INTO THE BRAND: COSRX

If you’re new to the world of K-beauty and have no idea where to start, you can’t do much better than start with COSRX. This brand had reached cult-status in North America, and its list of beloved, bestselling products keeps growing. In fact, if you ask someone who has some experience with K-beauty skincare what their go-to products are, there is a very good chance there will be one (or more) by COSRX. 

Though they were founded in 2014, COSRX has over a decade of experience in the cosmetic industry, working with its sister brands C20 and Ciracle. During that time they were doing research, studying reviews, going over surveys and complaints. Instead of trying to recreate what everyone else was doing, they created products that didn’t exist yet based on what they were hearing from customers. All so they could develop the type of products people want and need. 

Their name, COSRX, is a combination of “cosmetics” and “Rx”, the symbol for medical prescriptions. It embodies their commitment to not only help people look great, but also to offer products that actually improve the health of their skin. That means avoiding unnecessary ingredients, reviewing their products with real people, and focussing on good formulation. They’re invested in clean beauty, avoiding an impressive list of common irritants. All of these things have helped them to become champions for people with sensitive skin, or those who struggle with acne or otherwise troubled skin. 

The mark of a great brand is having products that speak for themselves. COSRX is one of those brands. Though they’ve kept their marketing to a minimum (to keep prices low), they have a huge presence in the Korean skincare world. Even their packaging is low-key, with names that reflect key ingredients, and descriptions on the effects of the product. There aren’t a lot of other brands that have reached the level of trustworthiness that COSRX has. 

Interested in trying some COSRX favourites? Here are some of their bestselling products: 

Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser There are few cleansers as beloved as this one. It consistently reviews well, both because if its effectiveness against acne and oiliness, but also because it doesn’t leave skin feeling dry. It has a slightly acidic pH to match the natural pH of the skin, meaning it’s great for balancing your moisture barrier. A healthy barrier keeps acne-causing bacteria out, and hydration in, resulting in clean, moisturized skin. 

Acne Pimple Master Patches These little patches are as close to a miracle pimple zapper as you can get! All you need to do is wash and dry the affected area, stick on the appropriate sized patch, and leave it on overnight. Many reviewers say that these virtually eliminate blemishes as you sleep, and they work on whiteheads and blackheads as well. 

Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence True to its name, this essence contains an amazing 96% snail secretion filtrate, for a super- effective treatment. Snail mucin is known for doing everything from repairing skin, fading scars and sun spots, hydrating, and treating acne. That makes this essence effective for pretty much anyone! 

BHA Blackhead Power Liquid This blackhead busting liquid has reached legendary status in Korean skincare. It uses BHA’s (a chemical exfoliant) to cleanse deep into the pores of your skin, removing dirt and dead cells. It prevents sebum buildup and unclogs pores. Skin is brighter, smoother, and pores are less visible after using this amazing treatment!