Ingredients
According to COSRX’s Marketing Team Assistant Manager, Lee Hye-Young, COSRX products are “formulated with active ingredients dissolved in natural extract that are more skin friendly and effective than purified water.” [7] Examples of natural extracts used in COSRX products include Salix Alba Bark Water and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water. When compared to purified water, these natural extracts are more likely to reinforce the main functions of the products and bring out the positive results when used to complement the active ingredients put into COSRX products. [7]
For products that fight acne and pimple, the ingredients BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid) and AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) are usually incorporated into the formulations to offer gentle chemical exfoliation. Typically, BHA and AHA could be a bit irritating for sensitive skin, and using a disproportionate amount of BHA and AHA on the skin could cause great disturbance in the pH level of the skin. However, COSRX manages to use White-Wallow Water Base, which contains natural BHA elements, and Apple Water, which contains natural AHA elements, to offer the same effect of chemical exfoliation as chemically produced BHA and AHA do, while being skin-friendly at the same time. [3]
Some products, such as the COSRX Natural BHA Skin Returning A-Sol, contain alcohol. This has been reflected by customers to be a downside of COSRX products, since alcohol could be irritating and potentially harmful for sensitive skin. [4]
Price Range
Although COSRX uses a lot of active ingredients in its products, it is still able to keep the average price of its products relatively low by adopting a budget-friendly production and marketing mode. Price ranges from $5 for a COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch to $27 for a bottle of COSRX Triple C Lightning Liquid. This price range is quite comparable with the price range of Etude House, Nature’s Republic, and Tony Moly (Korean skincare brands targeted at young consumers) and a bit lower than the price range of Innisfree and Laneige.
Examples
Here are some popular skincare products from the brand [5]:
- COSRX Oil Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)
- COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
- COSRX One Step Pimple Clear Pad
- COSRX Natural BHA Skin Returning A-Sol
- COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
COSRX 