Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser for acne-prone skin
Amino Acids
Coco-Glucoside
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramide Np
Glycerin
Superior
- SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best cleansers for acne-prone skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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
- Excellent suitability for your combination, acne-prone skin as coco-glucoside and amino acids like glycine, serine, and glutamic acid effectively cleanse pores and support barrier repair without irritation. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide essential hydration, balancing your skin type.
- Bisabolol and Bambusa Vulgaris Water offer additional soothing and calming benefits, further enhancing the product's compatibility with your skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no harsh ingredients and a focus on gentle, barrier-supporting components.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
- This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis water-based cleanser is highly regarded for its exceptionally gentle and non-drying formula, effectively cleansing the skin while preserving moisture. It is frequently recommended for sensitive, acne-prone, and dry skin types due to its calming properties and luxurious foam, leaving the skin feeling hydrated and smooth.
Highlights
Gentle and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't dry out my face”
- “leaves skin soft like a baby”
- “no stripped feel”
- “moisturizing finish”
Rich, dense foam Often Mentioned
- “foam is rich and creamy”
- “lovely big flump of foam”
- “bubbles sound better than foam”
- “velvet foam”
Soothing for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “perfect for sensitive skin”
- “doesn't sting my eyes”
- “calming effect”
- “no redness after use”
Effective second cleanse Sometimes Noted
- “great for morning routine”
- “removes residue nicely”
- “perfect after cleansing oil”
- “ideal second cleanser”
Weak makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “won't remove mascara”
- “more of a skin cleanse than makeup remover”
- “need oil cleanser first”
- “struggled with heavy foundation”
Fast consumption Rarely Noted
- “bottle goes fast”
- “used up quickly”
- “wish it was bigger”
- “pump dispenses a lot”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “prominent acidic hint”
- “smells slightly chemical”
- “weird scent”
- “medicinal smell”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, yesstyle.com, stylekorean.com, picky.com, britishbeautyblogger.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser one of the best fits for acne-prone skin?
Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser is one of the best fits for acne-prone skin because coco-glucoside and amino acids clean out pores and support the skin barrier without causing irritation. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate add essential moisture to keep the skin balanced, while bisabolol helps calm redness.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because coco-glucoside and gentle amino acids like glycine, serine, and glutamic acid clean out pores while keeping your skin calm. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate add essential moisture, and bisabolol helps soothe redness without irritation.
What do Amino Acids do for acne-prone skin?
Amino acids help acne-prone skin by forming complexes that provide strong antibacterial activity against acne-causing bacteria while maintaining a very safe profile on skin cells. Using amino acid cleansers with active ingredients like salicylic acid continuously for 28 days also significantly improves moisture, reduces redness, and strengthens the skin barrier.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
What does Coco Glucoside do for acne-prone skin?
Coco-glucoside helps create stable formulas that support your skin's natural barrier while delivering beneficial ingredients without clogging pores. This makes it a gentle option for acne-prone skin that helps keep your face feeling balanced and clean.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits in both your morning and evening routines as the first or second cleansing step. Using a mild cleanser helps clear pores and keeps skin calm without causing irritation.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this gentle cleanser with retinol because its amino acids and ceramides help clean pores while keeping your skin calm and balanced. Use the cleanser first to prep your skin, followed by your retinol treatment and a moisturizer.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day in the morning and evening as part of your routine. Using a gentle cleanser daily effectively clears pores and supports skin health without irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is one of the best fits for acne-prone skin because its mild ingredients gently clean pores and support the skin barrier without causing irritation. It is very unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts, as it uses soothing components and avoids harsh ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This gentle cleanser is suitable for use on the thin skin around your eyes and on your body because its mild amino acids and coco-glucoside clean pores without causing irritation. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate help keep these areas hydrated and balanced while supporting the skin barrier.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene).
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, 2017Emulsions containing ceramides 1 and 3 improved skin hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in sodium lauryl sulfate-irritated skin of fifteen healthy Asian women compared to a control emulsion.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2008Coco-glucoside powered emulgels containing probiotics and prebiotics demonstrated stability without phase separation and preserved probiotic viability for up to 11 days, supporting the skin's natural barrier.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2025Topical 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, 2019The 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, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Cocoate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Glycine, Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Valine, Threonine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cysteine, Methionine, Bisabolol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosteryl Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Ceramide Np, Limonene
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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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
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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Medical Board
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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