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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 thoughtful Korean skincare brands founded in 2013 and 2014, respectively. COSRX is beloved for its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks incorporating hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit oily and oily acne-prone skin best, while Dr. Althea is widely beloved for soothing moisturizers, gentle cleansers, effective makeup removers, and nourishing serums that suit dry and acne-prone skin best. Although both offer standout items for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin, they differ in their primary formulation goals, with the former expertly balancing delicate moisture levels and the latter providing balanced hydration and calm comfort.

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 · $144.68 · 91% fitBuy COSRX routine · $128.96 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

COSRX vs Dr. Althea routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · $292.12 · 91% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · $296.69 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

COSRX vs Dr. Althea routines for combination skin

Buy COSRX routine · $268.03 · 89% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · $276.17 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which is better?

COSRX and Dr. Althea both offer strong skincare options, with COSRX excelling in deep hydration and acne control while Dr. Althea does better for soothing sensitive skin and dry skin routines. Reviewers frequently note that COSRX provides effective acne clearing and lightweight absorption, whereas Dr. Althea is praised for its gentle cleansers and soothing moisturizers.

What is the difference between COSRX and Dr. Althea?

COSRX specializes in deep hydration and acne control with broad ranges suited for oily and acne-prone skin, whereas Dr. Althea focuses on gentle soothing and cleansing formulas well-suited for dry, acne-prone, and mature skin types.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for dry skin?

Dr. Althea is a better fit for dry skin, holding a Superior routine fit level on this page compared to COSRX's High level. Reviewers on the page mostly mention that Dr. Althea provides soothing moisturizers, while COSRX products on this page help deliver deep hydration.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which cleanser is better?

For cleansing, Dr. Althea does better on the page for gentle cleansers, soothing cleansers, and cleansing lather, while COSRX offers products like the Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser which rates as Superior for sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, dry skin, dry sensitive skin, and combination skin.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Dr. Althea?

The page facts do not provide pricing information for COSRX or Dr. Althea products, so affordability cannot be compared.

Between COSRX and Dr. Althea, which brand performs better for mature skin?

Dr. Althea performs better for mature skin with a Superior routine fit, whereas COSRX achieves a High fit level on this page.

How do the fragrance options compare between COSRX and Dr. Althea products?

COSRX products on this page list fragrance in only one product, the Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen SPF 50+, while Dr. Althea products on this page list no fragrance in any of their ingredients.

Which brand is better suited for addressing skin with dark spots?

Both COSRX and Dr. Althea are well-suited for skin with dark spots, with both brands achieving a High routine fit level for this skin concern. Their formulations frequently include ingredients like niacinamide, which helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

COSRX or Dr. Althea for oily skin?

Both COSRX and Dr. Althea provide a Superior routine fit for oily skin. The products on this page for both brands feature lightweight absorption and oil-controlling properties.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, COSRX offers superior deep hydration and moisturization with products like the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, while Dr. Althea provides superior soothing care for dry skin with options like the 345 Relief Cream. Both brands feature robust moisturizers that help improve skin texture and maintain the skin barrier.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

COSRX or Dr. Althea for sensitive skin?

Both COSRX and Dr. Althea are a High fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page, but Dr. Althea does better for soothing and calming sensitive skin.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for acne-prone skin?

Both COSRX and Dr. Althea fit acne-prone skin well, though Dr. Althea achieves a superior routine fit level. COSRX also excels with acne and pore control across the products on this page.

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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