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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 two Korean skincare brands founded in 2013 and 2014, respectively. COSRX is beloved for its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks using hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit oily and sensitive skin, while Dr. Althea is widely beloved for its moisturizers, gentle cleansers, makeup removers, and nourishing serums featuring soothing formulas tailored for dry and acne-prone skin. Both offer standout solutions for concerns like dark spots, acne, and aging, with the former focusing on balancing moisture and the latter providing calm comfort.

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

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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 COSRX routine · A$239.37 · 91% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · A$223.85 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

COSRX vs Dr. Althea routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · A$330.57 · 92% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · A$403.84 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs Dr. Althea routines for combination skin

Buy COSRX routine · A$311.08 · 89% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · A$337.14 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which is better?

Both COSRX and Dr. Althea are strong Korean skincare options on this page, but COSRX tends to excel in deep hydration and acne control, while Dr. Althea is noted for gentle cleansers and soothing sensitive skin. Reviewers often mention COSRX for lightweight absorption and effective clearing, whereas Dr. Althea provides soothing moisturizers and cleansers.

What is the difference between COSRX and Dr. Althea?

COSRX offers a larger range of products with strengths in deep hydration, acne control, and soothing dry or sensitive skin types. Dr. Althea features fewer products on this page but excels particularly in gentle cleansers and soothing moisturizers.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for dry skin?

Both COSRX and Dr. Althea are a Superior fit for dry skin. COSRX products on this page provide deep hydration and moisturization, while Dr. Althea offers soothing moisturizers and gentle cleansers.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which cleanser is better?

For cleansers on this page, COSRX offers superior results for acne-prone, sensitive, dry, and combination skin, while Dr. Althea provides superior amino acid bubble cleansing and generally gentle options.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Dr. Althea?

Affordability details are not available on this page for either COSRX or Dr. Althea.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, COSRX or Dr. Althea?

Dr. Althea has more fragrance-free products on this page, as every product on its list contains no fragrance. COSRX also has a high proportion, with 37 out of 38 products listing no fragrance.

Which brand provides better acne and pore control according to review themes?

COSRX provides better acne and pore control than Dr. Althea according to review themes. Shoppers looking to manage breakouts and refine pores may find that the products on this page from COSRX perform better in these specific areas.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of COSRX and Dr. Althea compare?

COSRX was founded in South Korea in 2013 and has been owned by the Amorepacific Group since 2024, whereas Dr. Althea was founded in South Korea in 2014 and is owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for oily skin?

For oily skin, COSRX offers superior routine fit compared to Dr. Althea, which has a high routine fit on the products on this page. Reviewers note that COSRX excels in acne and pore control as well as deep hydration.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which moisturizer is better?

When choosing a moisturizer, COSRX provides deeper hydration and moisturization compared to Dr. Althea, whereas Dr. Althea does better at soothing and calming sensitive skin.

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. COSRX also offers specialized soothing ingredients like Centella asiatica and allantoin across its products on this page.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for acne-prone skin?

Both COSRX and Dr. Althea are well-suited for acne-prone skin, achieving a Superior routine fit on this page. COSRX also offers specialized items like the BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, which is rated Superior for oily acne-prone skin.

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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