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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. Skincare enthusiasts adore the former for its thoughtfully formulated serums, moisturizers, cleansers, masks, and more, which harness proven components like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, while the latter is loved for its gentle moisturizers, protective sunscreens, targeted serums, and soothing cleansers, all formulated with glycerin. Both suit acne-prone skin and sensitive skin best, as their gentle, targeted formulations address reactive complexions with remarkable efficacy. They differ in their specific product lineups and founding origins, with the Korean brand addressing concerns through items like the Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser, the Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner, and the Centella Water Alcohol-Free Toner, and the French brand offering solutions like the Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm, the Cleanance, and the Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum.

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

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

COSRX vs Avène routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

COSRX vs Avène routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Avène: which is better?

COSRX offers better hydration, faster absorption, and more effective acne control, while Avène is preferred for soothing irritation. Overall, Lovi rates COSRX as a Superior fit for sensitive and acne-prone skin, whereas Avène is rated High.

What is the difference between COSRX and Avène?

COSRX offers better hydration and acne control, while Avène does better at soothing irritation. For overall skin types like sensitive and acne-prone skin, COSRX has a superior fit level.

COSRX or Avène for dry skin?

COSRX is the better choice for dry skin, where Lovi rates its routine as High compared to Avène's Average. The products on this page help provide deep hydration and moisturization with ingredients like sodium hyaluronate.

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

COSRX or Avène: which cleanser is better?

COSRX offers a wider range of cleansers with a Superior Lovi fit level for specific skin types, such as the Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser for sensitive and acne-prone skin, compared to Avène.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Avène?

This page does not compare the prices or affordability of COSRX and Avène products.

COSRX or Avène: which has better options for dry sensitive skin?

COSRX has better options for dry sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as High compared to Avène's Average. Furthermore, the products on this page for COSRX generally feature gentle ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which help maintain moisture without irritation.

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

COSRX or Avène: which brand has more products containing fragrance?

Avène has more products containing fragrance on this page, with eight fragranced items compared to only one from COSRX.

COSRX or Avène: which is better for managing skin with dark spots?

COSRX and Avène both have a High Lovi fit for skin with dark spots. COSRX features targeted brightening options like niacinamide serums that help reduce pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

COSRX or Avène for oily skin?

Both COSRX and Avène offer a High routine fit for oily skin. The products on this page help provide effective oil control and lightweight absorption.

COSRX or Avène: which moisturizer is better?

COSRX and Avène both offer moisturizers with strong product ratings on this page, but COSRX is a better fit for dry or sensitive skin with a High to Superior Lovi fit level compared to Avène's Average level. Hyaluronic acid in these moisturizers helps improve skin quality and hydration.

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

COSRX or Avène for sensitive skin?

COSRX is a better fit for sensitive skin than Avène, as Lovi rates COSRX as a Superior fit for sensitive skin compared to Avène's High fit rating.

COSRX or Avène: which sunscreen is better?

COSRX offers sunscreens with high fit levels across a wider range of skin types on this page compared to Avène, which has lower ratings for dry and sensitive skin. Additionally, almost all COSRX sunscreens are fragrance-free, whereas over half of Avène's sunscreens on this page contain fragrance.

COSRX or Avène for acne-prone skin?

COSRX is the better choice for acne-prone skin, as the products on this page achieve a Superior fit level compared to Avène's High fit level. Furthermore, COSRX performs better for acne and pores control.

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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