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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 renowned Korean skincare brands that offer thoughtfully formulated serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks designed to nurture the complexion. While COSRX harnesses proven ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin best, Dr. Althea relies on soothing formulas to provide balanced hydration and calm comfort for dry and acne-prone skin. These brands differ primarily in their core ingredient philosophy, giving users distinct, reliable paths to healthier skin based on their specific concerns.

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

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

COSRX vs Dr. Althea routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

COSRX vs Dr. Althea routines for combination skin

See 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 is better for soothing sensitive skin and dry skin routines. The products on this page offer gentle formulations without added fragrance, though individual results may vary.

What is the difference between COSRX and Dr. Althea?

COSRX specializes in acne and pore control with deep hydration, while Dr. Althea focuses on soothing sensitive skin with gentle cleansers and hydrating moisturizers.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for dry skin?

For dry skin, Dr. Althea has a Superior routine fit, whereas COSRX has a High routine fit. Dr. Althea also does better with soothing and calming sensitive skin, while COSRX is better for deep hydration and moisturization.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which cleanser is better?

Dr. Althea does better in cleansing and lather according to reviewer themes, offering gentle cleansers like the Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser which is rated Superior for dry, oily, combination, and acne-prone skin types.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Dr. Althea?

Reviewers note that COSRX products on this page sometimes have a small bottle size or quantity. No price comparisons or affordability ratings are available on this page for either brand.

Between COSRX and Dr. Althea, which brand is better for managing skin with dark spots?

Both COSRX and Dr. Althea are well-suited for skin with dark spots, as the products on this page for both brands achieve a High Lovi fit level for this skin concern. Review themes indicate that the two brands perform equally in texture and skin smoothing, value, barrier, and additional benefits.

How do COSRX and Dr. Althea compare regarding fragrance usage in their products?

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

Which brand performs better when it comes to soothing and calming sensitive skin?

Dr. Althea performs better than COSRX when it comes to soothing and calming sensitive skin according to the review themes on this page.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for oily skin?

COSRX is the better choice for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to High for Dr. Althea. The products on this page from COSRX also focus heavily on acne and pore control.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which moisturizer is better?

For deep hydration and moisturization, COSRX does better overall, whereas Dr. Althea excels specifically at soothing and calming sensitive skin with its moisturizers. Hyaluronic acid helps provide moisture and improves skin quality.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

COSRX or Dr. Althea for sensitive skin?

COSRX is better for sensitive skin on this page, achieving a Superior fit level compared to Dr. Althea's High fit level. The products on this page help provide deep hydration and soothing benefits with key ingredients like panthenol and snail mucin.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

COSRX or Dr. Althea for acne-prone skin?

Both brands achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for acne-prone skin, with COSRX focusing on acne and pore control and Dr. Althea featuring soothing moisturizers.

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

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