🇦🇪United Arab Emirates

COSRX vs Cetaphil

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

COSRX and Cetaphil are two distinct skincare lines known for addressing varied complexions through targeted formulations. The Korean innovator offers serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks featuring hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide that suit oily and acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, the American brand provides gentle cleansers, soothing moisturizers, targeted serums, and protective sunscreens with glycerin, niacinamide, and panthenol to nourish dry, sensitive, and acne-prone skin. While both share key ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin to support hydration and reduce hyperpigmentation, they differ in their foundational origins and specific active combinations.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

Cetaphil is an American skincare brand founded in 1947 and owned by Galderma Group AG.

en.wikipedia.orgcetaphil.co.uk

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

Popular COSRX vs Cetaphil products

People Say

COSRXCetaphil
  • Deep Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “woke up with soft, supple skin — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “cleared up flaky skin — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “healed my dry patches — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing 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)”
    • “absorbs instantly — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
  • Gentle for Sensitive Skin Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “No breakouts since switching to this. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “Lifesaver for my very sensitive skin — Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar”
    • “didn't irritate my skin — Cetaphil Vitamin C Serum”
    • “no stinging — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
  • Gentle and Non-Stripping Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “The only thing my reactive skin tolerates. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “cleans without stripping — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “safe for sensitive skin — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
  • Skin Texture and Smoothing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “gives me that glass skin look — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “skin feels softer immediately — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “Skin feels like glass — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “Skin felt softer after one use — Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser”
  • Acne and Pore Control Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “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”
    • “Melted blackheads right off — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “Removes excess oil without drying. — Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser”
  • Medicinal and Strong Scents 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)”
    • “Overpowering masking fragrance — Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar”
  • Unpleasant Texture and Residue Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “texture is gooey and stringy — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “too slimy and sticky — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “too thick for face — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “leaves a tacky finish — Cetaphil Vitamin C Serum”
  • Drying or Stripping Effect Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Felt a little stripping on sensitive areas. — Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser”
    • “Skin felt dehydrated after 30 minutes — Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion”
    • “dried out my cheeks — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “left my face tight — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”

COSRX vs Cetaphil routines for dry skin

Buy COSRX routine · AED 408.70 · 83% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · AED 319.93 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs Cetaphil routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · AED 581.27 · 91% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · AED 854.61 · 81% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

COSRX vs Cetaphil routines for combination skin

Buy COSRX routine · AED 475.50 · 89% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · AED 706.66 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Cetaphil: which is better?

COSRX is better for oily and acne-prone skin, while Cetaphil is better for sensitive skin due to its gentle and non-stripping cleansers. Both brands offer high routine fit levels for dry and combination skin types.

What is the difference between COSRX and Cetaphil?

COSRX excels at lightweight absorption, skin smoothing, and acne control, making it superior for oily and acne-prone skin, while Cetaphil is known for being especially gentle and non-stripping on sensitive skin.

COSRX or Cetaphil for dry skin?

Both COSRX and Cetaphil are well-suited for dry skin, as Lovi rates the dry-skin routine fit for both brands as High. Cetaphil is specifically noted for being gentle and non-stripping for sensitive skin.

COSRX or Cetaphil: which cleanser is better?

Both COSRX and Cetaphil offer cleansers tailored to different skin needs, with COSRX achieving a Superior Lovi fit for sensitive and acne-prone skin in products like the Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser, while Cetaphil excels with its gentle, non-stripping formulas like the Gentle Skin Cleanser that fit dry sensitive skin best.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Cetaphil?

This page compares COSRX and Cetaphil on performance and skin type fit, but it does not provide pricing or affordability information for either brand.

Between COSRX and Cetaphil, which brand performs better for oily acne-prone skin?

COSRX performs better for oily acne-prone skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Cetaphil's High fit level.

How do the fragrance profiles of COSRX and Cetaphil products compare across their ranges?

Both COSRX and Cetaphil products are predominantly fragrance-free across their ranges on this page. Specifically, 37 of the 38 COSRX products and 26 of the 27 Cetaphil products list no fragrance.

Which brand is better suited for mature skin and skin with dark spots according to the fit levels?

Both COSRX and Cetaphil are well-suited for mature skin and skin with dark spots, as the products on this page achieve a High fit level for both skin types across both brands.

COSRX or Cetaphil for oily skin?

COSRX is a better fit for oily skin, with a Lovi fit level of Superior compared to Cetaphil's High. Reviewers note that COSRX products provide lightweight absorption and effective acne control for oily skin.

COSRX or Cetaphil: which moisturizer is better?

Both COSRX and Cetaphil offer good moisturizers, with COSRX providing a Superior routine fit for oily and acne-prone skin types while Cetaphil excels with dry sensitive skin.

COSRX or Cetaphil for sensitive skin?

COSRX is a better fit for sensitive skin, achieving a Superior routine fit level compared to Cetaphil's High level. Reviewers indicate that COSRX excels in lightweight absorption and skin texture smoothing.

COSRX or Cetaphil: which sunscreen is better?

Both COSRX and Cetaphil offer high-performing sunscreens on the products on this page, but they cater to different needs. For example, the COSRX Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen provides a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, while Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 is rated as a Superior fit for dry and sensitive skin.

COSRX or Cetaphil for acne-prone skin?

COSRX is a superior match for acne-prone skin on this page, while Cetaphil has a high fit. COSRX features targeted acne care and clarifying ingredients that help control breakouts.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play