COSRX Low pH Niacinamide Micellar Cleansing Water for oily skin
Niacinamide
Zinc Pca
Allantoin
Sodium Hyaluronate
MadecassosideAverage
- LowOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 excellent cleansing for your oily skin due to Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate effectively removing impurities without stripping the skin, though Panthenol and Sodium Hyaluronate may not be ideal for managing excess sebum.
- While Zinc PCA and Madecassoside offer some supportive skincare benefits, the formula lacks targeted ingredients for significant oil control.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your micellar water for both AM and PM routines. Start using it daily since your skin is not sensitive.
- Apply the micellar water after cleansing and before toner. Follow up with your regular moisturizer or SPF.
- Pour a small amount onto a cotton pad and gently wipe it across your face. Avoid harsh rubbing to protect your skin.
- Apply the micellar water on dry skin to easily remove excess oil and shine. Clean skin helps the product work better.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a quick patch test before your very first use.
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
How well does COSRX Low pH Niacinamide Micellar Cleansing Water work for oily skin?
This micellar water works decently for oily skin by effectively clearing away dirt without causing irritation, though it lacks strong oil-controlling ingredients. A product for oily skin of this type needs targeted oil-balancing ingredients to manage excess shine better.
Which ingredients make this cleansing water a good fit for oily skin?
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate makes this a good fit for oily skin by effectively cleaning away impurities without stripping, while Zinc PCA and Madecassoside offer supportive benefits. A product of this type needs targeted oil-controlling ingredients and a clear-complexion formula to truly suit oily skin.
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
What does Zinc PCA do for oily skin?
Zinc PCA helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and keeping skin calm and clear. It is unlikely to cause irritation and supports a healthy, balanced complexion.
Where does this cleansing water go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleansing water goes in the evening routine as a makeup remover before cleansing, or in a weekly routine as the first step. Oily skin of this type needs a makeup remover with stronger oil-control ingredients and mattifying agents to better manage excess sebum.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this micellar water before applying retinol as part of your evening routine. It is unlikely to irritate your oily skin because it lacks harsh ingredients, but oily skin also needs targeted ingredients for significant oil control.
How often should I use this cleansing water?
You can use this cleansing water daily as part of your evening routine to remove makeup and impurities. It is very gentle on the skin, though an oily skin type typically needs targeted ingredients to actively manage excess oil.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This micellar water is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin because it has a very safe formula with no harsh or prohibited ingredients. However, it lacks targeted oil-control ingredients, so an oily skin type needs a cleanser with stronger oil-balancing components.
Is this cleansing water fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 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
Why other products fit oily skin better
A 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, 2019Combined ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate treatment significantly reduced facial sebum secretions in healthy female volunteers compared to a placebo control over 90 days.
Drug Research, 2017
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.