Versus

COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Power Essence Versus COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum

Essence
Serum
Korean Brand South Korea
Korean Brand South Korea

Updated on July 18, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin and sensitive skin

Free From

They both do not contain any common allergens, oils, parabens or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse. 

It is a:

  • Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
  • Emollient, helping to soften skin
  • Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
  • Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives 
Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

When to use

493 Routines
50% use in am
50% use in pm
96% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
94 Routines
43% use in am
57% use in pm
82% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Power Essence 7 ingredients

3.4 /5
from 5 ratings
Hydrating (3) No Scent (3) Absorbs Well (2)
laila.21's avatar

Laila

2 months ago
Review

Good lightweight Essence, leaves the skin feeling plump and hydrated but sometimes it only makes my skin feeling dry so i have yo double add avene cream which provides more glow than this.
It does nothing but hydrates, affordable for the size but I won’t buy it again as i believe there are better HA serums/essences

#hydrating
#absorbs well
#no scent
itsyogirljeni's avatar

itsyogirljeni

2 years ago
Review

Essence that feels like moisturizer.
This product does nothing but smoothing effect on my skin. No breakout or irritation.

COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum 43 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 2 ratings
Broke Me Out (1) Hydrating (1)
v22's avatar

v22

7 months ago
Review

Made my skin glow but caused me to breakout towards the end. (Could be the Oleic Acid or my skin just doesn't like Hyaluronic Acid anymore) Thankfully, I'm almost done with this product. If you use a moisturiser that has Hyaluronic Acid or its variant, you probably don't need this.

#hydrating
#broke me out