COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser for sensitive skin
Salicylic Acid
Glycerin
Oil Tree Leaf
Willow Water Bark
Butylene Glycol
Low
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A weak match for sensitive skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate exfoliation and hydration for your normal skin, as salicylic acid and glycerin work to gently remove dead skin cells and maintain moisture balance.
- Tea tree oil and willow bark water provide mild support for redness and irritation, though more specialized ingredients would be needed to fully resolve these concerns.
- The formula is safe for your normal skin with sensitivity, as it lacks harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser in the AM and PM routines every day. Start using it daily since your sensitive skin needs gentle care.
- Apply this first in your morning and evening skincare routine before toner and moisturizer. This clears away dirt without upsetting your skin.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using soft circles. Avoid any rough rubbing to keep redness away.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it wash away impurities softly. Clean skin feels fresh and comfortable afterwards.
- Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes and do a quick patch test before first use. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 13.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this creamy foaming cleanser is highly recommended for oily and acne-prone skin, effectively deep cleaning pores and reducing breakouts. Users with dry or sensitive skin, however, frequently find it to be drying or stripping, suggesting it is best suited as a targeted treatment rather than a daily hydrating cleanser.
Highlights
Clears acne Mostly Mentioned
- “helped to improve my acne after only 2 weeks”
- “prevents spots and black heads”
- “shorten the life of some of my breakouts”
- “dried down my acne”
Controls oil Often Mentioned
- “whisking away that excess shine”
- “ideal for oily skin”
- “removes excess oil without making face entirely dry”
- “keeps oil production balanced”
Deep cleansing Often Mentioned
- “removes every trace of oil”
- “squeaky clean feeling”
- “gets rid of all the dirt and sebum”
- “skin feels thoroughly clean”
Drying or stripping Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin feeling tight”
- “stripped of moisture”
- “felt quite a bit of dryness”
- “skin did feel more drier/tighter than usual”
Creamy lather Sometimes Noted
- “creamy and makes a nice, thick lather”
- “foams up quickly”
- “rich and creamy”
- “creates a really nice lather”
Gentle exfoliation Sometimes Noted
- “gently exfoliate and remove impurities”
- “skin feels so soft and smooth”
- “buff away dead skin cells”
- “refines pores”
Eye irritation Sometimes Noted
- “stings really bad if it accidentally gets in the eyes”
- “will sting if gets into eyes”
- “can't use it to clean the skin around the eyes”
High pH Rarely Noted
- “pH is 9”
- “high pH”
- “squeaky feeling implies high pH”
- “stripping away your skin's natural moisture barrier”
Medicinal scent Rarely Noted
- “smells of herbs and earth”
- “medicinal smell”
- “smells like tea tree”
- “subtle citrus fragrance”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “minor irritation”
- “redness appearing after use”
- “broke me out”
- “burning after using it”
Sources: lovi.care, yesstyle.com, nykaa.com, iherb.com, gopicky.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser a weak match for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is a weak match for sensitive skin because it lacks the specialized soothing ingredients and barrier-repairing components needed to fully calm redness and protect this skin type.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is a weak match for sensitive skin because its salicylic acid and tea tree oil may cause dryness or irritation. Sensitive skin needs cleansers with soothing ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to calm redness without stripping away natural moisture.
What does Salicylic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid may cause irritation on sensitive skin, so it requires careful use and good sun protection to keep skin comfortable. A product for this skin type needs gentle, soothing ingredients and a mild formula that respects the skin barrier.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1999International Journal of Toxicology, 2003
What does Glycerin do for sensitive skin?
Glycerin helps keep sensitive skin soft and deeply hydrated while supporting the skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may protect against dryness and roughness.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1999
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine before toners and moisturizers. Sensitive skin needs a very gentle, fragrance-free cleanser along with soothing ingredients like ceramides or centella asiatica to keep the skin calm and comfortable.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine, but sensitive skin needs a gentle cleanser and a hydrating moisturizer to keep the skin barrier strong when using retinol. This type of skin needs soothing ingredients and ceramides to help prevent dryness and irritation.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a weak match for sensitive skin, so you need a milder cleanser that gently washes away dirt while keeping your skin calm and comfortable.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cleanser may cause dryness and stripping on sensitive skin, which can sometimes trigger breakouts as the skin tries to overcompensate. To avoid clogged pores and irritation, sensitive skin needs a gentle, hydrating cleanser with soothing ingredients and a balanced pH that cleanses without disrupting the skin barrier.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is unlikely to be a good fit for the very thin skin around the eyes where the skin is much thinner. This skin needs ultra-gentle, hydrating ingredients and specialized care to prevent irritation.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical herbal treatments including lemon balm, olive leaf extract, propolis, and sage-rhubarb cream reduce pain, swelling, lesion size, and healing time in patients with herpes labialis compared with placebo or acyclovir.
Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 2025Topical oleuropein formulations reduced erythema, transepidermal water loss, and blood flow by approximately 22%, 35%, and 30% in healthy volunteers with UVB-induced erythema.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2008An oil-in-serum formulation containing olive extract standardized in hydroxytyrosol improved skin barrier function and significantly reduced hyperpigmentation in participants with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after 45 days of application.
AAPS PharmSciTech, 2026Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.
Nanomaterials, 2022A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Why other cleansers fit sensitive skin better
Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A dexpanthenol-containing cream accelerated skin barrier repair, increased stratum corneum hydration, reduced skin roughness, and decreased skin redness compared to vehicle and untreated controls in sodium lauryl sulphate-irritated skin.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2002
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycol Distearate, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Salicylic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Chloride, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Willow Bark Water Bark, Saccharomyces Ferment, Cryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Disodium Edta
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score 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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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