note they tend to have strong fragrances and a high price point.

COSRX or Clarins for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, COSRX offers Superior routine fit while Clarins achieves High routine fit. The products on this page for COSRX are largely fragrance-free, whereas almost all Clarins options contain fragrance, making COSRX generally better suited for minimizing irritation.

COSRX or Clarins for acne-prone skin?

COSRX is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering Superior routine fit compared to Clarins's Average level. The products on this page help provide effective acne control and gentle care with minimal fragrance.

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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