COSRX Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap) for dry sensitive skin

Birch Sap Juice Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Glycerin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Allantoin
Dimethicone
Average
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for dry sensitive skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 hydration for your dry or flaky skin and sensitivity due to the presence of birch sap and glycerin in concentrations that provide moisturizing benefits and enhance barrier resilience.
- Sodium hyaluronate and panthenol further support humectant action and barrier repair, making it suitable for dry skin.
- The product is safe for your dry and sensitive skin, as it contains soothing ingredients like Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice and Panthenol, and lacks harsh or prohibited substances.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using this moisturizer 3 times a week and move to daily use if your dry skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toner in the morning, or after your serum in the evening. Always pair it with SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it harshly to protect your sensitive skin.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help with hydration absorption. This also works well for dry and flaky skin types.
- Do a patch test before your first use. Avoid the eye area to prevent any irritation.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 13.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this lightweight, gel-like lotion is a highly recommended "holy grail" for oily, combination, and acne-prone skin, effectively hydrating without pore-clogging or greasiness. While its 70% Birch Sap content is noted for calming irritation, users with drier skin types may find it insufficient as a sole moisturizer, especially in colder weather.
Highlights
Lightweight & fast-absorbing Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs practically immediately”
- “weightless subtle lotion”
- “doesn't leave much of a finish”
- “glides on with a smooth slip”
Good for acne-prone skin Often Mentioned
- “doesn't break my face out”
- “safe for acne prone skin”
- “didn't cause new whiteheads”
- “perfect for trouble-prone skin”
Non-greasy / oil-control Often Mentioned
- “doesn't clog the pores”
- “best moisturizer I've ever tried for oily skin”
- “no greasy feeling”
- “matte finish in the morning”
Soothing & calming Sometimes Noted
- “calm and treat irritated skin”
- “soothes redness”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “helped with my breakouts”
Insufficient for dry skin Sometimes Noted
- “not nourishing enough for dry areas”
- “need to layer with a thicker cream”
- “skin felt tight in winter”
- “not effective overnight”
Scent issues Sometimes Noted
- “smells like tea tree/medicinal”
- “miss the old lemon scent”
- “scent is a bit strong”
- “smells like cleaning product”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “caused a breakout after one week”
- “slight burning sensation”
- “irritated my sensitive eyes”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “feels slightly tacky until absorbed”
- “leaves a sticky film”
- “texture is a bit slimy”
- “shiny forehead at end of day”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, ulta.com, yesstyle.com, stylekorean.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does COSRX Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion work for dry sensitive skin?
COSRX Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion works moderately well for dry sensitive skin by offering basic hydration and calming benefits through ingredients like birch sap and glycerin, though other products fit this skin type better. To truly thrive, dry sensitive skin needs formulations rich in deeply nourishing moisturizers and barrier-supporting agents that provide intense hydration without any risk of irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Which ingredients make this lotion a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Birch sap and glycerin make this lotion a fit for your dry sensitive skin by providing moderate moisture and helping strengthen your skin barrier. To be a top fit for this skin type, a moisturizing treatment needs rich nourishing ingredients and extra deep hydration agents that lock in moisture and protect the skin without causing irritation.
What does Birch Sap Juice do for dry sensitive skin?
Birch sap juice helps dry sensitive skin by strengthening the skin barrier and boosting hydration so your skin feels soft and smooth. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may improve moisture retention when used regularly in your daily routine.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011
What does Glycerin do for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin helps dry sensitive skin by drawing moisture into the skin and keeping it there, making the skin soft and smooth. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving how well the skin holds onto water. This type of skin needs ingredients that boost hydration and repair the barrier without causing stinging.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008
Where does this lotion go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes in the evening routine after your toner and before your moisturizer. Because dry sensitive skin needs deep moisture and strong barrier repair, this skin type requires richer creams and barrier-protecting ingredients like ceramides and nourishing oils.
Can I use this lotion with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this lotion with retinol by applying the lotion after your retinol has absorbed to help keep your dry sensitive skin calm and comfortable. This type of product works best for dry sensitive skin when it includes rich hydrators like ceramides, squalane, or shea butter to deeply lock in moisture.
How often should I use this lotion?
This lotion can be used daily as part of your evening routine. Regular application helps keep dry skin feeling soft and comfortable.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this lotion clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This lotion is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin, as it contains soothing ingredients like birch sap and panthenol without harsh or prohibited substances.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Can I use this lotion around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this lotion on your body and around your eyes, as it features a safe profile and gentle ingredients like birch sap and panthenol. Because the skin around your eyes and in certain body areas is very thin, applying a moisturizing treatment helps keep it soft and comfortable. This type of skin needs extra rich hydrators and barrier-repairing ingredients to stay smooth.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Is this lotion fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
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, 2017A 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, 2002A 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 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, 2020Betula alba bark extract and Empetrum nigrum fruit juice upregulated barrier genes, strengthened the skin barrier, and showed significantly better skin restructuring, hydration, and TEWL compared to placebo and 3% niacinamide.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022The 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 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 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, 2016An 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, 2018Prophylactic application of a topical scar gel containing Allium cepae extract, allantoin, and heparin significantly improves patient-assessed scar color, stiffness, and irregularity compared to no treatment in women following a cesarean section.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007
Ingredients
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Betaine, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol, Lemon Peel Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf
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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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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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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