COSRX

Shop COSRX Skincare at Adore Beauty

COSRX is a Korean skincare brand whose name stands for Cosmetics + Rx, reflecting its focus on treating specific skin concerns rather than offering one-size-fits-all products. The brand is best known for the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, formulated with snail secretion filtrate to help hydrate and repair the skin and used by celebrities including Emily Ratajkowski, and the Acne Pimple Master Patch, a hydrocolloid patch designed to help reduce the appearance of blemishes overnight. Adore Beauty is an official COSRX stockist in Australia and New Zealand.

Building a COSRX Skincare Routine

A basic COSRX routine follows the standard order of a Korean skincare routine: cleanser, toner, essence, serum or ampoule, moisturiser, and any spot treatments last. The Low-pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser is a gentle option suited to most skin types, and can be used morning or night despite the name.

After cleansing, the AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner helps prep the skin, followed by the Snail Mucin Essence to hydrate before your usual serums. If dryness is a concern, the Hydrium Triple Hyaluronic Moisture Ampoule is a lightweight option to layer in, and the Acne Pimple Master Patch can be applied as a final step over any active breakouts.

COSRX Ingredients and Common Questions

An essence in Korean skincare is a lightweight, watery product applied after toner and before serums, designed to hydrate and help prep the skin for the products that follow. An ampoule is similar but more concentrated, typically applied in smaller amounts for a more targeted dose of active ingredients.

Snail mucin, the key ingredient in COSRX's Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, is a secretion filtrate that snails naturally produce to protect their own skin. In skincare, it's used for its hydrating and skin-repairing properties. The Acne Pimple Master Patch works differently, using a hydrocolloid material that draws out fluid from a blemish while creating a barrier that can help reduce picking and further irritation.

COSRX is a cruelty-free brand, though not every product in the range is vegan, since some formulas contain snail mucin, so it's worth checking the individual product description if that's a requirement for you. The brand is one of the more widely stocked K-beauty labels internationally, and its focus on treating specific concerns rather than broad, general-purpose products is part of what's made it a popular entry point into Korean skincare for people who are new to the category.