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COSRX vs NIVEA

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

COSRX and NIVEA are established skincare brands offering distinct approaches to daily moisture and targeted care. The Korean brand is beloved for its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks featuring hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, while the German brand is deeply loved for its reliable sunscreens, targeted serums, and nourishing moisturizers formulated with hydrating glycerin. Both brands suit oily skin, though the former also suits oily acne-prone skin and the latter also suits sensitive skin. Ultimately, they differ through their key ingredient profiles and regional heritages, with the first expertly balancing moisture levels and the second offering gentle care that respects delicate skin barriers.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

NIVEA is a German skincare brand founded in 1911 and owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA since 2004.

beiersdorf.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular COSRX vs NIVEA products

People Say

COSRXNIVEA
  • Skin Texture and Smoothing Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “gives me that glass skin look — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “skin feels softer immediately — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “Makes my face feel smooth and soft. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “skin feels squeaky clean and soft — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedOften 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”
    • “gives a healthy glow — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “Smoothed out dry flaky scales on my cheeks overnight — NIVEA Creme”
  • Soothing and Gentle Formulas Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “extremely gentle — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “perfect for first-time retinol users — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “doesn't dry out skin — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Other Positive Highlights Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “smells like holiday — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
    • “unclogs pores — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
    • “Smell brings me back to childhood — NIVEA Creme”
    • “doesn't clog the pores — COSRX Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorption Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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)”
    • “It's lightweight on the skin and leaves a bit of subtle sheen. — NIVEA Soft”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “cleared my complexion in 7 days — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “reduces blackheads — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Unpleasant Texture and Finish Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “texture is gooey and stringy — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “too slimy and sticky — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “Leaves a sticky film — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “Leaves a shiny grease layer that doesn't go away — NIVEA Creme”
  • Other Minor Complaints Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “expensive for me — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
    • “The purging is real — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “pH is 9 — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
    • “not super gritty — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Breakouts and Skin Irritation Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “stings really bad if it accidentally gets in the eyes — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
    • “burns eyes when sweating — COSRX Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen”
    • “Clogged my pores and caused bad acne — NIVEA Creme”
    • “I noticed some acne breakouts on my chin after using this crème for a while. — NIVEA Soft”

COSRX vs NIVEA routines for dry skin

Buy COSRX routine · $128.96 · 87% fitBuy NIVEA routine · $119.46 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

COSRX vs NIVEA routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · $292.12 · 91% fitBuy NIVEA routine · $297.86 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

COSRX vs NIVEA routines for combination skin

Buy COSRX routine · $268.03 · 89% fitBuy NIVEA routine · $289.45 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or NIVEA: which is better?

COSRX is better for hydration and lightweight absorption, while NIVEA offers versatile multi-use moisturizers. Lovi rates COSRX as having Superior routine fit for oily skin and oily acne-prone skin, whereas NIVEA has a High fit for those skin types.

What is the difference between COSRX and NIVEA?

COSRX is owned by Amorepacific Group and NIVEA is owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA. COSRX offers a wide range of products with a focus on ingredients like snail mucin, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide, while NIVEA features versatile multi-use moisturizers and blemish-clearing serums with glycerin. COSRX has a Superior fit level for oily and oily acne-prone skin, whereas NIVEA has a High fit level for those skin types.

COSRX or NIVEA for dry skin?

Both COSRX and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for dry skin. COSRX features key hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin across its products to help lock in moisture.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Drug Delivery, 2017

COSRX or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

COSRX is better for moisturizers because it offers superior or high fit levels across most skin types and features a wider variety of specialized options like snail mucin and propolis. Reviewers frequently highlight its lightweight absorption and deep hydration compared to NIVEA, which often receives complaints about a greasy residue. Both brands achieve high routine fits for dry skin.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or NIVEA?

The products on this page do not list pricing information, so a comparison of affordability cannot be made from the provided facts.

Between COSRX and NIVEA, which brand has fewer products containing fragrance?

COSRX has fewer products containing fragrance, with only one fragranced product among the products on this page compared to six for NIVEA.

How do the founding years and home countries of COSRX and NIVEA compare?

COSRX was founded in 2013 in South Korea, whereas NIVEA was founded earlier in 1911 in Germany.

Which brand performs better for hydration and moisture according to the review themes?

According to the review themes, COSRX performs better for hydration and moisture. Reviewers note that COSRX provides deep hydration and moisturization with lightweight absorption.

COSRX or NIVEA for oily skin?

COSRX is the better choice for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior while NIVEA reaches a High level. Reviewers often highlight COSRX for its lightweight absorption and deep hydration without a heavy feel.

COSRX or NIVEA: which sunscreen is better?

COSRX offers sunscreens such as the Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen, which has a High fit level for sensitive skin and a Superior fit for acne-prone skin. NIVEA also provides options like the Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+, which has a High fit level for both sensitive skin and acne-prone skin.

COSRX or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

Both COSRX and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin, but COSRX stands out with gentler, fragrance-free options across the products on this page.

COSRX or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

Both COSRX and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin. COSRX features products like Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence with a Superior fit, while NIVEA provides targeted options like DERMA SKIN CLEAR with a High fit.

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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