Brandwave

COSRX vs The INKEY List:Which is more popular?

In October 2026, COSRX had more branded searches than The INKEY List among skincare brands worldwide. COSRX had about 301,000 branded searches, while The INKEY List had 82,600. COSRX made up 1.9% of all skincare brand searches we track, and The INKEY List accounted for 0.53%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about skincare brands, COSRX appeared in one of the five answers and The INKEY List in none.

Among skincare brands worldwide in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

COSRX, about 4 searches for every 1 for The INKEY List

COSRX 301K searchesThe INKEY List 82.6K searches

Who does AI mention more?

COSRX, mentioned in 1 of 5 answers, The INKEY List in 0

COSRX in 1 of 5The INKEY List in 0 of 5

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Top skincare brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, COSRX was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. The INKEY List did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. CeraVe1st
  2. La Roche-Posay2nd
  3. The Ordinary3rd
  4. Paula's Choice4th
  5. Avène5th
  6. Cetaphil6th
  7. SkinCeuticals7th
  8. COSRX8th
  9. Neutrogena–
  10. +6 more
  11. The INKEY List–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • La Roche-Posay5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • CeraVe5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • The Ordinary3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Paula's Choice2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Avène2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Cetaphil1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • SkinCeuticals1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • COSRX1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Neutrogena0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • The INKEY List0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+6 more

See every answer about skincare brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is COSRX or The INKEY List more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for COSRX and The INKEY List by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 22 skincare brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

COSRX and The INKEY List among skincare brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for COSRX, The INKEY List. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCetaphilLa Roche-PosayCeraVeThe OrdinaryNeutrogenaBeauty of JoseonCliniqueBiodermaKiehl'sLaneigeSkinCeuticalsPaula's ChoiceMedik8AvèneCOSRXThe INKEY List
Nov 202512.7%11.9%12.6%11.2%5.4%4.4%6.5%3.6%6.5%4.4%2.9%3.1%2.4%2%2%0.89%
Dec 202513.2%13.6%14.5%9%6.6%4.1%6.1%3.3%5%5%2.7%2.9%1.8%1.8%2.2%0.75%
Jan 202614.3%13.4%14.2%8.8%6.6%4.9%4.9%4%4%4%2.7%2.8%2.2%2.2%2.2%0.74%
Feb 202613.9%15%15.5%8.2%6.9%4.5%4.5%3.7%3.7%3.7%3%3.2%2%2%2%0.67%
Mar 202612.8%16.1%13.9%8.8%6.9%4.8%4.8%3.9%3.9%3.2%3.2%2.9%2.2%2.2%2.2%0.72%
Apr 202612.9%16.2%13.9%10.5%6.8%4.9%4.9%4%3.3%2.7%2.7%3%2.2%2.2%2.2%0.73%
May 202611.7%17%14.5%9%7.2%5.1%5.1%4.2%3.4%2.8%2.8%3.1%1.9%2.3%2.3%0.63%
Jun 202612.8%15.2%15.4%9.7%6.7%5.6%4.6%3.7%3.7%2.5%3.1%2.8%2%2%2%0.56%
Jul 202613.8%15.3%15.3%9.7%6.6%4.6%4.6%3.8%3.1%3.1%3.1%2.8%2.5%2.1%2.1%0.57%
Aug 202613.7%14.7%15.1%9.3%7.7%4.4%4.4%3.6%3.6%3%3%3.2%2.4%2%2%0.55%
Sep 202614.1%13.2%14%10.2%6.7%4.8%4.8%4%4%3.2%3.2%2.9%2.6%1.8%2.2%0.59%
Oct 202617.7%14.4%13%9.2%6.3%4.3%4.3%3.5%3.5%3.5%2.9%2.6%2.4%1.9%1.9%0.53%

How has branded search for COSRX and The INKEY List changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • COSRX was ahead of The INKEY List in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, COSRX’s share of searches among skincare brands worldwide moved from 2% to 1.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 368K to 301K.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, The INKEY List’s share of searches among skincare brands worldwide moved from 0.89% to 0.53%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 167K to 82.6K.

How did search popularity change for skincare brands worldwide in October 2026?

2 changes

  1. In October 2026, COSRX fell from 14th to 15th among skincare brands worldwide.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for The INKEY List worldwide fell 50.5% over 12 measured months, from 167K to 82.6K in October 2026.

How are COSRX’s and The INKEY List’s branded searches counted?

8 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using COSRX’s and The INKEY List’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

COSRX

1 branded search term

  • cosrx

The INKEY List

7 branded search terms

  • inkey list
  • serum the inkey list
  • skincare the inkey list
  • the inkey list cleanser
  • the inkey list serum
  • the inkey list skincare
  • theinkeylist

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among skincare brands

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