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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 prominent beauty houses rooted in distinct traditions, with the former founded in South Korea in 2013 and the latter established in Japan in 1872. COSRX offers a thoughtful array of serums, moisturizers, cleansers, masks, and more formulated with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit oily acne-prone skin and oily skin best, while Shiseido provides a thoughtful array of moisturizers, cleansers, sunscreens, serums, and more formulated with glycerin to suit sensitive skin and mature skin best. Both lines differ fundamentally in their specific target audiences and active ingredient combinations, though each brand relies on scientifically backed components to support skin health.

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

Buy COSRX routine · S$41.07 · 89% fitBuy Shiseido routine · S$256.58 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

COSRX vs Shiseido routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · S$130.21 · 90% fitBuy Shiseido routine · S$355.43 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs Shiseido routines for combination skin

Buy COSRX routine · S$130.21 · 88% fitBuy Shiseido routine · S$355.43 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Shiseido: which is better?

COSRX is better for acne-prone, oily, and dry skin types on this page, while Shiseido leads in deep hydration and luxury textures but comes with higher prices and strong fragrances. Lovi rates COSRX as superior for oily acne-prone skin and Shiseido as average for dry skin.

What is the difference between COSRX and Shiseido?

COSRX excels at lightweight absorption and acne control with mostly fragrance-free formulas, while Shiseido offers luxurious textures and deep hydration with a higher price point and frequent fragrances.

COSRX or Shiseido for dry skin?

For dry skin, COSRX achieves a High routine fit on this page, while Shiseido reaches an Average fit. COSRX features a routine with a High level of hydration and soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin moisture.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

COSRX or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

COSRX is better for acne-prone skin, while Shiseido offers deeper cleansing options. For example, the COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser has a High fit for oily acne-prone skin, whereas the Shiseido Deep Cleansing Foam has a High fit for oily skin.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Shiseido?

Reviews for the products on this page show that Shiseido has high price points as a major drawback, whereas COSRX deals with high price and value concerns. This indicates that COSRX is generally the more affordable option.

Between COSRX and Shiseido, which brand is better for mature skin?

Both COSRX and Shiseido offer a High routine fit for mature skin. Shiseido features luxurious textures and deeply moisturizing formulas, while COSRX focuses on lightweight absorption and gentle ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps hydrate and maintain skin quality.

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

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

COSRX has more fragrance-free products, as 37 of the 38 products on this page list no fragrance, compared to only 5 of the 20 products for Shiseido.

COSRX or Shiseido: which brand is better for reducing skin dark spots?

Both COSRX and Shiseido offer products on this page that are a High fit for skin with dark spots. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

COSRX or Shiseido for oily skin?

COSRX fits oily skin better, earning a Superior routine fit compared to Shiseido's High. Reviewers note that COSRX products provide lightweight and fast absorption, as well as effective acne and pore control.

COSRX or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

Both COSRX and Shiseido offer a variety of moisturizers, with COSRX products on this page rated as having a High to Superior fit for oily, acne-prone, and dry skin types, while Shiseido moisturizers provide luxurious textures and deep hydration, often featuring richer formulations.

COSRX or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

Both COSRX and Shiseido offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin. COSRX has 37 out of 38 products on this page listing no fragrance, which helps minimize skin irritation.

COSRX or Shiseido: which sunscreen is better?

Both COSRX and Shiseido offer sunscreens on the page, with COSRX featuring products like the Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen and Shiseido including the Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion. Lovi rates the COSRX sunscreen range as High to Superior for acne-prone skin, whereas Shiseido sunscreens range from Low to Average for that same skin type.

COSRX or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

COSRX is a better fit for acne-prone skin, holding a Superior routine fit compared to Shiseido's High level. The products on this page help provide 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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