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COSRX vs Hada Labo

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

COSRX and Hada Labo are celebrated Asian beauty lines, with the former founded in 2013 and the latter established in 2004. The South Korean label is beloved for its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks featuring hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit oily and oily acne-prone skin. Meanwhile, the Japanese brand is deeply loved for its hydrating toners, gentle makeup removers, and nourishing moisturizers driven by advanced science to suit dry and acne-prone skin best. While both brands expertly support skin health, they differ as the former balances delicate moisture levels and the latter focuses on restoring moisture and soothing irritation.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

Hada Labo is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 2004 and owned by Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd..

en.wikipedia.orghadalabosa.co.zahadalabotokyo.pl

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

Popular COSRX vs Hada Labo products

People Say

COSRXHada Labo
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “perfect for first-time retinol users — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “leaves skin soft and hydrated — Hada Labo Gokujyun Cleansing Oil”
    • “never stings my sensitive skin — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
  • Deep Hydration and Plumping Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
    • “Plumps fine lines — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
    • “leaves skin soft, smooth, and hydrated — Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Lotion”
    • “skin drinks it up — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
  • Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly like water — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “sinks in immediately — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “absorbs practically immediately — COSRX Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)”
    • “absorbs super quickly — Hada Labo Premium Whitening Lotion (Light)”
  • Skin Texture and Glow Often MentionedNot noted
    • “woke up with soft, supple skin — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “gives me that glass skin look — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “skin feels softer immediately — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
  • Acne and Pore Control Often MentionedNot noted
    • “helped to improve my acne after only 2 weeks — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
    • “cleared up my spots — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “Melted blackheads right off — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
  • Value for Money Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “bottle lasts forever — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
    • “Lasts forever — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
    • “huge bottle — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
  • Unpleasant Texture and Finish Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “texture is gooey and stringy — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “too slimy and sticky — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “Leaves a sticky film — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “Tacky residue — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
  • Breakouts and Purging Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “gave me fungal acne — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “gave me tiny bumps — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “gave me closed comedones — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “gave me tiny bumps — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
  • No Visible Results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Takes a month to work — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “didn't do anything — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “takes months to see results — Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Lotion”
    • “takes time to see results — Hada Labo Premium Whitening Lotion (Light)”

COSRX vs Hada Labo routines for dry skin

Buy Hada Labo routine · $158.72 · 99% fitBuy COSRX routine · $128.96 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

COSRX vs Hada Labo routines for oily skin

Buy Hada Labo routine · $332.14 · 95% fitBuy COSRX routine · $292.12 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

COSRX vs Hada Labo routines for combination skin

Buy Hada Labo routine · $313.73 · 94% fitBuy COSRX routine · $268.03 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Hada Labo: which is better?

Hada Labo helps with deep hydration and plumping better than COSRX, while COSRX is better for lightweight absorption, skin texture, and acne control. Both brands are equal for gentle and non-irritating formulations and showing no visible results.

What is the difference between COSRX and Hada Labo?

COSRX offers a wide range of products focused on lightweight textures, acne control, and skin texture, whereas Hada Labo features fragrance-free formulations that provide deep hydration and plumping. Lovi rates COSRX as High to Superior for oily and combination skin, while Hada Labo achieves Superior routine fit for dry skin, acne-prone skin, mature skin, and combination skin.

COSRX or Hada Labo for dry skin?

Hada Labo has a Superior Lovi fit for dry skin, making it a better option than COSRX, which has a High fit for this skin type. The products on this page for Hada Labo feature deep hydration and moisturization with ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Drug Delivery, 2017

COSRX or Hada Labo: which moisturizer is better?

Hada Labo provides a Superior routine fit for dry skin with its Gokujyun Perfect Gel moisturizer, while COSRX offers products like the Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream that have a High fit for dry skin.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Hada Labo?

Hada Labo does better for value for money among the products on this page.

Between COSRX and Hada Labo, which brand is better for deep hydration and plumping?

Hada Labo does better for deep hydration and plumping. The products on this page help improve skin hydration through ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, COSRX or Hada Labo?

Hada Labo has more fragrance-free products on this page, as every product listed for the brand contains no fragrance, whereas COSRX has 37 out of 38 products without fragrance.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of COSRX and Hada Labo compare?

COSRX was founded in 2013 in South Korea and has been owned by Amorepacific Group since 2024, whereas Hada Labo was founded in 2004 in Japan and is owned by Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

COSRX or Hada Labo for oily skin?

For oily skin, both COSRX and Hada Labo achieve a Superior Lovi fit level. Reviewers note that COSRX tends to do better for lightweight absorption and acne control.

COSRX or Hada Labo for acne-prone skin?

Hada Labo has a Superior Lovi fit for acne-prone skin, while COSRX has a High fit. Hada Labo features deep hydration and moisturization with fragrance-free formulations, whereas the products on this page for COSRX offer effective acne control and clearing.

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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