COSRX vs Beauty of Joseon: Which Brand to Buy

Short answer: COSRX is the functional brand: single hero ingredients at high strength, led by its 96% snail mucin essence and a BHA exfoliant. Beauty of Joseon builds around traditional ingredients like rice, propolis and ginseng, and is best known for its Relief Sun sunscreen. Buy COSRX for hydration and exfoliation, Beauty of Joseon for sunscreen and glow serums.

The short version

These two brands get compared because they are the two names most people meet first in K-beauty, and both sit at the Budget end of the market. They are not really competing for the same job.

COSRX makes plain, functional products around one standout ingredient each: snail mucin at 96%, a BHA exfoliant, a low-pH cleanser. The packaging is clinical and the formulas are short.

Beauty of Joseon builds its line around traditional ingredients, rice, propolis, ginseng, green tea, and is best known for a sunscreen. Its formulas tend to be richer and dewier.

The smart move for most people is not choosing a brand. It is buying each brand's best product.

Side by side

COSRX: what to buy

Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence. The bottle that made the brand. It is 96% snail secretion filtrate with betaine, sodium hyaluronate, allantoin and panthenol, a lightweight hydrating layer that COSRX says suits all skin types, especially sensitive or post-acne skin. The same product is now also listed under the name Snail Mucin 96% Repairing Serum, so do not buy both thinking they are different. Snail mucin for beginners covers what the ingredient does and does not do, and snail mucin vs hyaluronic acid helps if you are choosing one hydrator.

BHA Blackhead Power Liquid. A leave-on exfoliant pairing BHA with niacinamide. It uses betaine salicylate rather than straight salicylic acid, and COSRX suggests it for people who already have some experience with acids. Blackheads: what actually works explains where an exfoliant like this fits.

Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser. A gentle gel cleanser with a slightly acidic pH, aimed at all skin types.

Beauty of Joseon: what to buy

Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics (SPF50+ PA++++). The product that made the brand famous. It is a chemical sunscreen with 30% rice extract and grain fermented extracts, in a creamy but lightweight texture that leaves a dewy finish and no white cast. The brand points it at dry, normal and sensitive skin; very oily skin may find the finish too glowy.

Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide. A cushiony serum with 60% propolis extract and 2% niacinamide, aimed at enlarged pores and redness-prone skin. Propolis comes from bees, so if you know you react to bee products, patch test first or skip it.

Dynasty Cream. A creamy moisturizer that leaves skin dewy and plump. A good match for dry and normal skin; oily skin may find it too rich.

A note on Relief Sun's filters

Relief Sun uses ethylhexyl triazone, diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate, diethylhexyl butamido triazone and methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol. These newer filters are permitted in Korea and the EU, but none of them is currently on the list of sunscreen active ingredients the US FDA allows. The brand also sells different Relief Sun versions in some regions, so check the label of the version sold where you live. Chemical vs mineral sunscreen explains the filter types.

Which brand for which skin

• Dehydrated or tight skin: COSRX snail essence first. It is light enough for any skin type and layers under everything.
• Blackheads and clogged pores: COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, introduced slowly.
• Dry or normal skin that wants glow: Beauty of Joseon. Relief Sun plus Dynasty Cream is a comfortable, dewy combination.
• Oily skin: mostly COSRX. Beauty of Joseon's richer textures can tip oily skin into shine.
• Sensitive skin: both brands have simple options, but patch test Beauty of Joseon's propolis products if you have bee-product allergies.
• You want one sunscreen and one serum: Relief Sun from Beauty of Joseon, the snail essence from COSRX.

Product picks from each side

For a full routine, the Korean skincare routine shows where each step fits, and the best Korean skincare products widens the shortlist. If you are weighing COSRX against a minimalist Western brand instead, COSRX vs The Ordinary covers it.

Frequently asked questions

Is COSRX or Beauty of Joseon better?

Neither is better overall. COSRX is stronger for hydration and exfoliation, led by its snail essence and BHA liquid; Beauty of Joseon is stronger for sunscreen and glowy serums. Most people do best combining the two.

Can I use COSRX snail mucin with Beauty of Joseon sunscreen?

Yes. Apply the snail essence after cleansing, follow with moisturizer if you use one, and finish with the sunscreen in the morning.

Is Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun a chemical sunscreen?

Yes. It uses four chemical filters and no zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which is why it leaves no white cast.

What is the difference between COSRX snail essence and snail serum?

They are the same product. The Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is now also listed as Snail Mucin 96% Repairing Serum, so check the 96% figure on the label rather than the name.

Is Beauty of Joseon good for oily skin?

Some of it. The Glow Serum is light enough for many oily skin types, but Relief Sun and Dynasty Cream lean dewy and rich, so oily skin may prefer lighter options.

Sources and limits

• COSRX: Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
• Beauty of Joseon: Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics
• Beauty of Joseon: Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide

Product names and formulas in both lines change often and can differ by region, so the label on the box you buy is the final word.

We are an independent research team, not medical professionals. For persistent skin concerns, irritation, pregnancy-related questions, or any medical concern, check with a dermatologist.