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COSRX vs Shiseido

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

COSRX and Shiseido are a Korean skincare brand founded in 2013 and a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1872, respectively. Skincare enthusiasts adore COSRX for its thoughtfully formulated serums, moisturizers, cleansers, masks, and more, which harness proven ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, while Shiseido is beloved for its thoughtful array of moisturizers, cleansers, sunscreens, serums, and more, all formulated with key ingredients like glycerin. The first brand suits acne-prone skin and oily acne-prone skin best because these targeted formulations address specific blemishes effectively, whereas the second brand suits sensitive skin and mature skin best, offering gentle yet effective daily care. They differ in their founding origins, parent companies, specific ingredient combinations, and ideal skin types.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

Shiseido is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1872 and owned by Shiseido Company, Limited.

corp.shiseido.comen.wikipedia.orgmarketscreener.com

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

Popular COSRX vs Shiseido products

People Say

COSRXShiseido
  • Deep hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Immediate sensation of comfort — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “skin feels plump, soft and nourished, eliminates dryness, bouncy feel — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “Skin feels more hydrated — Shiseido Activating Essence”
    • “skin drinks it up — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
  • Skin texture and smoothness improvement Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “silky smooth, rich but non-greasy, absorbs quickly, melts into skin — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “absorbs quickly — Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Gel Cream”
    • “Velvety, rich cream texture — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “gives me that glass skin look — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
  • Lightweight and fast absorption Mostly 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)”
    • “Lightweight, silky, non-sticky, sinks in instantly. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
  • Effective acne and pore control Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “extremely gentle — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “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”
    • “face feels squeaky clean — Shiseido Clarifying Cleansing Foam”
  • Soothing and calming effect Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “calms down my redness — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “calms inflammation — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “no stinging — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “No irritation — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • Gentle and non-stripping formulation Often MentionedNot noted
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “perfect for first-time retinol users — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
  • High price and value concerns Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for me — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “Very expensive for the size — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Strong scent or fragrance issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like chemicals — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “smells like onions — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “smells like tea tree/medicinal — COSRX Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)”
    • “old lady smell — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
  • Packaging and bottle issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “heavy to travel — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
    • “Heavy bottle but plastic pump, cannot see remaining product, straw too short to get last drops. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “heavy jar, waste of plastic, faulty pump (on dispenser versions) — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “only 20mls... significantly less product — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”

COSRX vs Shiseido routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

COSRX vs Shiseido routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

COSRX vs Shiseido routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Shiseido: which is better?

COSRX is better for oily and acne-prone skin, while Shiseido does better with deep hydration and skin texture. Lovi rates COSRX as having a superior routine fit for sensitive skin compared to Shiseido's high fit.

What is the difference between COSRX and Shiseido?

COSRX is well-suited for acne-prone, oily, and sensitive skin types with a focus on gentle, non-stripping formulations and lightweight absorption, whereas Shiseido is ideal for mature skin and deep hydration with luxurious textures.

COSRX or Shiseido for dry skin?

For dry skin, COSRX has a High Lovi routine fit while Shiseido has an Average Lovi routine fit. COSRX helps with lightweight absorption and deep moisturization, whereas Shiseido is often noted for deep hydration.

COSRX or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

COSRX is better for acne-prone skin, with cleansers like the Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser fitting oily acne-prone skin at a High level and the Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser reaching a Superior fit for sensitive skin. In contrast, Shiseido cleansers lean toward deeper cleansing or luxurious textures, but reviewers note that Shiseido faces frequent high price points.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Shiseido?

COSRX is more affordable, whereas Shiseido has a high price point that reviewers mostly mention as a drawback.

Between COSRX and Shiseido, which brand is better for addressing dark spots?

Both COSRX and Shiseido offer products on this page that rate as High for skin with dark spots. Review themes show that COSRX may help with acne and pore control, while Shiseido tends to offer luxurious textures and deep hydration.

How do the fragrance options differ between COSRX and Shiseido skincare products?

COSRX has very few fragranced options, with only one product on the page listing fragrance, while Shiseido includes fragrance in the majority of its products on this page.

Which brand performs better for skin texture and smoothness improvement, COSRX or Shiseido?

Shiseido performs better for skin texture and smoothness improvement. Lovi rates Shiseido's routine fit for dry skin as Average and COSRX as High, but reviewers note that Shiseido offers deeper hydration and luxurious textures.

COSRX or Shiseido for oily skin?

COSRX is a better fit than Shiseido for oily skin, as Lovi rates the COSRX routine as Superior for oily skin while Shiseido is rated High.

COSRX or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

COSRX offers moisturizers that are often noted for lightweight absorption and effective hydration, with the products on this page fitting oily and acne-prone skin best at a Superior level. Shiseido features moisturizers with luxurious textures that reviewers mostly mention for deep hydration, but they come with a higher price point.

COSRX or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

COSRX has a Superior fit level for sensitive skin, while Shiseido has a High fit level. Reviewers note that COSRX offers gentle and non-stripping formulations with fewer fragrance concerns on this page.

COSRX or Shiseido: which sunscreen is better?

COSRX offers sunscreens with high fit levels across a wider range of skin types on this page compared to Shiseido. For instance, the Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen has a High fit level for sensitive, dry, and oily skin.

COSRX or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

COSRX fits acne-prone skin with a Superior Lovi fit level, whereas Shiseido has a High Lovi fit level for this skin type.

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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