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COSRX vs Dr. Althea

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

COSRX and Dr. Althea are Korean skincare brands founded in 2013 and 2014, respectively. The former is beloved for its thoughtful array of serums, moisturizers, cleansers, masks, and more, all formulated with trusted ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, while the latter is widely loved for its thoughtfully crafted moisturizers, cleansers, makeup removers, and serums, all driven by gentle formulas. Products from the first brand suit oily skin and acne-prone skin best because its active components balance excess oil and soothe irritation, whereas the second brand suits acne-prone skin and dry skin best, providing balanced care through these reliable formulations. Ultimately, they differ in their specific formulations and standout solutions, offering tailored options for daily routines.

COSRX is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2013 and owned by Amorepacific Group since 2024.

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

Dr. Althea is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd..

doctoraltheaglobal.comdoctoralthea.co.kr

This page compares some of the most popular COSRX and Dr. Althea products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular COSRX vs Dr. Althea products

People Say

COSRXDr. Althea
  • Soothing and calming sensitive skin Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't dry out my face — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “skin doesn't feel stripped — Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser”
    • “great for sensitive skin — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
  • Texture and skin smoothing Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly like water — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “sinks in immediately — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “absorbs beautifully — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “rich but non-greasy — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
  • Value, barrier, and additional benefits Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “dark skin friendly — COSRX Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “strengthened my skin barrier — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Innovative dial mechanism — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “woke up with soft, supple skin — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “gives a healthy glow — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “consistently hydrated mornings — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
  • Acne and pore control Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “extremely gentle — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “helped to improve my acne after only 2 weeks — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
    • “cleared up my spots — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “hydrating but light — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
  • Cleansing and lather Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “foam is rich and creamy — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “Removes sunscreen well — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “great for morning routine — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “removes all the oil — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
  • Packaging and size limitations Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Runs out fast — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “Hard to see remaining amount — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “bottle goes fast — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “only 20mls... significantly less product — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
  • Sticky or heavy finish Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “texture is gooey and stringy — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “Leaves a sticky film — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “too nourishing for combo skin — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “left a moisturizing film — Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser”
  • Caused breakouts and skin irritation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “too slimy and sticky — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “burned my skin — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “broke me out — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “gave me cystic acne — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”

COSRX vs Dr. Althea routines for dry skin

Buy Dr. Althea routine · AED 430.35 · 90% fitBuy COSRX routine · AED 408.70 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs Dr. Althea routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · AED 581.27 · 91% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · AED 765.52 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

COSRX vs Dr. Althea routines for combination skin

Buy COSRX routine · AED 475.50 · 89% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · AED 619.88 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which is better?

COSRX is better for deep hydration and acne control, while Dr. Althea does better with soothing and calming sensitive skin and gentle cleansers. The routine fit for dry skin is Superior for Dr. Althea and High for COSRX.

What is the difference between COSRX and Dr. Althea?

COSRX excels in deep hydration, moisturization, and acne and pore control, whereas Dr. Althea does better in soothing and calming sensitive skin, as well as providing gentle cleansers. COSRX fits oily, acne-prone, and oily acne-prone skin best, while Dr. Althea leans toward acne-prone, dry, and oily skin.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for dry skin?

For dry skin, Dr. Althea has a Superior routine fit while COSRX has a High fit on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea does better for soothing and calming sensitive skin, whereas COSRX does better for deep hydration and moisturization.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which cleanser is better?

For cleansers on this page, Dr. Althea does better with soothing and cleansing lather, while COSRX offers superior fit levels for sensitive and acne-prone skin.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Dr. Althea?

The provided page facts do not mention the prices of products from COSRX or Dr. Althea, so it cannot be determined which brand is more affordable.

Between COSRX and Dr. Althea, which brand has better fragrance-free options?

COSRX offers many fragrance-free products on this page, as 37 of its 38 items list no fragrance, whereas Dr. Althea has every product on its page list no fragrance. Both brands provide extensive fragrance-free options.

How do the routines for dry skin compare between COSRX and Dr. Althea?

For dry skin, the routine fit for COSRX is High while Dr. Althea achieves a Superior level. Reviewers note that COSRX does better for deep hydration and moisturization, whereas Dr. Althea excels at soothing and calming sensitive skin.

Which brand performs better for soothing and calming sensitive skin?

Dr. Althea performs better for soothing and calming sensitive skin based on reviewer themes on this page.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for oily skin?

Both COSRX and Dr. Althea are a Superior fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that COSRX excels particularly at acne and pore control, while Dr. Althea is recognized for its gentle and soothing cleansers.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which moisturizer is better?

Both COSRX and Dr. Althea offer highly rated moisturizers on this page, but COSRX is better suited for deep hydration and acne control, while Dr. Althea excels in soothing sensitive skin. Reviewers find that COSRX delivers effective moisture with lightweight absorption, whereas Dr. Althea provides soothing benefits particularly well with its 345 Relief Cream.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for sensitive skin?

COSRX is a better fit for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Dr. Althea's High level. The products on this page for COSRX feature gentle formulations, and reviewers often mention that they are gentle and non-irritating.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for acne-prone skin?

COSRX is rated Superior for acne-prone skin, while Dr. Althea fits the same type at a Superior level on this page. COSRX provides more products specifically focused on effective acne control and clearing.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated 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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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