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COSRX vs Minimalist

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

COSRX and Minimalist are trusted skin care brands that offer targeted serums, moisturizers, cleansers, sunscreens, and masks featuring proven ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide. The South Korean line suits acne-prone and oily skin best with specialized blemish-fighting formulations, whereas the Indian counterpart focuses heavily on sun care, hydration, and gentle cleansing. Both labels effectively address specific concerns, yet they differ in their origin and unique product combinations for various complexions.

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

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

Minimalist is an Indian skincare brand founded in 2020 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2025.

m.economictimes.comunilever.combeminimalist.copersonalcareinsights.com

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

Popular COSRX vs Minimalist products

People Say

COSRXMinimalist
  • 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”
    • “very moisturizing — Minimalist SPF 50 Sunscreen”
    • “calmed it when my skin was super irritated — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorption 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 quickly and doesn't feel greasy — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
  • Gentle and Non-Stripping Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “perfect for first-time retinol users — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “doesn't make skin feel tight — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
  • Acne and Pore 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”
    • “acne cleared up in a week — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
  • Deep Cleansing and Oil Control Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “perfect moisturizer for oily skin — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
    • “keeps skin oil-free for hours — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
    • “whisking away that excess shine — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
  • Beneficial and Fragrance-Free Ingredients Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “love the niacinamide — Minimalist SPF 50 Sunscreen”
    • “zero smell — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
    • “great for sensitive skin — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
  • Unpleasant Texture and Finish Sometimes NotedMostly 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”
    • “consistency is like water — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
  • Drying or Insufficient Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “left my face tight — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “leaves skin feeling tight — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer”
    • “made skin flaky — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
  • Medicinal and Chemical Scent Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like chemicals — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “smells like onions — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “smells of herbs and earth — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
    • “smells like chemicals — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”
  • Packaging and Quality Issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “tube cracked on the side — COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream”
    • “hate dipping fingers in — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “cap leaks during travel — Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser”

COSRX vs Minimalist routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

COSRX vs Minimalist routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

COSRX vs Minimalist routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Minimalist: which is better?

Both COSRX and Minimalist offer strong options, with COSRX providing a much wider variety of targeted treatments while Minimalist focuses on streamlined, fragrance-free formulas. Lovi rates COSRX as having a Superior routine fit for acne-prone, oily acne-prone, and dry skin types on the products on this page.

What is the difference between COSRX and Minimalist?

COSRX is founded in South Korea and owned by Amorepacific, while Minimalist is founded in India and owned by Unilever. Minimalist does better for deep cleansing and oil control, and for beneficial and fragrance-free ingredients. Lovi rates Minimalist Superior for oily skin, combination skin, and skin with dark spots, compared to High for COSRX.

COSRX or Minimalist for dry skin?

Both COSRX and Minimalist are good options for dry skin because Lovi gives each brand a high routine fit level for this skin type. COSRX also offers a wide range of products on this page tailored with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which helps hydrate dry skin.

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

COSRX or Minimalist: which sunscreen is better?

Both COSRX and Minimalist offer sunscreens with High Lovi fit levels for skin with dark spots, acne-prone skin, oily skin, combination skin, and sensitive skin. The products on this page for both brands provide solid UV protection without added fragrance.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Minimalist?

The provided page facts do not mention the prices of products from either COSRX or Minimalist, so it is not possible to determine which brand is more affordable.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, COSRX or Minimalist?

Minimalist offers entirely fragrance-free products on this page, whereas COSRX includes fragrance in one product, the Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen SPF 50+. Both brands focus on gentle formulations, but Minimalist performs better for beneficial and fragrance-free ingredients.

How do the founding years and corporate owners of COSRX and Minimalist compare?

COSRX was founded in 2013 in South Korea and has been owned by Amorepacific Group since 2024. In comparison, Minimalist was founded in 2020 in India and is owned by Unilever PLC.

Which brand performs better for deep cleansing and oil control according to review themes?

Minimalist performs better for deep cleansing and oil control according to the review themes on this page.

COSRX or Minimalist for oily skin?

For oily skin, Minimalist has a Superior routine fit while COSRX has a High fit. Reviewers note that Minimalist does better for deep cleansing and oil control.

COSRX or Minimalist for sensitive skin?

Both COSRX and Minimalist are good options, as Lovi rates their routines as High for sensitive skin. COSRX offers more choices on this page with thirty-eight products, while Minimalist features fragrance-free ingredients across its range.

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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