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COSRX vs Kiehl's

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

COSRX and Kiehl's are two respected skincare brands offering serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks designed for various needs. The Korean brand, founded in 2013 and owned by Amorepacific Group, harnesses hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit oily and sensitive skin. Meanwhile, the American brand, founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A., relies on nourishing glycerin and squalane to best support mature and combination skin. While both lines improve hydration and barrier function, they differ in their specific formulations and target skin types.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

Kiehl's is an American skincare brand founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000.

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular COSRX vs Kiehl's products

People Say

COSRXKiehl's
  • Glow and skin texture improvement Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly like water — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “sinks in immediately — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
  • Gentle and non-stripping formula Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “no stinging — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “savior for dry patches — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “skin drinks it up — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
  • Effective acne and pore control Often MentionedSometimes 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”
    • “sucked the gunk out of my pores — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
  • High price and poor value Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for me — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Allergic reactions and skin irritation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “stings really bad if it accidentally gets in the eyes — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
    • “burns eyes when sweating — COSRX Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen”
    • “burned my face immediately — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “stings my face and feels like burning — Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
  • Dryness or insufficient moisture Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “some extremely dry skin types need a thicker balm or oil on top — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “left my face tight — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
  • No visible or slow results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Takes a month to work — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “didn't do anything — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Takes months to see — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”

COSRX vs Kiehl's routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

COSRX vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Kiehl's: which is better?

COSRX is better for acne-prone, oily, and sensitive skin, where Lovi rates its routines as Superior. Kiehl's brings deeper hydration and moisturization compared to COSRX.

What is the difference between COSRX and Kiehl's?

COSRX outperforms Kiehl's for acne-prone skin with a Superior Lovi fit level compared to Kiehl's Average, and COSRX also achieves a Superior fit for oily and sensitive skin. Reviewers indicate that COSRX provides more effective acne and pore control, whereas Kiehl's is noted for deep hydration and moisturization.

COSRX or Kiehl's for dry skin?

For dry skin, COSRX and Kiehl's perform equally well, as Lovi rates both brands' routines as High. The products on this page help provide deep hydration and moisturization using key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin.

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

COSRX or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

COSRX is better for acne-prone skin, where Lovi rates its cleansers like the Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser as Superior compared to Kiehl's Average fit. Kiehl's delivers deep hydration and moisturization better across the products on this page.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Kiehl's?

When looking at review themes, Kiehl's is noted for having a high price point, whereas COSRX is noted for high price and poor value.

Between COSRX and Kiehl's, which brand is better suited for mature skin?

Between COSRX and Kiehl's, both brands offer a High routine fit for mature skin. Reviewers note that COSRX helps with gentle and non-stripping formulas and effective acne and pore control, while Kiehl's provides deep hydration and moisturization.

How do COSRX and Kiehl's compare when it comes to gentle and non-stripping formulas?

When it comes to gentle and non-stripping formulas, COSRX does better than Kiehl's. Reviewers mention that COSRX offers a gentle and non-stripping formula that helps keep skin comfortable.

Which brand performs better for effective acne and pore control, COSRX or Kiehl's?

COSRX performs better for effective acne and pore control. Lovi rates COSRX as having a Superior routine fit for oily acne-prone skin, compared to a High fit for Kiehl's.

COSRX or Kiehl's for oily skin?

For oily skin, COSRX is superior, whereas Kiehl's has a high routine fit level on the products on this page. COSRX helps with acne and pore control for oily skin.

COSRX or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

Between the products on this page, COSRX is superior for oily and acne-prone skin, while Kiehl's offers deep hydration with moisturizers like the Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and hydration, which is a key benefit found across both brands.

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

COSRX or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

COSRX is the better choice for sensitive skin, where Lovi rates the brand as Superior compared to High for Kiehl's. The products on this page help provide gentle and non-stripping care for sensitive skin types.

COSRX or Kiehl's: which sunscreen is better?

COSRX is better for acne-prone skin, as its Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen has a Superior Lovi fit level for acne-prone skin compared to Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum which has a High fit level. Both brands offer solid options with High Lovi fit levels for sensitive skin and skin with dark spots.

COSRX or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, COSRX is the better choice because Lovi rates its routine as Superior, whereas Kiehl's routine fit is only Average.

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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