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COSRX vs Avène

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

COSRX and Avène are skincare brands that offer serums, moisturizers, and gentle cleansers to support various complexions. The Korean line features hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit acne-prone and oily skin, while the French label relies on nourishing glycerin for similar skin types. Through these expert formulations, both brands work to improve skin hydration and restore barrier function.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

Avène is a French skincare brand founded in 1990 and owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre.

pierre-fabre.comavene.co.ukaveneusa.com

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

Popular COSRX vs Avène products

People Say

COSRXAvène
  • Gentle and Non-Stripping Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “extremely gentle — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “leaves face clean but not dry — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
  • Hydration and Moisture 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”
    • “gives a healthy glow — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “Restores moisture barrier — Avène Cold Cream”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorption Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “absorbs instantly like water — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “sinks in immediately — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “absorbs practically immediately — COSRX Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
  • Skin Texture and Smoothing Mostly 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”
    • “I've noticed a definite improvement in the fine lines around my eyes — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
  • Soothing and Calming Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Calmed my angry red skin overnight — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Nothing has ever worked to soothe or heal my skin like these before. — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “Calms angry, red skin — Avène Soothing Radiance Mask”
    • “calms down my redness — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
  • Acne and Pores 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”
    • “Cleared my cystic acne — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
  • Unpleasant Texture and 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”
    • “Tube squirted water everywhere — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Leaves a greasy film — Avène Cold Cream”
  • Strong Scent or Fragrance Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “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 fragrance is very present. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
  • Packaging Issues and Size Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Tube cracked on the side — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Cap leaks in bag — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
    • “Good product bad packaging. — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
    • “only 20mls... significantly less product — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”

COSRX vs Avène routines for dry skin

Buy COSRX routine · £52.48 · 89% fitBuy Avène routine · £93.03 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

COSRX vs Avène routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · £143.60 · 90% fitBuy Avène routine · £170.97 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

COSRX vs Avène routines for combination skin

Buy COSRX routine · £119.44 · 88% fitBuy Avène routine · £195.53 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Avène: which is better?

COSRX is better for hydration, lightweight textures, and acne control, while Avène is better for soothing and calming irritation. The products on this page provide superior fit levels for oily, sensitive, and acne-prone skin with COSRX.

What is the difference between COSRX and Avène?

COSRX offers superior performance for oily and acne-prone skin types, while Avène is known for soothing irritation. The products on this page from COSRX also tend to have lighter textures and more hydration options.

COSRX or Avène for dry skin?

For dry skin, both COSRX and Avène achieve a High routine fit level on this page. COSRX features a wider variety of key ingredients across its products like hyaluronic acid and snail mucin, while Avène relies heavily on thermal water and glycerin.

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

COSRX or Avène: which cleanser is better?

COSRX offers cleansers with superior and high fit levels across a wider range of skin types, whereas Avène cleansers tend to show more variable suitability. Reviewers note that both brands provide gentle deep cleanses, but COSRX focuses more on tackling acne and pores effectively.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Avène?

The provided page facts do not mention the prices of products from either COSRX or Avène, so it is not possible to determine which brand is more affordable.

Between COSRX and Avène, which brand is better for managing skin with dark spots?

COSRX is better for managing skin with dark spots, as the products on this page achieve a High fit level across almost every dark spot product, whereas Avène has more mixed results. Additionally, niacinamide helps reduce pigmentation by suppressing melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

How do the fragrance options compare between COSRX and Avène products?

COSRX products on this page are mostly fragrance-free, with only one product listing fragrance, whereas nearly half of the Avène products on this page list fragrance.

Which brand performs better for dry sensitive skin, COSRX or Avène?

COSRX performs better for dry sensitive skin, with a High routine fit compared to Avène's Average fit. The products on this page for COSRX also feature extensive hydration options and a lower proportion of added fragrance, which helps soothe sensitive areas.

COSRX or Avène for oily skin?

For oily skin, COSRX has a Superior routine fit while Avène has a High routine fit. COSRX also does better on the products on this page for lightweight absorption and oil control.

COSRX or Avène: which moisturizer is better?

COSRX has a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Avène has a High routine fit on the products on this page. COSRX helps with hydration and moisturization better than Avène, while Avène is better at soothing and calming the skin.

COSRX or Avène for sensitive skin?

COSRX is the better choice for sensitive skin, achieving a Superior Lovi fit level compared to Avène's High level. The products on this page help provide gentle and non-irritating care, and nearly all COSRX formulas list no fragrance.

COSRX or Avène: which sunscreen is better?

COSRX and Avène both offer sunscreens that fit acne-prone and sensitive skin well, with COSRX products on this page generally achieving High or Superior fit levels across most skin types. Avène sunscreens also provide gentle and non-stripping options, though specific products like Cleanance achieve a Superior fit for oily skin.

COSRX or Avène for acne-prone skin?

COSRX achieves a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, whereas Avène reaches a High fit. COSRX features a wider range of targeted treatments specifically suited for clearer skin.

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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