Brand Comparison
MartiDerm vs COSRX
A head-to-head comparison of two popular K-beauty brands. Which one is right for your skin?
Our Pick
COSRX
Higher editor rating (9 vs 8.8)
MartiDerm
MartiDerm is the brand built around a single iconic format: the snap-top glass ampoule. Founded in 1952 as a pharmacy in Cervelló, just outside Barcelona, the modern brand was born when pharmacist José Martí Tor formalised the pharmacy's house formulations into commercial dermocosmetics in 1989. The signature is the proteoglycan ampoule — nitrogen-flushed glass vials of 5% pure L-ascorbic acid + proteoglycans + hyaluronic acid, sealed to keep vitamin C from oxidising until the moment of use. In Spain the ampoule before a wedding is a literal cultural ritual — and MartiDerm's Photo-Age HA+ is the ampoule. The newer DSP-Bright and Proteos Hydra Plus extend the format to pigmentation and pure plumping. The format itself is the differentiator: every dose is fresh, every ml is delivered through a system that the air can't oxidise.
Pros
- ✓ nitrogen-flushed glass ampoule format — solves vitamin C oxidation that ruins most C serums
- ✓ 5% pure L-ascorbic acid + proteoglycans — clinical-tier dose, fresh per use
- ✓ the ampoule-before-event ritual is a Spanish cultural anchor
- ✓ proteoglycan technology adds plumping that pure HA doesn't
Cons
- ✗ glass ampoules are not travel-friendly and produce more waste than a pump
- ✗ snapping the ampoule requires care — sharp glass risk if mishandled
- ✗ premium per-ml cost vs. equivalent serum bottles
- ✗ the ampoule format is unfamiliar to non-EU shoppers
COSRX
The gateway brand for most people entering K-beauty, and for good reason. COSRX consistently delivers effective, no-frills products at prices that make most Western alternatives look overpriced. Their snail mucin line and BHA products are genuine category leaders. They rarely innovate, but they execute the basics exceptionally well.
