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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 esteemed skincare brands offering distinct approaches to daily wellness. The first brand is celebrated for its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks featuring hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, which suit oily and acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, the second brand provides nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, soothing toners, and gentle eye products utilizing glycerin and squalane to serve dry and mature skin. Ultimately, both labels differ in their foundational ingredients and regional heritage, yet each delivers targeted results for unique 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

Buy Kiehl's routine · S$209.58 · 92% fitBuy COSRX routine · S$41.07 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

COSRX vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · S$130.21 · 90% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · S$287.99 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

Buy Kiehl's routine · S$287.99 · 90% fitBuy COSRX routine · S$130.21 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Kiehl's: which is better?

Both brands perform well, but COSRX is better for acne control and gentle formulas, while Kiehl's is better for deep hydration and dry skin. On this page, COSRX fits best for oily and acne-prone skin, whereas Kiehl's fits best for dry, mature, and sensitive skin.

What is the difference between COSRX and Kiehl's?

COSRX and Kiehl's are both popular skincare brands, with COSRX offering products on this page that are a Superior fit for oily, acne-prone, and oily acne-prone skin, while Kiehl's is a Superior fit for dry, mature, and sensitive skin. Reviewers note that COSRX is better for gentle formulas and acne control, whereas Kiehl's is often preferred for deep hydration and moisturization.

COSRX or Kiehl's for dry skin?

For dry skin, Kiehl's offers a Superior routine fit, whereas COSRX achieves a High routine fit on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Kiehl's provides deep hydration.

COSRX or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

COSRX is better for a gentle, non-stripping formula and effective acne control, while Kiehl's cleansers on this page offer superior fit levels for specific needs like oily skin.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Kiehl's?

Reviewers note that Kiehl's has a high price point, while COSRX is penalized for high price and poor value.

COSRX or Kiehl's for dark spots?

Both COSRX and Kiehl's are a High fit for skin with dark spots. Reviewers note that both brands help with brightening and fading dark spots.

Which brand has a higher percentage of fragrance-free products?

COSRX has a higher percentage of fragrance-free products, as 37 of its 38 products on this page list no fragrance compared to 26 of 28 products for Kiehl's.

COSRX or Kiehl's for oily skin?

Both COSRX and Kiehl's are great choices for oily skin, as the products on this page show a superior routine fit for this skin type. Reviewers often mention that both brands provide lightweight, fast-absorbing options.

COSRX or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

Both COSRX and Kiehl's offer effective moisturizers on the products on this page, but they suit different needs. Kiehl's provides a Superior routine fit for dry skin, while COSRX delivers a Superior routine fit for oily and acne-prone skin.

COSRX or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

Both COSRX and Kiehl's are good options for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates both brands high for this skin type. Reviewers note that COSRX offers a gentle and non-stripping formula, whereas Kiehl's is often noted for deep hydration.

COSRX or Kiehl's: which sunscreen is better?

Both COSRX and Kiehl's offer sunscreens on this page with High fit levels for most skin types, making them similarly effective depending on your specific needs. COSRX sunscreens lean toward sensitive or acne-prone skin with options like the Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen, while Kiehl's provides alternatives such as the Better Screen UV Serum.

COSRX or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, COSRX is superior, offering better routine fit levels and effective acne control and clearing, whereas Kiehl's is high. Lovi fit for COSRX on acne-prone skin is Superior, while for Kiehl's it is High.

COSRX or Kiehl's for mature skin?

For mature skin, Kiehl's is the better choice because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior, compared to High for COSRX.

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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