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COSRX vs Elemis

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

COSRX and Elemis are two celebrated skincare brands founded in South Korea and Britain, respectively. Both offer thoughtfully formulated serums, moisturizers, and cleansers, though the former harnesses ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, while the latter utilizes glycerin and shea butter. The Korean brand suits acne-prone and oily skin best with targeted formulations for blemishes, whereas the British brand caters to mature, dry, and sensitive skin through deeply conditioning components. They differ distinctly in their heritages, founding eras, and primary ingredient philosophies.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular COSRX vs Elemis products

People Say

COSRXElemis
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Mostly MentionedMostly 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”
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Lightweight and fast absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
    • “whipped silk feel — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “cloud-light gel formula — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
    • “absorbs instantly like water — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
  • Soothing and gentle formulation Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
  • Texture and glow improvements Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “gives me that glass skin look — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “skin feels softer immediately — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
  • 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”
    • “face feels super clean — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
  • Spa-like and pleasant scents Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like a spa — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
    • “smells like a holiday — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “smells like a tropical cocktail — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
  • Value and price concerns Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for me — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Unpleasant scents 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)”
    • “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Packaging and size issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “jar looks half empty — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “tube feels half empty — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “pump broke quickly — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “only 20mls... significantly less product — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”

COSRX vs Elemis routines for dry skin

Buy COSRX routine · SAR 690.19 · 83% fitBuy Elemis routine · SAR 3,641.86 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs Elemis routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · SAR 843.29 · 90% fitBuy Elemis routine · SAR 2,382.67 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

COSRX vs Elemis routines for combination skin

Buy COSRX routine · SAR 735.92 · 89% fitBuy Elemis routine · SAR 2,337.01 · 79% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Elemis: which is better?

COSRX is better for oily and acne-prone skin types, where Lovi rates its routines as Superior, whereas Elemis is better for mature skin and dry sensitive skin. Elemis also offers more spa-like and scented products, but reviewers frequently mention concerns with its high price point.

What is the difference between COSRX and Elemis?

COSRX is a South Korean brand founded in 2013 that focuses best on acne-prone, oily acne-prone, and oily skin with mostly fragrance-free products. Elemis is a British brand founded in 1989 that focuses best on mature skin, dry sensitive skin, and skin with dark spots while frequently featuring fragrance.

COSRX or Elemis for dry skin?

Both COSRX and Elemis achieve a High Lovi routine fit level for dry skin. COSRX features targeted hydration products like the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence which is rated Superior for dry skin, while Elemis offers nourishing formulations such as the Pro-Collagen Night Cream rated Superior for dry sensitive skin.

COSRX or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

COSRX is better for acne-prone, oily, and sensitive skin, while Elemis offers products well-suited for mature and dry sensitive skin. Both brands provide effective hydration and moisturization.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Elemis?

COSRX is more affordable, whereas Elemis presents value and price concerns as a frequent negative review theme.

COSRX or Elemis: which brand is better for mature skin?

Both COSRX and Elemis are great options for mature skin, achieving a High fit level on Lovi. COSRX offers targeted anti-aging and brightening ingredients like retinol and niacinamide, whereas Elemis focuses on luxurious pro-collagen formulas to help smooth skin texture.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Which brand has more products with added fragrance, COSRX or Elemis?

Elemis has more products with added fragrance than COSRX. On this page, Elemis features added fragrance in 18 out of 22 products, whereas COSRX includes fragrance in only 1 of its 38 products.

COSRX or Elemis: which is better for skin with dark spots?

Both COSRX and Elemis have a High Lovi fit level for skin with dark spots. COSRX features key ingredients like niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation, while Elemis offers products formulated with exfoliating enzymes and acids to address uneven skin tone.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

COSRX or Elemis for oily skin?

COSRX is better for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior while Elemis is High.

COSRX or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

COSRX and Elemis both offer moisturizers that help with deep hydration, though COSRX products on this page have a Superior fit for oily and acne-prone skin while Elemis fits mature skin and dry sensitive skin best. COSRX moisturizers rely on ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, which helps improve skin texture and hydration.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

COSRX or Elemis for sensitive skin?

COSRX is the better choice for sensitive skin, achieving a Lovi fit level of Superior compared to Elemis at High. The brand offers gentle and non-irritating formulations with minimal fragrance, as 37 of the 38 products on this page list no fragrance.

COSRX or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

COSRX is the better choice for acne-prone skin, achieving a Superior Lovi fit level compared to Elemis's High level. The brand features specialized products like BHA Blackhead Power Liquid and Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser that help control acne and clear pores effectively.

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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