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COSRX vs Shu Uemura

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

COSRX and Shu Uemura are distinct Asian beauty labels originating from South Korea and Japan, respectively. The former offers a thoughtful array of serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks formulated with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit oily and acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, the latter is deeply loved for its transformative makeup removers and meticulously crafted formulas that suit all skin types owing to their gentle, effective nature. While the Korean brand focuses on targeted active components to balance excess oil and soothe irritation, the Japanese brand maintains skin comfort through carefully balanced offerings.

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

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Shu Uemura is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1967 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2003.

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

Popular COSRX vs Shu Uemura products

Questions and answers

COSRX or Shu Uemura: which is better?

COSRX offers a much wider range of products on this page with better Lovi fit levels across skin types, whereas Shu Uemura only features a single cleansing oil. Reviewers frequently mention that COSRX products provide deep hydration and effective acne control.

What is the difference between COSRX and Shu Uemura?

COSRX offers a wide range of targeted skincare products that fit oily and acne-prone skin best, while Shu Uemura features only a single cleansing oil on this page with lower fit levels for those skin types.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Shu Uemura?

The products on this page offer a wider range of options from COSRX, but this page does not provide pricing information to determine which brand is more affordable.

Which causes fewer breakouts, COSRX or Shu Uemura?

Shu Uemura shows a low fit for acne-prone skin, whereas COSRX offers products that are well suited for managing breakouts.

Which brand has been around longer, COSRX or Shu Uemura, and in which countries were they founded?

Shu Uemura has been around longer, having been founded in Japan in 1967, whereas COSRX was founded in South Korea in 2013.

How do the skin type fit levels compare between COSRX's cleansers and Shu Uemura's cleansing oil for oily skin?

For oily skin, COSRX's cleansers reach an Average to High Lovi fit level depending on the specific product, while Shu Uemura's cleansing oil has a Low Lovi fit level. Reviewers often note that COSRX cleansers help with effective acne control and clearing.

What key ingredients are found across COSRX products, and do either brand's products contain fragrance?

COSRX products feature key ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, niacinamide, allantoin, panthenol, snail mucin, butylene glycol, and centella asiatica. Regarding fragrance, 37 of the 38 COSRX products on this page list no fragrance, with only the Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen SPF 50+ containing it, whereas every Shu Uemura product on this page lists no fragrance.

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

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