COSRX Low pH Niacinamide Micellar Cleansing Water for sensitive skin
Niacinamide
Zinc Pca
Allantoin
Sodium Hyaluronate
MadecassosideLow
- LowNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A weak match for sensitive skin; the products 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 general skincare benefits for your redness and irritation due to Panthenol and Allantoin providing supportive hydration and soothing effects, though Zinc PCA may lead to dryness for your normal skin.
- The cleansing action is effective for removing impurities without stripping the skin, contributing to overall skin comfort.
- The formula is safe for your sensitive skin, as it lacks any harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start 3×/week and move to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your micellar water as your first cleansing step before your regular cleanser and toner. Always follow with a soothing moisturizer.
- Saturate a soft cotton pad with the micellar water and gently sweep it across your face. Avoid any harsh rubbing to protect your skin barrier.
- Use on dry skin to ensure better tolerance for your sensitive, reactive skin. There is no need to rinse it off afterwards.
- Avoid direct contact with your eyes and do a patch test before your very first use to check for comfort.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers with sensitive and acne-prone skin highly praise this micellar water for its ability to gently remove makeup and excess oil without stripping the skin's moisture barrier. Many reviewers highlight the added benefits of niacinamide, noting that it helps control sebum and leaves their complexion feeling balanced, calm, and hydrated rather than tight or dry.
Highlights
Gentle and non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “no burning sensation”
- “gentle on sensitive skin”
- “barely any stinging”
- “calms redness”
Effective cleansing Often Mentioned
- “removes everyday makeup”
- “cleanses deeply”
- “removes mascara well”
- “takes off sunscreen”
Hydrating and non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “skin feels moisturized”
- “not tight or drying”
- “leaves skin soft”
- “hydrating finish”
Beneficial ingredients Sometimes Noted
- “niacinamide helps brighten”
- “good for oil control”
- “zinc PCA for sebum”
- “improves skin texture”
Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “scent is barely noticeable”
- “no fragrance”
- “mild scent”
- “great for sensitive noses”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “stung my eyes slightly”
- “blurred vision if too much”
- “mild stinging”
- “careful around eyes”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “cap can break”
- “dispenses too fast”
- “leaked in transit”
- “hard to control amount”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “slightly expensive”
- “pricey for micellar water”
- “wait for sale”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “slight sticky residue”
- “leaves a film”
- “needs rinsing after”
- “tacky finish”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, iherb.com, ulta.com, yesstyle.com, hometesterclub.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is COSRX Low pH Niacinamide Micellar Cleansing Water a weak match for sensitive skin?
This micellar water is a weak match for sensitive skin because Zinc PCA may lead to dryness, even though Panthenol and Allantoin help soothe redness and irritation. A micellar water for this skin needs multiple soothing and hydrating ingredients, a gentle cleansing action, and an absence of drying ingredients and allergens to maintain moisture and comfort.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Which ingredients make this micellar water a poor fit for sensitive skin?
Zinc PCA may lead to dryness for your sensitive skin. A micellar water for this skin needs multiple soothing and hydrating ingredients that effectively calm redness without the risk of drying out the skin.
What does Niacinamide do for sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps calm sensitive skin by strengthening the skin barrier and reducing redness and irritation. It is very well tolerated and may improve overall comfort and resilience with regular use.
What does Zinc PCA do for sensitive skin?
Zinc PCA helps calm oily and sensitive skin by keeping excess oil under control. It works well alongside other gentle ingredients to clear breakouts while keeping your skin feeling comfortable.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This product is used as a makeup remover in the evening routine. A product of this type for sensitive skin needs calming ingredients and gentle hydration to keep the skin soft and comfortable without causing dryness.
Can I use this micellar water with retinol, and in what order?
This micellar water may be used before retinol, though it is a weak match for your sensitive skin because Zinc PCA can lead to dryness. A product of this type for sensitive skin needs soothing ingredients and extra moisture to keep the skin calm and comfortable.
How often should I use it?
This micellar water is a weak match for your sensitive skin because Zinc PCA may lead to dryness. A product of this type for your skin needs soothing ingredients like panthenol and allantoin to keep it calm and comfortable.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This micellar water is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on sensitive skin. It features soothing and hydrating ingredients that help keep your face calm and comfortable while removing impurities.
Is this micellar water fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical 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, 2002Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Zinc PCA inhibits UVA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 production through suppressed AP-1 activation and enhances type I collagen synthesis by increasing SVCT2 mRNA expression in cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020A 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, 2017Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Zinc Pca, Madecassoside, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Citrate, 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
How does it fit your skin?
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