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COSRX vs The INKEY List

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

COSRX and The INKEY List are popular skincare brands that offer serums, moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and more. The Korean brand COSRX suits acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin best with targeted formulations harnessing hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, while the British brand fits combination and sensitive skin best with products built around glycerin. Both brands differ in their founding years, geographic origins, and overarching ingredient focuses, though each thoughtfully serves distinct complexion needs.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

The INKEY List is a British skincare brand founded in 2018 and owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited.

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

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

Popular COSRX vs The INKEY List products

People Say

COSRXThe INKEY List
  • Deep hydration and moisturization 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”
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly like water — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “sinks in immediately — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “feels like applying straight up water to the skin — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
  • Texture improvement and smoothing 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”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Gentle and non-stripping formula Often MentionedSometimes 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”
    • “Never tight or stripped — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
  • Value for money Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Good for the price — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “One of the best balms for quality and also price — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “unbeatable value — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “huge bottle — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
  • 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”
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
  • Packaging issues and small size Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “only 20mls... significantly less product — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “tube is tiny — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “tube cracked on the side — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Drying or insufficient for dry skin Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “left my face tight — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “leaves skin feeling tight — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
    • “have dry skin but this doesn't feel hydrating at all — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “leaves under eye dry — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
  • Unpleasant texture and sticky finish Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “texture is gooey and stringy — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “too slimy and sticky — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “Feels tacky on skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Leaves a greasy film on face after washing — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”

COSRX vs The INKEY List routines for dry skin

Buy COSRX routine · SAR 690.19 · 83% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · SAR 1,013.85 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs The INKEY List routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · SAR 843.29 · 90% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · SAR 1,267.37 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

COSRX vs The INKEY List routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · SAR 1,056.73 · 90% fitBuy COSRX routine · SAR 735.92 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or The INKEY List: which is better?

COSRX is better for acne-prone skin, oily skin, and oily acne-prone skin, where Lovi rates its fit as Superior, whereas The INKEY List is better for combination skin. For other skin types, both brands achieve equal fit levels on the products on this page.

What is the difference between COSRX and The INKEY List?

COSRX is a South Korean brand focused primarily on acne-prone, oily acne-prone, and oily skin, whereas The INKEY List is a United Kingdom brand focused primarily on combination, sensitive, and oily acne-prone skin. COSRX performs better for acne and pore control and texture improvement, while The INKEY List offers better value for money according to reviewer themes.

COSRX or The INKEY List for dry skin?

Both COSRX and The INKEY List achieve a High Lovi fit level for dry skin. Reviewers note that both brands deliver deep hydration and moisturization with lightweight and fast-absorbing formulas.

COSRX or The INKEY List: which cleanser is better?

Both COSRX and The INKEY List offer popular cleansers on the products on this page, but COSRX is better for texture improvement and smoothing as well as acne and pore control. Lovi fit levels show that COSRX has cleansers with superior fit for acne-prone, oily acne-prone, and sensitive skin, while The INKEY List cleansers also offer high fit for acne-prone and oily skin types.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or The INKEY List?

The INKEY List does better than COSRX for value for money on the products on this page.

COSRX or The INKEY List for acne and pore control?

For acne and pore control, COSRX does better than The INKEY List, earning a Superior Lovi fit level for acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin on the products on this page.

Which brand has a better routine fit for oily acne-prone skin?

COSRX has a better routine fit for oily acne-prone skin, offering a Superior level compared to the High fit level of The INKEY List. The products on this page help provide effective acne control and clearing.

COSRX or The INKEY List for oily skin?

For oily skin, COSRX has a Superior Lovi fit level, whereas The INKEY List has a High fit level. Reviewers note that COSRX does better for acne and pore control, while both brands offer lightweight and fast-absorbing products.

COSRX or The INKEY List: which moisturizer is better?

Both COSRX and The INKEY List offer products on this page that feature effective moisturizers, with COSRX having a Superior fit level for oily skin and acne-prone skin, while The INKEY List provides a Superior fit level for combination skin. Topical hyaluronic acid, found in the moisturizers of both brands, helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.

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

COSRX or The INKEY List for sensitive skin?

Both COSRX and The INKEY List fit sensitive skin at a Superior level on Lovi. COSRX features gentle, non-stripping formulas across many fragrance-free products, while The INKEY List offers affordable hydration options that help soothe sensitive skin without irritation.

COSRX or The INKEY List for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, COSRX fits better with a Superior routine level, while The INKEY List reaches a High routine level. Reviewers indicate that COSRX does better for acne and pore control.

COSRX or The INKEY List for combination skin?

The INKEY List fits combination skin slightly better, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to the High fit level of COSRX. Both brands offer products that help with skin hydration and texture.

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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