Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser for oily skin

Amino Acids
Coco-Glucoside
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramide Np
Glycerin
Superior
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best cleansers for oily skin.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2025
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 oily skin is provided by coco-glucoside and sodium hyaluronate, which effectively cleanse pores and offer hydration, while amino acids and glycerin support barrier repair and provide humectant action.
- Citrus peel oil offers mild astringent properties, further complementing your goal of managing oily shine.
- The safety profile is excellent, with Bisabolol and Ceramides ensuring no irritation for your oily skin.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
- Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
- You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
- Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.
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 oily skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for oily skin because coco-glucoside and sodium hyaluronate clean pores and provide hydration, while amino acids and glycerin help repair the skin barrier. Citrus peel oil adds mild astringent properties to help manage oily shine, and bisabolol and ceramides work together to prevent irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Coco-glucoside and sodium hyaluronate make this a great fit because they effectively clean out pores and hydrate your skin, while amino acids and glycerin help repair your skin barrier. Citrus peel oil also offers mild tightening to help manage oily shine, and bisabolol with ceramides ensures your skin stays calm without irritation.
What do Amino Acids do for oily skin?
Amino acids help balance oil production and keep skin feeling smooth and comfortable without clogging pores. They also support the skin barrier, which is helpful for keeping oily skin calm and less prone to blemishes.
What does Coco Glucoside do for oily skin?
Coco glucoside helps gently cleanse oily skin while supporting the skin's natural barrier without causing irritation. It is typically found in stable formulas that wash away excess oil while keeping the skin feeling balanced and comfortable.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2025Dermatologic Therapy, 2004
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser is used in both your morning and evening routine. It helps clean pores and hydrate your oily skin while supporting barrier repair.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by washing your face with it before applying your retinol treatment to help prep the skin. Ingredients like ceramides and bisabolol help keep the skin calm and are unlikely to cause irritation while using active treatments.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Using a gentle cleanser regularly helps wash away excess oil while keeping your skin hydrated and comfortable.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts, or lead to purging on oily skin. Its formula uses gentle cleansers and hydrating ingredients like sodium hyaluronate and glycerin that clean pores without causing irritation.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on the body and around the eyes, though the skin there is much thinner than on most of the face. Its gentle ingredients cleanse safely without causing irritation.
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, 2017Coco-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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