Brand Comparison

Santa Maria Novella 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 8.3)

Santa Maria Novella COSRX

Rating8.3/109/10

Price RangePremium ($$$)Budget ($)

Founded16122013

OriginFlorence, ItalySeoul, South Korea

Products631

Best ForDry, Mature, normal, SensitiveOily, Combo, Acne-Prone, Sensitive

PhilosophyThe world's oldest continuously operating pharmacy bringing 400 years of Florentine apothecary craft into modern skincare — rosewater, olive oil, and Tuscan botanicals formulated to contemporary INCI standards in the same Dominican monastery where the recipes were first written.Minimal, effective formulations at accessible prices. Every product built around one or two proven actives with short, transparent ingredient lists.

Santa Maria Novella

Santa Maria Novella began in 1221 when Dominican friars arrived in Florence and started cultivating medicinal herbs in the monastery garden. By 1612 the apothecary opened to the public under Grand Duke Ferdinando II de' Medici, making it the oldest pharmacy in continuous operation in the world. The famous Acqua di Santa Maria Novella was created in 1614 for Catherine de' Medici. Today, under Italmobiliare ownership since 2020, the brand has been pushed into modern skincare with the Idralia line (launched 2019) — saccharide isomerate, niacinamide, three-weight HA in formulas that respect the heritage but use current actives. The Florence flagship at Via della Scala 16 still operates inside the original 17th-century frescoed pharmacy. Heritage skincare that refuses to be a museum piece.

Pros

✓ literally the oldest skincare brand in the world (1221 herb garden, 1612 public pharmacy)
✓ Idralia line is a genuine modern formulation with three-weight HA
✓ Florentine botanical heritage bottled with EU-standard preservatives
✓ the Acqua di Rose toner is a 500-year-old skincare classic

Cons

✗ premium pricing reflects heritage tax more than ingredient cost
✗ some formulas still use parfum + alcohol
✗ thin distribution outside owned boutiques and specialty retailers
✗ the brand catalogue is sprawling (fragrance > skincare > home > body)

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.