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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 respected skincare brands founded in 2013 and 1990, respectively. COSRX is beloved for its thoughtful array of serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks that harness hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, while Avène is loved for its gentle moisturizers, protective sunscreens, targeted serums, and soothing cleansers formulated with glycerin. Both brands suit oily and acne-prone skin best, though the Korean brand also suits sensitive skin and the French brand also suits combination skin. They differ in their specific formulations and ownership, with the former offering specialized products for dark spots and mature skin while the latter features distinct recovery balms and plumping serums.

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 · 98% fit

COSRX vs Avène routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs Avène routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Avène: which is better?

COSRX has a Superior fit for oily, sensitive, and acne-prone skin, whereas Avène fits oily acne-prone, combination, and acne-prone skin best. COSRX products on this page often provide deep hydration and help improve skin texture, while Avène is frequently noted for soothing irritation.

What is the difference between COSRX and Avène?

COSRX achieves a Superior fit level for oily, sensitive, and acne-prone skin on the products on this page, while Avène provides a Superior fit for oily acne-prone skin. COSRX performs better for hydration, lightweight absorption, and acne control, whereas Avène stands out for soothing irritation.

COSRX or Avène for dry skin?

Both brands are a High fit for dry skin on Lovi. COSRX provides deeper hydration and moisture, while Avène is frequently praised for soothing irritation.

COSRX or Avène: which cleanser is better?

COSRX is better for cleansers on the products on this page, as its Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser achieves a Superior fit level for dry, sensitive, dry sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin types compared to Avène's cleansers. COSRX also offers more fragrance-free options across the products on this page.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Avène?

The provided page comparison does not mention pricing or affordability details for either COSRX or Avène.

How do COSRX and Avène compare in terms of fragrance across their product lines?

COSRX is less likely to contain fragrance, with 37 out of 38 products on this page listing no fragrance. In contrast, Avène includes fragrance in 8 out of its 15 products featured on the page.

Which brand performs better for soothing and calming irritated skin, COSRX or Avène?

Avène performs better than COSRX for soothing and calming irritated skin, as noted in the review themes on this page. Lovi gives Avène a High fit level for sensitive skin, and the products on this page help calm irritation.

What are the main differences in company origins and founding years between COSRX and Avène?

COSRX was founded in 2013 in South Korea, while Avène was founded in 1990 in France. COSRX is owned by Amorepacific Group, and Avène is owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre.

COSRX or Avène for oily skin?

For oily skin, COSRX has a Superior Lovi fit level, whereas Avène has a High Lovi fit level. COSRX helps with lightweight absorption and effective oil and acne control across the products on this page.

COSRX or Avène: which moisturizer is better?

For moisturizers, COSRX achieves a Superior fit level for dry skin while Avène achieves a High fit level. The products on this page show that COSRX moisturizers rely on ingredients like hyaluronic acid and snail mucin, which help provide deep hydration and improve skin texture.

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

COSRX or Avène for sensitive skin?

COSRX has a Superior Lovi fit for sensitive skin, while Avène has a High fit level. COSRX products on this page are mostly fragrance-free and feature soothing ingredients like centella asiatica and snail mucin.

COSRX or Avène: which sunscreen is better?

COSRX is better for sunscreen options on this page, as its sunscreens achieve a High fit level across dry skin, sensitive skin, and oily skin, whereas Avène sunscreens vary widely with low fits for dry and sensitive types. COSRX sunscreen products also help provide lightweight absorption and gentle protection without heavy scents.

COSRX or Avène for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, COSRX has a Superior routine fit compared to Avène's High level. The products on this page help provide effective acne control and clearing.

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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