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COSRX vs Elemis

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

COSRX and Elemis are two celebrated skincare brands founded in South Korea and the United Kingdom, respectively. The Korean brand is known for targeted serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks using hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, which suit acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, Elemis is celebrated for nourishing serums, rich moisturizers, gentle cleansers, and refreshing toners anchored by hydrating glycerin and softening shea, making it ideal for mature and dry skin. While the former focuses on clearing specific blemishes with standout items like the Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser, the latter restores suppleness with luxurious formulas such as the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular COSRX vs Elemis products

People Say

COSRXElemis
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Mostly MentionedMostly 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”
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Lightweight and fast absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “whipped silk feel — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “cloud-light gel formula — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “absorbs instantly like water — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
  • Soothing and gentle formulation Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “extremely gentle — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “perfect for first-time retinol users — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
  • Texture and glow improvements Often MentionedOften 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”
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
  • 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”
    • “face feels super clean — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
  • Spa-like and pleasant scents Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like a spa — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “smells like a holiday — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “smells like a tropical cocktail — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
  • Value and price concerns Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for me — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Unpleasant scents Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “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 smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Packaging and size issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “jar looks half empty — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “tube feels half empty — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “pump broke quickly — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “only 20mls... significantly less product — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”

COSRX vs Elemis routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

COSRX vs Elemis routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

COSRX vs Elemis routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Elemis: which is better?

COSRX is better suited for oily and acne-prone skin, offering a Superior routine fit, while Elemis excels with mature and dry skin. Both brands provide an equal routine fit for dry, combination, mature, dark spot, and dry sensitive skin types.

What is the difference between COSRX and Elemis?

COSRX is best suited for acne-prone, oily, and sensitive skin with a focus on gentle formulation and effective acne control, while Elemis specializes in mature and dry skin with a focus on luxurious textures and spa-like scents. Both brands offer high routine fit levels for most skin types, but reviewers note that Elemis has a higher price point while COSRX is often mentioned for value.

COSRX or Elemis for dry skin?

Both COSRX and Elemis offer a High routine fit for dry skin. COSRX features a high percentage of fragrance-free products and key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, while Elemis is noted for its luxurious textures and deep hydration.

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

COSRX or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

COSRX is better for acne and pore control, while Elemis leans toward luxurious textures and spa-like scents, but both offer great options for deep hydration. COSRX has a wider range of gentle cleansers, whereas Elemis focuses on richer cleansing balms and washes.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Elemis?

COSRX is more affordable, whereas Elemis faces frequent reviewer concerns regarding its high price point. Review themes note that COSRX does better with value and price concerns, while Elemis often receives negative feedback for its high price point.

Between COSRX and Elemis, which brand offers better soothing and gentle formulations for the skin?

Between the two brands, COSRX does better with soothing and gentle formulations. The products on this page are largely fragrance-free, whereas most Elemis products list added fragrance.

How do the fragrance profiles and presence of added scents compare between COSRX and Elemis products?

COSRX products on this page mostly omit added fragrance, with 37 of 38 listing no fragrance, whereas Elemis products frequently feature added scents, with only 4 of 22 listing no fragrance. Reviewers note that COSRX may occasionally have an unpleasant scent, while Elemis is often praised for spa-like and pleasant scents.

Which brand performs better for acne and pore control when comparing COSRX and Elemis?

COSRX performs better for acne and pore control than Elemis. Reviewers on the page note that COSRX excels in effective acne control and clearing, making its routine a Superior fit for acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin.

COSRX or Elemis for oily skin?

COSRX is the better choice for oily skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis, which has a High fit level. COSRX products on this page are mostly fragrance-free and excel in oil and acne control, whereas Elemis focuses more on rich, hydrating formulations.

COSRX or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

Both COSRX and Elemis offer moisturizers with a high Lovi fit for dry skin, but COSRX is superior for oily and acne-prone skin while Elemis excels for mature and dry sensitive skin. Reviewers note that COSRX products provide deep hydration with lightweight absorption, whereas Elemis options offer luxurious textures with spa-like scents.

COSRX or Elemis for sensitive skin?

COSRX is better suited for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis's High fit. The products on this page are largely fragrance-free, which helps minimize potential irritation.

COSRX or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

COSRX is the better choice for acne-prone skin, achieving a Superior routine fit level compared to Elemis's High fit. The products on this page help provide effective acne control and clearing while maintaining a gentle and non-irritating formulation.

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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