Brand Comparison
MEDI-PEEL vs COSRX
A head-to-head comparison of two popular K-beauty brands. Which one is right for your skin?
Our Pick
COSRX
Higher editor rating (9 vs 8.6)
MEDI-PEEL
MEDI-PEEL is the K-beauty brand Korean dermatologists actually stock in their clinic shops. Built around three flagship technologies — Peptide 9 (a peptide-stack treatment line), Red Lacto Collagen (a lactobacillus-ferment line), and PDRN/salmon-DNA (their Bio-Tox category) — the brand consistently overdelivers on actives at the $25–45 price point. The Peptide 9 Volume Bio Tox Ampoule is the entry point most people meet first; the Red Lacto Collagen Cleansing Balm has quietly become one of the most-recommended balm cleansers in K-beauty forums. Not a magazine brand and not trying to be one — the visual identity is clinical, the claims lean medical, and the formulations are dense. Buy MEDI-PEEL when you want results without the SKII or Sulwhasoo price tag.
Pros
- ✓ high-concentration peptide and PDRN formulations at affordable pricing
- ✓ clinical-leaning packaging and claims that match actual ingredient density
- ✓ broad global distribution (YesStyle, Stylevana, Olive Young, Amazon)
- ✓ Korean dermatology clinic shelf presence
Cons
- ✗ clinical packaging is functional, not editorial — buy for results, not aesthetics
- ✗ fragrance present in most products
- ✗ marketing leans heavily on percentage claims and proprietary tech names
- ✗ category breadth is wide and confusing to navigate
COSRX
The gateway brand for most people entering K-beauty, and for good reason. COSRX consistently delivers effective, no-frills products at prices that make most Western alternatives look overpriced. Their snail mucin line and BHA products are genuine category leaders. They rarely innovate, but they execute the basics exceptionally well.
