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The Ordinary vs COSRX

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

The Ordinary and COSRX are two popular skincare brands known for offering targeted serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and more built around key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide. The Canadian brand fits dry sensitive skin and dry skin best, whereas the Korean counterpart suits acne-prone skin and oily acne-prone skin best through formulations that address specific blemishes effectively. Both harness scientifically backed compounds to benefit the complexion remarkably, yet they differ in their primary focus and foundational regional origins.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

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

Popular The Ordinary vs COSRX products

People Say

The OrdinaryCOSRX
  • Miscellaneous Performance Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “dark skin friendly — COSRX Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen”
    • “calms down my redness — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
  • Smooth and Improved Skin Texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “gives me that glass skin look — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “skin feels softer immediately — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “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”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Care Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Value and Pricing Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “huge bottle — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
  • Hydration and Moisture Sometimes NotedMostly 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”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Texture and Pilling Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “texture is gooey and stringy — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “too slimy and sticky — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “Leaves a sticky film — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Irritation and Harshness Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “irritated AF the next day — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “left my face tight — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “leaves skin feeling tight — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
  • Miscellaneous Complaints Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Takes a month to work — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “didn't do anything — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “did absolutely nothing — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “Hard to layer — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”

The Ordinary vs COSRX routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs COSRX routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs COSRX routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or COSRX: which is better?

The Ordinary offers better value and pricing with superior routine fit for dry, sensitive, and dark spot-prone skin, while COSRX delivers better hydration and acne-prone care with superior routine fit for acne and oily skin.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and COSRX?

The Ordinary fits dry sensitive skin, dry skin, and oily skin best, while COSRX focuses best on acne-prone skin, oily acne-prone skin, and oily skin. Reviewers find that COSRX does better for hydration and sensitive skin care, whereas The Ordinary offers better value and pricing.

The Ordinary or COSRX for dry skin?

For dry skin, The Ordinary fits better with a superior routine level compared to COSRX which has a high routine fit level. The Ordinary products on this page offer great value and strong hydration options, such as natural moisturizing factors and hyaluronic acid.

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

The Ordinary or COSRX: which cleanser is better?

Both The Ordinary and COSRX offer cleansers that fit sensitive, oily, and combination skin at a High level on Lovi. The Ordinary also achieves a Superior fit for dry skin and dry sensitive skin with its Glycolipid Cream Cleanser.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or COSRX?

The Ordinary provides better value and pricing among the products on this page compared to COSRX.

Which brand performs better for hydration and moisture, The Ordinary or COSRX?

COSRX performs better for hydration and moisture according to reviewer feedback on the products on this page.

How do The Ordinary and COSRX compare for managing skin with dark spots?

For managing skin with dark spots, The Ordinary offers a superior routine fit compared to COSRX, which has a high fit level. Both brands provide products that help with pigmentation concerns, such as niacinamide which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Which brand is better suited for gentle and sensitive skin care, The Ordinary or COSRX?

COSRX is better suited for gentle and sensitive skin care, as it outperforms The Ordinary in review themes for gentle and sensitive skin care. Lovi rates the routine fit for sensitive skin as Superior for The Ordinary and High for COSRX.

The Ordinary or COSRX for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi finds The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit, while COSRX has a High routine fit.

The Ordinary or COSRX: which moisturizer is better?

Both brands offer effective moisturizers, but COSRX is noted for superior hydration and moisture, while The Ordinary provides great value and pricing across its range. Reviewers often mention COSRX products for deep hydration and moisturization.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or COSRX for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, Lovi finds The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit, whereas COSRX has a High fit level. Reviewers indicate that COSRX does better for gentle and sensitive skin care overall, and the products on this page for both brands feature mostly fragrance-free formulas.

The Ordinary or COSRX for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, COSRX is superior while The Ordinary has a high fit. Reviewers note that COSRX provides effective acne control and clearing, and the products on this page feature key ingredients like snail mucin and centella asiatica that help soothe blemishes.

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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