Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser for dry sensitive skin
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Glycerin
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry sensitive skin; other cleansers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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
- Offers moderate cleansing and hydration for your dry and sensitive skin, as glycerin and cocamidopropyl betaine provide supportive benefits without harshness.
- The formula is safe for your dry and sensitive skin, lacking any ingredients that would cause irritation.
- While it offers general hydration, the cleanser lacks sufficient emollient or occlusive ingredients to fully address your dry skin concerns.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your face fresh. Start slowly once a day if your dry skin feels sensitive at first.
- Apply your cleanser first thing in your routine before any toner or moisturizer. Follow the usual steps for your AM or PM daily routine.
- Gently massage the cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to protect your dry skin.
- Apply the cleanser to slightly damp skin to help it clean gently without stripping moisture. This method is very safe for sensitive and dry skin types.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and avoid the delicate eye area. Always do a patch test before using the product for the first time.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this gel-to-foam cleanser is highly regarded by users with sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin for its effective yet gentle cleansing. It is frequently praised for leaving the skin feeling soft and hydrated without stripping its natural moisture barrier, and is noted for its soothing properties. Some users with specific dehydration concerns found it slightly drying, and a few mentioned it requires effort to lather.
Highlights
Gentle & non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “skin doesn't feel stripped”
- “very gentle on the skin”
- “leaves face soft”
Soothing for sensitive Often Mentioned
- “no breakouts at all”
- “calming cleanser”
- “good for redness”
Hydrating finish Sometimes Noted
- “feels hydrated”
- “moisturizing sensation”
- “leaves skin soft like baby”
Pleasant texture Sometimes Noted
- “foams up well”
- “feels like a cloud”
- “rich and creamy foam”
Lathering effort Rarely Noted
- “takes a little water and elbow grease”
- “needs to be lathered well”
Residue feeling Rarely Noted
- “left a moisturizing film”
- “husband didn't like the film”
Slightly drying Rarely Noted
- “drying on my hands and face”
- “mildly irritated my cheeks”
- “not perfect for surface dehydration”
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Questions and answers
How well does Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser work for dry sensitive skin?
Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser works moderately well for your dry sensitive skin, offering gentle cleansing and some hydration without causing irritation. However, because it lacks rich moisturizing ingredients and barrier-repairing elements like ceramides and hyaluronic acid, it may not fully address your dry skin concerns. A cleanser for this skin needs richer hydrating and barrier-restoring ingredients to keep the skin comfortable and protected.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin and cocamidopropyl betaine make this cleanser a good fit because they provide supportive benefits and hydration without harshness or irritation. A cleanser for this skin needs richer hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to fully address dryness and keep the skin soft and comfortable.
What does Water do for dry sensitive skin?
Hard water increases soap deposits and dryness, making dry sensitive skin more prone to irritation and flare-ups. A product of this type needs gentle cleansers and soothing ingredients to calm the skin and protect its moisture barrier against hard water minerals.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2018Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 2021
What does Birch Juice do for dry sensitive skin?
Birch Juice helps hydrate dry sensitive skin by drawing in moisture and keeping your face feeling soft and smooth. Because it is lightweight, it is unlikely to irritate sensitive areas while offering gentle nourishment.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the first or second step, helping clean your skin gently with glycerin and cocamidopropyl betaine without causing irritation. Because it offers only general hydration, a cleanser for this skin type needs extra moisturizing and softening ingredients like rich plant oils or butters to fully address dry skin concerns.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine, applying it before your retinol treatment to gently wash your face without causing irritation. To properly care for dry skin when using strong treatments like retinol, a cleanser of this type needs to be followed by rich hydrating creams and smoothing oils that lock in moisture.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine, because its mild ingredients cleanse gently without causing irritation. To properly care for dry skin, this type of product also needs rich nourishing oils and protective moisturizing creams that lock in hydration.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your dry sensitive skin. Its gentle formula is safe and lacks harsh ingredients that typically cause irritation or congestion.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser on the body and around the eyes because its gentle ingredients are safe for thin skin. However, because it lacks rich moisturizing ingredients, dry skin of this type needs a nourishing cream or lotion applied right after washing to lock in moisture and keep the skin feeling soft and smooth.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2017Betula alba bark extract and Empetrum nigrum fruit juice upregulated barrier genes, strengthened the skin barrier, and showed significantly better skin restructuring, hydration, and TEWL compared to placebo and 3% niacinamide.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022The 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
Why other cleansers fit dry sensitive skin better
Phytosphingosine increased filaggrin metabolism and skin hydration in human skin by stimulating filaggrin biosynthesis and degradation leading to natural moisturizing factor formation.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017A cream containing panthenol, prebiotics, and probiotic lysate improved facial sensitive skin symptoms and skin barrier function in 110 participants over 28 days.
Skin Research and Technology, 2024A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Disodium Edta
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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