🇪🇸Spain

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 skincare brands that offer serums, moisturizers, and more, with the former known for formulas using hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, and the latter built around hyaluronic acid. The Korean brand suits acne-prone skin and sensitive skin best, whereas the British brand fits dry skin and dry sensitive skin best. They differ in their core ingredient scope and targeted complexions, while both utilize hyaluronic acid to care for the skin.

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

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

COSRX vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

COSRX vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Medik8: which is better?

COSRX is better for acne-prone skin with a Superior Lovi fit level, whereas Medik8 is better for dry and dry sensitive skin with Superior Lovi fit levels. COSRX also does better for acne and pore control among the products on this page.

What is the difference between COSRX and Medik8?

COSRX is a South Korean brand founded in 2013 that focuses primarily on acne-prone, sensitive, and oily acne-prone skin with products like snail mucin and various acids. Medik8 is a British brand founded in 2009 that specializes in dry and combination skin using advanced anti-aging ingredients like retinoids and peptides.

COSRX or Medik8 for dry skin?

Medik8 is well-suited for dry skin, with Lovi rating its routine fit as Superior compared to COSRX's High. Both brands provide deep hydration, and Medik8's Hydr8 B5 Intense moisturizer and Press & Glow toner help nourish dry skin effectively.

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

COSRX or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

COSRX is better for acne-prone skin, as its Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser achieves a Superior fit level for acne-prone skin compared to Medik8. Conversely, Medik8's Surface Radiance Cleanse is better for oily acne-prone skin, achieving a Superior fit level while COSRX's Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser only reaches an Average fit level for that skin type.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Medik8?

COSRX is more affordable, as Medik8 has a high price point among the products on this page.

Between COSRX and Medik8, which brand is owned by Amorepacific Group?

COSRX is owned by Amorepacific Group, having been acquired by the company in 2024.

How does the routine fit for dry sensitive skin compare between COSRX and Medik8?

For dry sensitive skin, Lovi rates the routine fit as High for COSRX and Superior for Medik8.

Which brand has a wider variety of key ingredients like snail mucin and Centella asiatica across its products?

COSRX has a wider variety of key ingredients across the products on this page, including snail mucin, Centella asiatica, niacinamide, and panthenol. Medik8 relies primarily on hyaluronic acid and peptide complexes as its main active ingredients.

COSRX or Medik8 for oily skin?

Both COSRX and Medik8 offer a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that COSRX excels in acne and pore control, while Medik8 provides strong brightening and glow effects.

COSRX or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

Both COSRX and Medik8 offer effective moisturizers, with COSRX products on this page fitting acne-prone and oily skin better, while Medik8 fits dry and combination skin better. Both brands are noted for deep hydration and plumping, helping skin retain moisture without heavy residues.

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

COSRX or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Both COSRX and Medik8 achieve a Superior Lovi routine fit for sensitive skin. COSRX features a range where 37 of 38 products list no fragrance, while Medik8 products are noted for gentle and non-irritating serums.

COSRX or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

COSRX is a better fit than Medik8 for acne-prone skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Medik8's High level. The products on this page from COSRX excel in acne and pore control, whereas Medik8 does better with skin texture and glow.

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