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COSRX vs Clinique

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

COSRX and Clinique are distinct skincare brands rooted in different regions and eras, with the former founded in South Korea in 2013 and the latter in America in 1968. COSRX is a Korean skincare brand beloved for serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks featuring hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, while the American brand is widely loved for its moisturizers, serums, makeup removers, and eye products incorporating hydrating hyaluronic acid, nourishing glycerin, and invigorating caffeine. Both brands suit oily skin and sensitive skin best, as their comforting, balancing formulations soothe irritation and manage moisture. They differ primarily in their specific target audiences and heritage, with the first brand specializing in solutions like the Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser for acne-prone skin, and the second offering targeted options such as the Clarifying Do-Over Peel.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

Clinique is an American skincare brand founded in 1968 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.combusinesswire.comglossy.co

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

Popular COSRX vs Clinique products

People Say

COSRXClinique
  • Soothing and calming for sensitive skin Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “perfect for first-time retinol users — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “No strong scent — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly like water — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “sinks in immediately — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “sinks in instantly — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
  • 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”
    • “gives me that glass skin look — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
  • Acne and pore control Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “extremely gentle — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “helped to improve my acne after only 2 weeks — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
    • “gentle enough for everyday — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
    • “You will see the dirt with one wipe — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
  • Improves skin texture and smoothness Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “skin feels softer immediately — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “Skin feels like glass — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “smoother skin — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
  • Makeup base compatibility Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “holds concealer in place — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “wake up glowing — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
  • Insufficient hydration or dryness Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “left my face tight — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “leaves skin feeling tight — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
    • “skin felt tight — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
    • “Made my skin super dry — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
  • High price and poor value Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “expensive for me — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
  • 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”
    • “didn't help dark circles — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “don't expect miracles overnight — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
  • Sticky or greasy finish Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “hard to rinse off — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
    • “feels sticky to the touch — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “Left an oily film on my T-zone — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “texture is gooey and stringy — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”

COSRX vs Clinique routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

COSRX vs Clinique routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs Clinique routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Clinique: which is better?

COSRX is generally better than Clinique for overall skincare performance on the products on this page, offering superior fit levels for oily, sensitive, and acne-prone skin types. Both brands provide effective hydration and gentle formulations, but COSRX achieves better scores for deep hydration and texture improvement.

What is the difference between COSRX and Clinique?

COSRX is founded in South Korea and owned by Amorepacific, while Clinique is founded in the United States and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies. For routine fit, Lovi rates COSRX as Superior for oily skin, sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, and oily acne-prone skin, whereas Clinique is rated as High for those same skin types.

COSRX or Clinique for dry skin?

Both COSRX and Clinique are good options for dry skin, as Lovi rates the routine fit for both brands as High. The products on this page help provide deep hydration and moisturization.

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

COSRX or Clinique: which cleanser is better?

COSRX offers cleansers with superior or high Lovi fit levels across multiple skin types, whereas Clinique cleansers generally receive lower fit ratings on this page. Reviewers note that the products on this page for both brands feature gentle and effective cleansers.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Clinique?

Clinique is often noted for a high price point, whereas review themes on this page indicate that COSRX has better value, though COSRX is also cited for high price and poor value.

COSRX or Clinique: which offers better deep hydration and plumping?

COSRX offers better deep hydration and plumping than Clinique, as noted in the review themes for the products on this page. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

How do the fragrance-free options compare between COSRX and Clinique?

Both brands offer fragrance-free options, as all products on the Clinique page list no fragrance and 37 out of 38 products on the COSRX page do.

COSRX or Clinique: which brand performs better for oily acne-prone skin?

COSRX performs better for oily acne-prone skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Clinique's High fit.

COSRX or Clinique for oily skin?

COSRX is the better choice for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Clinique's High. Reviewers note that the products on this page help with oil control and provide lightweight absorption.

COSRX or Clinique: which moisturizer is better?

Both COSRX and Clinique offer effective moisturizers, but COSRX is better for deep hydration and plumping according to the products on this page. Lovi rates COSRX moisturizers with a Superior fit for several skin types like oily and acne-prone skin, whereas Clinique is rated High for those categories.

COSRX or Clinique for sensitive skin?

COSRX is a better fit than Clinique for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates COSRX as having a Superior routine fit compared to Clinique's High fit level. Both brands offer fragrance-free formulations across the products on this page to help minimize irritation.

COSRX or Clinique for acne-prone skin?

COSRX is the better choice for acne-prone skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Clinique's Average fit on the products on this page.

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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