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COSRX vs Clarins

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

COSRX and Clarins are two distinct skincare lines established respectively in 2013 and 1954. COSRX is celebrated for its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks featuring hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, suiting acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin best through targeted formulations. Meanwhile, the French brand is loved for its luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, soothing eye products, and gentle toners enriched with shea and squalane, which suit sensitive and dry sensitive skin best because of their gentle and nourishing nature. Ultimately, both differ as the former relies on science-driven components for specific blemishes, whereas the latter utilizes botanical elements for soothing and firming care.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

Clarins is a French skincare brand founded in 1954 and owned by Famille C (Groupe Clarins).

groupeclarins.comen.wikipedia.orghappi.com

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

Popular COSRX vs Clarins products

People Say

COSRXClarins
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — Clarins Double Serum”
    • “keeps skin moist — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
    • “woke up with baby soft skin — Clarins Multi-Active Nuit”
    • “skin drinks it up — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly like water — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “sinks in immediately — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “absorbs immediately — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
  • Skin texture improvement and smoothness Often 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”
    • “neck feels smoother — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
  • Gentle and non-stripping formula Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “perfect for first-time retinol users — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “no irritation for contact wearers — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
  • Effective 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”
    • “doesn't make me greasy — Clarins Double Serum Light Texture”
  • Luxurious texture Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “melting non-oily texture — Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream”
    • “Creamy texture feels luxurious upon application — Clarins Extra-Firming Day Cream”
    • “feels like silk — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Scent and fragrance issues 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)”
    • “smells like perfume — Clarins Multi-Active Jour”
  • High price and value concerns Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for me — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “way too expensive — Clarins Double Serum”
  • Packaging and size issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “only 20mls... significantly less product — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “tube is tiny — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “dispenses too much product — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “dispenses too much — Clarins Double Serum Eye”
  • Ineffective or slow 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 see a lift — Clarins Total Eye Lift”
    • “no change in circles — Clarins Double Serum Eye”

COSRX vs Clarins routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

COSRX vs Clarins routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

COSRX vs Clarins routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Clarins: which is better?

COSRX is better for acne-prone and oily skin, where Lovi rates its routines as Superior, whereas both brands offer High routine fit for dry, sensitive, mature, and dark-spot-prone skin. COSRX products on this page are generally fragrance-free and excel at acne control and smoothness, while Clarins is known for luxurious textures and deep hydration but often features strong fragrances.

What is the difference between COSRX and Clarins?

COSRX is founded in South Korea and focuses on acne control and skin texture with mostly fragrance-free products, while Clarins is founded in France and emphasizes luxurious textures and deep moisturization with mostly fragranced formulas. Both brands offer high routine fit for dry, sensitive, mature, and dark-spot-prone skin, but COSRX is superior for oily and acne-prone skin.

COSRX or Clarins for dry skin?

Both COSRX and Clarins achieve a High routine fit for dry skin. COSRX features a routine fit level of High and includes products that help provide deep hydration and moisture.

COSRX or Clarins: which cleanser is better?

COSRX is the better choice for cleansers because the products on this page achieve a High fit level for acne-prone, oily acne-prone, and oily skin, whereas Clarins cleansers generally achieve only Average fits for those skin types.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Clarins?

Clarins has concerns about a high price point, whereas COSRX faces concerns regarding high price and value.

Between COSRX and Clarins, which brand has better options for mature skin?

Both COSRX and Clarins are great choices for mature skin, with Lovi fit levels of High for COSRX and High for Clarins. Both brands feature products that help improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Archives of Dermatology, 2007

How do COSRX and Clarins differ in their use of fragrance across products?

COSRX offers almost entirely fragrance-free products on this page, with only one product listing fragrance, whereas Clarins includes fragrance in nearly all of its products on the page.

Which brand performs better for acne-control and pore management, COSRX or Clarins?

COSRX performs better for acne control and pore management, offering superior routine fit for acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin compared to Clarins' average fit.

COSRX or Clarins for oily skin?

COSRX is the better choice for oily skin, offering a High routine fit compared to Clarins' Average fit. The products on this page help control oil and clear acne effectively while maintaining a lightweight finish.

COSRX or Clarins: which moisturizer is better?

Both COSRX and Clarins offer moisturizers that fit dry skin at a High level, with COSRX also achieving High fit levels for oily, combination, and sensitive skin. Clarins products on this page frequently feature a strong fragrance, whereas COSRX products on this page list no fragrance in 37 of 38 items.

COSRX or Clarins for sensitive skin?

Both COSRX and Clarins have a High Lovi fit for sensitive skin. COSRX has fragrance in only 1 of its 38 products on this page, whereas almost all Clarins products contain fragrance.

COSRX or Clarins for acne-prone skin?

COSRX is the better choice for acne-prone skin, where Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to an Average fit for Clarins. The products on this page help with 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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