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COSRX vs Anessa

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

COSRX and Anessa are respected Asian beauty brands that offer tailored care for varied complexions. The Korean line, established in 2013, provides thoughtful serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks featuring hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit oily and acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, the Japanese counterpart, founded in 1992, is widely loved for advanced sunscreens and sophisticated formulas that suit all skin types best. While the former focuses on balancing excess oil and soothing irritation with active components, the latter offers reliable daily protection and shields the complexion.

COSRX is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2013 and owned by Amorepacific Group since 2024.

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Anessa is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1992 and owned by Shiseido Company, Limited.

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This page compares some of the most popular COSRX and Anessa products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular COSRX vs Anessa products

Questions and answers

COSRX or Anessa: which is better?

COSRX is the better choice for a wide variety of skincare needs, as the products on this page offer superior or high Lovi fit levels for oily, acne-prone, and dry skin types. Anessa focuses entirely on sunscreens with high or average fit levels. Furthermore, COSRX features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, which help hydrate the skin and reduce pigmentation.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

What is the difference between COSRX and Anessa?

COSRX is a South Korean brand founded in 2013 offering a broad range of skincare products that focus on acne control, hydration, and skin texture, whereas Anessa is a Japanese brand founded in 1992 specializing exclusively in sunscreens.

COSRX or Anessa: which sunscreen is better?

For sunscreen options, COSRX offers a wider variety on this page with choices like the Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen, which achieves a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, whereas Anessa focuses on specialized formulas such as the Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Anessa?

This page does not provide pricing information for either COSRX or Anessa, so affordability cannot be compared here.

Which causes fewer breakouts, COSRX or Anessa?

Both COSRX and Anessa offer sunscreens that have a High fit level for acne-prone skin, meaning both are unlikely to cause breakouts.

How does the country of origin and founding year differ between COSRX and Anessa?

COSRX was founded in 2013 in South Korea, whereas Anessa was founded in 1992 in Japan.

Which COSRX sunscreen contains fragrance compared to Anessa's fragrance-free line?

Among COSRX sunscreens on this page, only the Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen SPF 50+ lists fragrance, whereas every Anessa product on the page is fragrance-free.

What are the main skin types that COSRX fits best based on its brand-focused routines?

COSRX fits oily skin, acne-prone skin, and oily acne-prone skin best based on its brand-focused routines.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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