🇩🇪Germany

COSRX vs Olay

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

COSRX and Olay are two skincare brands known for offering expertly formulated serums, moisturizers, cleansers, masks, eye products, and more. COSRX is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2013 and owned by Amorepacific Group since 2024, thoughtfully incorporating hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit acne-prone skin and oily skin best. Meanwhile, the second brand thoughtfully pairs niacinamide and glycerin to suit acne-prone skin and mature skin best, offering gentle care suited to these complex needs. While both brands utilize shared key ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin, they differ in their specific formulations, targeted concerns, and regional origins.

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 COSRX and Olay products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular COSRX vs Olay products

People Say

COSRXOlay
  • Lightweight and fast absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “absorbs instantly like water — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
  • Skin texture and smoothness improvement Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “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 baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “hydrates the skin — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
    • “skin drinks it up — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
  • Gentle, non-stripping, and non-irritating formula Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
  • Acne, blackhead, and oil control Often MentionedNot 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”
  • Radiance and brightening effects Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “skin looks brighter — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
  • Packaging issues and sizing concerns Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “only 20mls... significantly less product — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “tube is tiny — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
    • “dropper is frustrating — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
  • Slow, no, or ineffective results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “no change in circles — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “Takes a month to work — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “no visible difference — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “no difference — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
  • Unpleasant texture and heavy residue 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”
    • “Wake up feeling a bit greasy — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “cakes up all over — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”

COSRX vs Olay routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

COSRX vs Olay routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs Olay routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Olay: which is better?

COSRX has a Superior routine fit for oily acne-prone, sensitive, and acne-prone skin, whereas Olay offers a High fit level for those skin types. Reviewers note that COSRX provides a more gentle, non-stripping, and non-irritating formula, while Olay delivers better deep hydration and moisturization.

What is the difference between COSRX and Olay?

COSRX excels in acne, blackhead, and oil control along with gentle formulations, while Olay stands out for deep hydration and radiance effects. Both brands provide high routine fits for dry, combination, mature, dark spot, and dry sensitive skin, though COSRX achieves superior fit levels for oily, sensitive, acne-prone, and oily acne-prone skin.

COSRX or Olay for dry skin?

Both COSRX and Olay achieve a High fit level for dry skin on this page. COSRX helps dry skin through deeply hydrating products like the Advanced Snail Mucin Power Sheet Mask and Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence, while Olay provides rich moisturization with options like the Regenerist Ultra Rich Hydrating Moisturizer.

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

COSRX or Olay: which cleanser is better?

COSRX is better for gentle cleansing and acne control, as the products on this page achieve a superior fit for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Olay cleansers are less tailored for these needs, often showing average or lower fit levels for reactive and blemish-prone skin types.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Olay?

The products on this page do not include pricing information, so a comparison of affordability cannot be made between COSRX and Olay.

COSRX or Olay: which is better for gentle, non-irritating formulas?

COSRX is better for gentle and non-irritating skincare, as its formulas are often noted for being gentle and non-irritating.

COSRX or Olay: which has better options for fragrance-free products?

COSRX has better options for fragrance-free products, as 37 of the 38 products on this page list no fragrance, compared to Olay which has 26 out of 27 fragrance-free options.

COSRX or Olay for oily skin?

For oily skin, COSRX has a Superior routine fit while Olay has a High fit level. COSRX products on this page help with oil control and clearing.

COSRX or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, both COSRX and Olay offer products on this page with High fit levels for dry and mature skin, making them equally effective choices depending on your ingredient preference. COSRX helps soothe skin with snail mucin and propolis, while Olay is known for intense hydration and anti-aging benefits using ingredients like niacinamide and peptides.

COSRX or Olay for sensitive skin?

COSRX has a Superior fit for sensitive skin, whereas Olay has a High fit. The products on this page help provide gentle and non-irritating care with ingredients like panthenol that helps soothe the skin.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

COSRX or Olay: which sunscreen is better?

COSRX has a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin with its Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen, whereas Olay has a High fit with its Regenerist Whip Face Moisturizer SPF 25.

COSRX or Olay for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, COSRX is the better choice, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Olay's High fit level.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play