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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, with the former being a Korean brand founded in 2013 and the latter an American brand founded in 1947. COSRX is beloved for its thoughtful array of serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks incorporating hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit oily and oily acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, the second brand offers a thoughtful range of cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and sunscreens formulated with glycerin, niacinamide, and panthenol to suit combination and acne-prone skin best. While both brands rely on ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide to increase hydration and decrease hyperpigmentation, they differ in their specific heritage, targeted concerns, and supplementary active compounds.

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 · $128.96 · 87% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · $134.48 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

COSRX vs Cetaphil routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · $292.12 · 91% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · $331.64 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

COSRX vs Cetaphil routines for combination skin

Buy COSRX routine · $268.03 · 89% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · $285.23 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Cetaphil: which is better?

Both brands offer solid options depending on your goals, with COSRX being superior for oily and oily acne-prone skin while Cetaphil excels in gentleness for sensitive skin.

What is the difference between COSRX and Cetaphil?

COSRX is better suited for oily and oily acne-prone skin with a Superior routine fit, whereas Cetaphil has a High routine fit for those skin types. Reviewers find that COSRX delivers a more lightweight and fast-absorbing experience, while Cetaphil is recognized for being exceptionally gentle and non-stripping on sensitive skin.

COSRX or Cetaphil for dry skin?

Both COSRX and Cetaphil are well-suited for dry skin, with Lovi giving each brand a High fit level for this skin type.

COSRX or Cetaphil: which cleanser is better?

Both COSRX and Cetaphil offer cleansers well-suited for various skin needs, with COSRX leaning toward superior acne and pore control and Cetaphil focusing on gentle, non-stripping hydration for sensitive skin.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Cetaphil?

The products on this page do not list pricing information, so a comparison of affordability between COSRX and Cetaphil cannot be made from this data.

COSRX or Cetaphil: which brand has more fragrance-free products?

COSRX has more fragrance-free products on this page, offering thirty-seven compared to Cetaphil's twenty-six. Both brands formulate the vast majority of their products without fragrance.

COSRX or Cetaphil: which is better for acne and pore control?

COSRX is better for acne and pore control, as the products on this page achieve a Superior routine fit for oily acne-prone skin compared to Cetaphil's High level.

COSRX or Cetaphil for oily skin?

For oily skin, COSRX offers a superior routine fit on this page, while Cetaphil achieves a high fit.

COSRX or Cetaphil: which moisturizer is better?

Both COSRX and Cetaphil offer effective moisturizers, with COSRX achieving a Superior fit for oily and oily acne-prone skin and Cetaphil achieving a High fit. Reviewers note that COSRX provides lightweight absorption and deep hydration, while Cetaphil is recognized for gentle and non-greasy moisturizers.

COSRX or Cetaphil for sensitive skin?

Both COSRX and Cetaphil fit sensitive skin well, with Lovi giving each brand a High fit level for this skin type.

COSRX or Cetaphil: which sunscreen is better?

Both COSRX and Cetaphil offer top-performing sunscreens on this page with a Superior fit for acne-prone or dry skin, such as the COSRX Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen and the Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50. Reviewers note that both brands provide effective, lightweight protection.

COSRX or Cetaphil for acne-prone skin?

Both COSRX and Cetaphil have a High routine fit for acne-prone skin, but COSRX is also rated Superior for oily acne-prone skin.

COSRX or Cetaphil for oily acne-prone skin?

COSRX is the better choice for oily acne-prone skin, as the routine fit for this skin type is Superior, whereas Cetaphil has a High fit level.

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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