As a budding Korean beauty fan a decade ago, the best CosRx products were my introduction into the industry that would upend my skin-care routine and, in some ways, influence my trajectory from general shopping writer to beauty editor. I’ve been impressed by the wave of Korean beauty brands entering Sephora and Ulta Beauty this year alone—but CosRx has always been ahead of the curve, launching stateside way back in 2017. You can even find the brand at your local CVS! The reach, folks! I’m almost positive all of you dear readers have heard of the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, but CosRx offers so much more—including a new hair-care line we’ll get to later.
A quick rundown: I’m 32 and have combination-leaning skin, so my routine generally focuses on hydration and plumping—with exfoliating and sebum-curbing products peppered throughout. Does that mean I sometimes walk the line between glowy and greasy? Sure, but I don’t care! New York City life is fast-paced and relentless, and CosRx plays a big role in brightening, smoothing, and overall perking up my complexion. My favorite CosRx skin-care products (and one hair care!) below are a true blend of O.G. formulas and newcomers, proving that the brand continues to innovate and impress. Let’s dive in!
My Top CosRx Products
Pep Talk: The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum
Cosrx
The 6 Peptide Skin Booster
Why I love it: Don’t tell hyaluronic acid, but peptides are my go-to for deep hydration and plumping. If both are in said product (as it is here), even better! But, as you can tell by the name, The 6 Peptide Skin Booster is alllll about elasticity-boosting peptides. I won’t bore you by breaking down each individual peptide—the TL;DR is that together, they address dullness, excess sebum, loss of firmness, and texture. While that’s all dandy, I like a bit of immediate satisfaction, and the glow I’m left with is unreal.
I’m also obsessed with the texture. I use this as a toner, a.k.a. the first step following cleansing, and I like that it’s not watery—more akin to a lightweight gel serum. I pump the booster into my palms and gently glide/pat it in without losing any precious product. In the mornings, I follow up with an antioxidant serum, and then I’ll go straight into sunscreen—because the formulas I love are inherently hydrating, and thanks to this toner, I’m loaded up on enough hydration to warrant skipping moisturizer. At nighttime, I like pairing it with a retinol serum to keep fine lines from creeping in and deepening. (I’m still relatively young at 32, but prevention is key!)
- Key ingredients: 6 peptides (including SH-Polypeptide-121, copper tripeptide-1, oligopeptide-68, and acetyl hexapeptide-8),niacinamide, sodium PCA
- Who it’s for: anyone with dry skin and/or dullness
- Fragrance-free: yes
Dewy & Protected: Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen SPF 50+
Cosrx
Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen SPF 50+
Why I love it: Korean sunscreens are elite, and no, I will not be hearing any counterarguments. While the very best formulas are sold abroad—because the FDA hasn’t approved a new sunscreen filter since 19-freaking-99—the American formulas hold their own. However, CosRx doesn’t list out the active UV filters and their concentrations—but Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen SPF 50+ does feature butyloctyl salicylate, “a commonly used SPF booster that’s an analog for approved chemical UV filter octisalate,” as we’ve previously reported. I mostly use chemical sunscreens, so this isn’t an issue for me, but it’s something to note if you’re interested.
