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If you’re aware of snail mucin’s rebrand from mollusk secretion to skin care solution for soothing and hydrating stressed-out skin, you’ve heard of the cult-favorite skin care brand championing the ingredient, CosRx. The Korean brand is praised for its use of snail mucin at an affordable price point— unlike its pricier culinary cousin, escargot.
Founded in 2013, Cosrx has earned a reputation for creating budget-friendly beauty essentials that target common concerns for dry to oily skin types. The brand’s mission is to create simple, effective skin care solutions with formulas that prioritize skin health. The brand’s name is a combination of “cosmetics” and “RX,” representing the focus on individual, “prescribed” skin remedies to individual concerns. Cosrx is now one of the most recognizable names in K-beauty, and is celebrated for its focus on research-backed ingredients, such as snail mucin.
Cosrx might be most recognizable for its Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, a viral sensation made popular by celebs like Emily Ratajkowski that consistently makes its way to the top of Amazon‘s bestseller lists. The hydrating serum is praised for its skin-repairing and hydrating benefits, making it a great option for balancing skin and improving the overall look and feel of your complexion.
WWD Shop editors test and review Cosrx skin care products in our New York City office.
WWD/ Claire Sullivan
But there’s more to Cosrx’s Snail Mucin Essence. Beyond this Amazon-loved beauty product, Cosrx also offers TikTok-viral products like the Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream, alongside hidden gems like face serums, exfoliators, and retinol products. With everything from acne treatments and pimple patches to brightening sheet masks, Cosrx caters to a wide range of skin care needs.
Our editors have rigorously tested Cosrx’s bestsellers to curate the ultimate list of the brand’s must-haves. Take advantage of the Amazon Prime Day beauty deals that are now in full swing, and stock up on these skin care essentials. Don’t move at a snail’s pace — grab these products before prices spike back up.
Top Cosrx Skin Care Products of 2024
Cosrx Snail Mucin Repairing Essence
Perhaps CosRx’s most popular product, the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is a fast-absorbing, feather-light essence that hydrates and keeps your skin glowing all day long. This top face serum targets dull, rough, and damaged skin, and dark spots and scars with its 96 percent snail secretion filtrate that delivers rich nourishment through quick absorption. It also includes sodium hyaluronate that plumps the skin with intense hydration.
Editor testing and review notes: “Cosrx snail mucin essence feels like a lightweight gel on your skin, and dries down to a dewy finish that made my complexion look hydrated and feel silky. After one full year of using the product twice daily, I’ve noticed less redness and a subtle plumping effect that’s smoothed fine lines, particularly on my forehead and around my eyes.” — WWD Shop Senior Beauty and Lifestyle Commerce Editor Claire Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $12.99
Cosrx Master Patch Pimple Patches
Looking to heal an acne outburst overnight? Look no further than Acne Pimple Master Patches to soothe problem areas while preventing further breakouts. These top acne patches are made with hydrocolloid, which draws out excess oil and pus from pimples to help heal skin. These patches are so thin that they practically disappear on the skin, and each sheet contains two sizes of adhesives to cater to zits of all sizes.
Editor testing and review notes: “These pimple patches are super clear, so I always feel comfortable wearing them during the day. They make embarrassing zits almost undetectable, which is ideal for a busy day when I’m worried about that being a main focus. My breakouts always look smaller and less inflamed after I wear one of the Cosrx patches for a few hours.” — WWD Shop contributor Fernando Snellings
Price upon publish date of this article:
WWD Shop editor Claire Sullivan tests Cosrx’s pimple patches in our New York City office.
WWD/ Claire Sullivan
Cosrx Ceramide Lip Butter Sleeping Mask
Cosrx makes moisturizing your lips easy enough to do it in your sleep. Actually, that’s kind of the whole point of the brand’s Lip Sleeping Mask. While you sleep, ceramides envelop your lips in a creamy barrier, keeping them moisturized and refreshed. Shea butter supports the ingredient, ensuring that your lips feel hydrated by the time you wake up.
Editor testing and review notes: “I was seriously impressed by the texture of this Cosrx lip mask. most lip masks on the market right now have a super-thick feel to them that makes them hard to wear comfortable during the day. This one, on the other hand, has a whipped texture that melts onto the lips when you smooth it on. I apply it while I’m doing my makeup, then blot it off with a tissue to prep my lips for a swipe of bold lipstick.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $14.39
WWD Shop editor Claire Sullivan tests Cosrx’s lip mask in our New York City office.
WWD/ Claire Sullivan
Cosrx 15% Niacinamide Face Serum
This potent serum targets acne, uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, and excess oil by way of its key ingredient — niacinamide. Besides that hero ingredient, this serum also features acne-fighting ingredients, plus zinc PCA and allantoin that help the skin recover and promote collagen. If you’re always looking for your next holy grail acne spot treatment or oily skin serum, this is an immediate add to cart.
Editor testing and review notes: “This niacinamide face serum layers so well with any other products I team it with. Some niacinamide serums can feel heavy on my combination skin, but this one feels incredibly lightweight on my skin and absorbs within seconds of me applying it. It’s a great option for boosting hydration (and helping to brighten my tone) without feeling like I need to be weighed down by heavy creams and serums.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $13.99
WWD Shop editor Claire Sullivan tests Cosrx’s niacinamide serum in our New York City office.
