It’s safe to say that Korean skincare has been flooding the market, almost as heavily as its serums and dew-drenched formulations offer us a near-instantaneous “glass skin” effect.
According to a January 2024 market insights report from Statista, “the revenue generated in the Beauty & Personal Care market in South Korea is projected to reach $14.84 billion in 2024.” What’s more, the largest segment in this market is skincare, with a market volume of $9.06 billion in 2024.
And believe me, I’m not at all surprised as a beauty lover myself. Much like you’ve probably been, my TikTok for-you page has been inundated with “get ready with me’s,” short clips curated by Gen Z influencers who have been raving about COSRX and the to-die-for impact many Korean skincare brands have made to their beauty routines. And, of course, they’re wearing the viral skincare headband.
RELATED: Best niacinamide serums we reviewed
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m rather late to hop on the Korean skincare bandwagon. I’ve surely used the acclaimed COSRX Snail Mucin 96% Power Repairing Essence ($17) back in the day and remember loving its refreshing effect on my skin but, like most people, the urge to run back to Sephora or Ulta Beauty and try something new satisfied my budding beauty high.
To see what the 100,000+ rave reviews were talking about, I ordered a big box of COSRX and opened a vault of glass skin-yielding goodness to try out. Spoiler alert: the brand is absolutely worth it, and my initial impressions and detailed review notes are sure to inspire you to add them to your cart, too.
COSRX is a K-beauty brand that kickstarted in 2013 and offers quality yet fairly priced products to help target skin concerns, namely dullness. And so, glass skin commences.
“Glass skin is something you can achieve by having clear skin with a clear complexion, that also appears plump and hydrated,” David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC, told the New York Post. “It’s about finding the right products for your skin type, and treating any skin conditions with prescription creams.” Of course, certain skin types will require frequent visits to a dermatologist in addition to using OTC skincare formulas such as COSRX.
You’re likely thinking the same thing I had previously pondered: “is the brand really effective for the price?” Now, there’s truly no getting around my love for more premium brands like Alpyn Beauty and Drunk Elephant, but COSRX works, plain and simple. Its lower price may be indicative of lower packaging costs as well, among other factors.
As a whole, I can definitively say that COSRX is an Amazon beauty brand worth the hype. I have extremely sensitive and dry skin and I find that my skin truly feels satisfying smooth after I use the brand’s Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser ($18) and Snail Mucin 92% All-in-One Cream ($16) when I’m on more of a time crunch. However, on a normal day or evening, I’ll layer my skin with even more COSRX, tapping into the seven-step skincare routine that did, in fact, originate from Korean skincare practices.
COSRX is known for its snail mucin ingredient. Seemingly odd in the skincare market at first mention, it’s not at all strange in the K-beauty space. I was more familiar with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and bakuchiol (the retinol alternative for sensitive skin), so I asked Dr. Kim for the 411 on how snail mucin is intended to support the skin.
He told me that “it has hydrating and calming effects on the skin,” which I can definitely see. When using all of the COSRX products in my stockpile, I felt like I took a refreshing facial bath in each product. Think: Jell-O but for your skin.
“I think it’s popular mostly for the texture,” Kim added. “It’s lightweight so people with acne-prone skin can use it.” It has a more “satisfying” texture I’d say, one in which I definitely thought, “Wow, this is probably why it’s all over TikTok.” The brand doesn’t fall suit into carrying run-of-the-mill, creamy products for the most part. In fact, most of them are cooler, gel-based and offer a douse of refreshment.
“Having clear hydrated skin in Korean culture is highly coveted,” Kim further explained. “How you present yourself to the world is very important in Korea, and having great skin is a sign of prestige and wealth. It’s common for Koreans to see a dermatologist every month and get different treatments and facials regularly to maintain that glass skin.”
While you may find it impractical to book a facial appointment each month, COSRX, when used regularly, can be the next best thing.
As a whole, COSRX is a budget-friendly and highly effective formula set. I love its dose of dewiness it leads to my skin and it’s ideal for sensitive and dry skin, especially.
I’ve been using COSRX for at least three weeks straight and took detailed notes on how the brand worked on my skin type and what my first impressions were. Eventually, those first impressions morphed into consistent performance among all of the brand’s products.
Here’s the testing criteria I kept in mind for each formula:
Hunting for a headline-worthy haul? Keep shopping with Post Wanted.