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COSRX vs Kiehl's

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

COSRX and Kiehl's are two celebrated skincare brands that offer effective daily routines for different complexions. The former is dearly loved for its expertly formulated serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks featuring hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, which suit acne-prone and oily skin best. Meanwhile, the latter is beloved for thoughtful moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products incorporating nourishing glycerin and squalane, making it ideal for skin with dark spots and combination skin. While both elevate hydration and barrier function, they differ in their foundational philosophies, geographic origins, and specialized ingredient profiles.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

Kiehl's is an American skincare brand founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000.

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular COSRX vs Kiehl's products

People Say

COSRXKiehl's
  • Glow and skin texture improvement Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “woke up with soft, supple skin — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “gives me that glass skin look — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly like water — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “sinks in immediately — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
  • Gentle and non-stripping formula Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “no stinging — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “savior for dry patches — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “skin drinks it up — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
  • Effective 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”
    • “sucked the gunk out of my pores — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
  • High price and poor value Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for me — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Allergic reactions and skin irritation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “stings really bad if it accidentally gets in the eyes — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
    • “burns eyes when sweating — COSRX Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen”
    • “burned my face immediately — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “stings my face and feels like burning — Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
  • Dryness or insufficient moisture Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “some extremely dry skin types need a thicker balm or oil on top — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “left my face tight — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
  • No visible or slow results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Takes a month to work — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “didn't do anything — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Takes months to see — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”

COSRX vs Kiehl's routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

COSRX vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Kiehl's: which is better?

COSRX is better for sensitive and acne-prone skin, offering a more gentle formula and superior acne control, whereas Kiehl's is better for deep hydration and moisturization.

What is the difference between COSRX and Kiehl's?

COSRX is better for sensitive and acne-prone skin, offering superior fit levels, while Kiehl's focuses more on skin with dark spots, combination skin, and mature skin. Both brands provide deep hydration and improve skin texture, but COSRX is typically gentler and more effective for acne control.

COSRX or Kiehl's for dry skin?

For dry skin, both COSRX and Kiehl's achieve a High routine fit level on this page. COSRX features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and panthenol, which helps provide deep hydration and skin repair.

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

COSRX or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

COSRX is the better brand for cleansers because it offers superior fit levels for sensitive, acne-prone, and dry skin on this page, whereas Kiehl's is better suited for oily skin types. COSRX also excels in providing gentle and non-stripping formulas compared to Kiehl's.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Kiehl's?

When comparing affordability, COSRX is the better option because review themes note that Kiehl's has a high price point.

Between COSRX and Kiehl's, which brand offers better results for acne and pore control?

Between COSRX and Kiehl's, COSRX offers better results for acne and pore control because the products on this page provide effective acne control and clearing, with Lovi fit levels for acne-prone skin reaching Superior compared to Kiehl's Average.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of COSRX and Kiehl's compare?

COSRX was founded in 2013 in South Korea and has been owned by the Amorepacific Group since 2024, whereas Kiehl's was founded much earlier in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000.

Which brand performs better for sensitive skin according to the routine fit levels?

COSRX performs better for sensitive skin, with Lovi fit levels rating it as Superior compared to Kiehl's High.

COSRX or Kiehl's for oily skin?

COSRX is the better choice for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to High for Kiehl's. Reviewers also note that COSRX does better for effective acne and pore control.

COSRX or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

COSRX is better suited for acne-prone, oily, and sensitive skin, while Kiehl's specializes in deep hydration and anti-aging care. Both brands offer products with hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin quality and hydration.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Drug Delivery, 2017

COSRX or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, COSRX has a Superior routine fit, whereas Kiehl's routine fit is High. Reviewers note that COSRX provides a more gentle and non-stripping formula.

COSRX or Kiehl's: which sunscreen is better?

COSRX offers better sunscreen options overall, with products like the Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen achieving a superior fit level for acne-prone skin compared to Kiehl's. Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum also performs well for skin with dark spots and mature skin, but COSRX is generally favored for acne-prone and oily skin types.

COSRX or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

COSRX is the better choice for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to Kiehl's Average. The products on this page help provide effective acne control and gentle care with key ingredients like centella asiatica and niacinamide.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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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