WWD/ Claire Sullivan
Cosrx Advanced Snail 92 All-in-one Cream
This all-in-one cream works to calm and restore irritated, sensitive skin post-breakout in just one application. The nourishing gel-cream formula absorbs quickly, imparting deep hydration and leaving your skin feeling refreshed. Snail mucin and sodium hyaluronate are the key ingredients in this top moisturizer for dry, sensitive skin.
Editor testing and review notes: “Simply put, this is an excellent basic face cream. It provides enough moisture to keep my skin feeling soft all day, but never greasy. A little goes a long way, so I rate the value five stars, too. My favorite way to wear it is over a few pumps of the Cosrx snail mucin serum — these two give my skin a dewy finish together.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $12.99
Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
CosRx’s AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner is the face exfoliant you’ve been searching for. Made for daily use, this toner balances oil production for all skin types using ingredients like salicylic acid and glycolic acid. The natural ingredients help reduce breakouts and soothe the skin simultaneously. Plus, it’s beginner-friendly and under $15 during Amazon Prime Day.
Editor testing and review notes: “This exfoliating toner is on par with similar cult-favorite options that retail for double the price. Honestly: I did a side-by-side test with Cosrx’s toner and a $39 alternative, and they gave me the exact same pore-clearing results. My skin can be reactive, but this toner doesn’t cause a redness or irritation flare up. I use it every few nights to clear out my pores and prep my skin for smoother makeup application.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $13.99
Cosrx Original Clear Pads
The One Step Original Clear Pad offers a straight-forward approach to clearer skin. These cotton pads effectively exfoliate dead skin cells while absorbing excess oil, making them some of the best blackhead removers money can buy. Formulated with salicylic acid and willow bark extract, they help combat breakouts and refine your skin’s natural texture. These pads can also double as a makeup remover, making them an unbeatable twofer.
Editor testing and review notes: “Cosrx’s Original Clear Pads have become an essential step in my skin care routine on days when I’ve worn a full face of makeup for hours on end. I use it after I wash my face and I’m always amazed by the extra product that ends up on the pads. I think they help prevent post-makeup breakouts I usually experience from full-coverage foundation and heavy-duty setting spray.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $15.99
WWD Shop editor Claire Sullivan tests Cosrx’s exfoliating face pads in our New York City office.
WWD/ Claire Sullivan
Cosrx Advanced Snail Radiance Dual Essence
The Advanced Snail Radiance Dual Essence combines snail mucin with brightening niacinamide to hydrate and improve skin tone. This lightweight essence helps repair damaged skin, smooth fine lines, and restore a radiant complexion. Infused with antioxidants and peptides, this top anti-aging serum promotes healthier skin with consistent use.
Editor testing and review notes: “Do not — I repeat — do not sleep on this dual essence. For those ready to level up their classic Cosrx snail mucin essence, this product combines the soothing benefits of snail mucin with the brightening and hydrating prowess from niacinamide. You’ll be hard pressed to find a face serum that’s this potent and skin-reviving. I like to use it after applying retinol to help lessen irritation.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $15.99
Cosrx Snail Advanced Snail Mucin Power Sheet Mask
Each of these Cosrx sheet masks is infused with 35 percent snail mucin, which helps repair and nourish the skin for near-instant radiance. Hyaluronic acid and niacinamide work together to lock in moisture while soothing and brightening the skin. This top sheet mask is a must-grab for a gift-giving season or simply making self-care easy and affordable.
Editor testing and review notes: “This is a great face mask that you don’t need to save for a special occasion — at just over $2 each when you buy a 10 pack, there’s plenty to share. The mask is thin but packed with solution, so you have plenty of excess to pat on your chest, arms, and hands, if you wish. I find that I need to stay still when I have it on to prevent it from sliding around, but otherwise, I have no critiques.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article:
How We Tested & Selected the Best Cosrx Skin Care Products
Since 1910, WWD — often referred to as “the fashion bible” — has been the leading industry voice of authority for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities, while also informing the consumer media that cover the market. Today, WWD’s breaking news and trend coverage continues to be a trustworthy resource for both fashion insiders and consumers alike. Our shopping editors continue to uphold WWD’s editorial standards and values with quality, expert-backed product selections.
To create this list of the best Cosrx skin care products, a panel of beauty editors and product testers tried 17 of the K-beauty brand’s bestselling skin care finds. Some of these products were sent to us from the brand, while others were independently purchased by our editors for testing purposes. A total of five testers with various skin types and skin concerns then evaluated the products, judging them against criteria like packaging, texture, value, and results. Any products with faulty packaging, lackluster results, or texture issues (i.e., pilling with other products) were removed from our list. The nine Cosrx products on our list passed with flying colors, finding permanent spots in many of our testers’ skin care routines. Learn more about us here.
Meet the Testers
A panel of five men and women contributed to product testing for this guide. Our testers represent a range of skin types — from dry to combination to sensitive and acne prone. These testers include WWD Shop Commerce Director Adam Mansuroglu, Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Commerce Editor Claire Sullivan, and Commerce Writer and Producer Olivia Cigliano. Each product on our list was tested for a duration of two weeks minimum, and each product was tested by at least two members of our panel to ensure accurate, unbiased reviews. Our panel will continue to test the Cosrx products on this as well as new releases and will update the story with our results.
Meet the Author
Alexandra Regueiro is a fashion and beauty writer with a flair for clean skin care, makeup, and hair. She covers everything from in-depth product reviews to the latest industry news and trends — and knows a thing or two about making beauty feel effortless and fun. Her work can be found in ELLE, Bustle, PS formerly known as Popsugar, and more. Regueiro wrote this article on the best Cosrx products.