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COSRX vs Medik8

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

COSRX and Medik8 are established skincare brands, with the former originating in Korea in 2013 and the latter in Britain in 2009. The first brand offers serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks using hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit oily and oily acne-prone skin. Meanwhile, the British brand provides serums, moisturizers, eye products, and toners built around hyaluronic acid for dry and dry sensitive skin. These brands differ in their formulations and ideal skin types, yet both expertly balance delicate moisture levels.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular COSRX and Medik8 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular COSRX vs Medik8 products

People Say

COSRXMedik8
  • Soothing, calming and gentle formulation Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “extremely gentle — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
  • Improves skin texture and glow Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “gives me that glass skin look — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
  • Deep hydration and plumping 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”
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
  • 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”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
    • “Absorbs fast — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Additional beneficial features Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “calms inflammation — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “removes all the oil — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “smells like a spa — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “softened crow's feet — Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3”
  • 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”
    • “pores feel cleaner — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
  • Slow or no visible results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “no change in circles — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “Takes a month to work — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
  • Packaging and size issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Glass bottle breaks easily — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “hard to get last bit — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “click mechanism tricky — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “only 20mls... significantly less product — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
  • High price point Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “expensive for me — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”

COSRX vs Medik8 routines for dry skin

Buy Medik8 routine · $235.67 · 96% fitBuy COSRX routine · $128.96 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

COSRX vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · $292.12 · 91% fitBuy Medik8 routine · $418.54 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

COSRX vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

Buy Medik8 routine · $419.65 · 93% fitBuy COSRX routine · $268.03 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Medik8: which is better?

Medik8 is better for dry, dry sensitive, combination, sensitive, and acne-prone skin, as it achieves Superior fit levels in those categories compared to COSRX's High fit levels. COSRX performs better for oily acne-prone skin, where it reaches a Superior fit level, and is generally associated with a lower price point than Medik8.

What is the difference between COSRX and Medik8?

COSRX and Medik8 are both popular skincare brands, with COSRX founded in South Korea in 2013 and Medik8 in the United Kingdom in 2009. While COSRX fits best for oily skin, oily acne-prone skin, and combination skin, Medik8 is best suited for dry skin, dry sensitive skin, and combination skin. Reviewers note that COSRX does better for acne and pore control, whereas Medik8 does better for improving skin texture and glow.

COSRX or Medik8 for dry skin?

For dry skin, Medik8 fits best with a Superior routine level, while COSRX offers a High routine level. Both brands provide deep hydration and plumping for dry skin types.

COSRX or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

Both COSRX and Medik8 offer effective cleansers, with COSRX doing better for acne and pore control. COSRX has a range of cleansers like the Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser which is rated Superior for sensitive and acne-prone skin, while Medik8 features options like Surface Radiance Cleanse which is also rated Superior for acne-prone skin.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Medik8?

COSRX is more affordable, whereas Medik8 frequently receives reviews citing a high price point.

COSRX or Medik8 for oily skin?

Both COSRX and Medik8 fit oily skin at a Superior level based on their brand-focused routines. COSRX is particularly noted for its strength in acne and pore control.

COSRX or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

Medik8 provides a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas COSRX offers a High routine fit for dry skin. Both brands offer moisturizers that help deliver deep hydration and moisturization.

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

COSRX or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Medik8 is a better fit for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to High for COSRX. Both brands help soothe and calm skin gently.

COSRX or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, both brands work well, but COSRX is noted on the page for better acne and pore control. Lovi rates COSRX as High and Medik8 as Superior for acne-prone skin.

COSRX or Medik8 for skin with dark spots?

Both COSRX and Medik8 achieve a High fit level for skin with dark spots according to Lovi. COSRX features a wide range of products targeting dark spots utilizing key ingredients like niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation. Medik8 also offers effective solutions for improving skin tone and brightness.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

COSRX or Medik8 for mature skin?

Both COSRX and Medik8 fit mature skin at a High level. COSRX products on this page often feature key ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, while Medik8 incorporates retinol, which helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

COSRX or Medik8 for dry sensitive skin?

For dry sensitive skin, Medik8 provides a Superior routine fit, whereas COSRX offers a High routine fit. Medik8 focuses on dry skin and dry sensitive skin as its best-fitting skin types, while COSRX centers its routines best around oily, oily acne-prone, and combination skin.

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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