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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.

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Dr. Althea is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd..

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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 · 95% fit

COSRX vs Dr. Althea routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which is better?

COSRX is better for deep hydration and acne control, while Dr. Althea excels in soothing sensitive skin and gentle cleansers. COSRX has a routine fit that is Superior for oily acne-prone skin, whereas Dr. Althea's routine fit is Superior for dry skin.

What is the difference between COSRX and Dr. Althea?

COSRX excels in deep hydration and acne control with a wider range of products, while Dr. Althea specializes in soothing sensitive skin and gentle cleansers. Both brands were founded in South Korea and offer fragrance-free options, but COSRX is a better fit for oily acne-prone skin.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for dry skin?

Dr. Althea is a better choice for dry skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to High for COSRX. The products on this page for Dr. Althea also do better at soothing and calming sensitive skin.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which cleanser is better?

For cleansers on this page, Dr. Althea does better with soothing and calming sensitive skin, cleansing, and lather, while COSRX is better for acne and pore control. Lovi rates the Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser from Dr. Althea as Superior for dry skin, and the Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser from COSRX as Superior for sensitive, acne-prone, dry, and combination skin.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Dr. Althea?

The products on this page do not provide pricing information, so neither COSRX nor Dr. Althea can be called more affordable here.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which brand has fragrance-free products?

Both COSRX and Dr. Althea offer fragrance-free products on this page. While every Dr. Althea product lists no fragrance, the vast majority of COSRX items are also unfragranced, with only the Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen SPF 50+ containing fragrance.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which is better for acne and pore control?

COSRX is better for acne and pore control, as the products on this page achieve a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin and oily acne-prone skin compared to Dr. Althea's High fit for oily acne-prone skin.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: who owns each company?

COSRX is owned by Amorepacific Group, and Dr. Althea is owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for oily skin?

For oily skin, COSRX fits better with a High routine fit compared to Dr. Althea which also has a High routine fit, but COSRX is specifically focused on oily and acne-prone skin types. The products on this page for COSRX provide superior options like the Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap that helps manage excess oil.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, COSRX is better for deep hydration and acne control, while Dr. Althea is better for soothing and calming sensitive skin.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for sensitive skin?

Both COSRX and Dr. Althea are great choices for sensitive skin, with Lovi giving both brands a High fit level for this skin type. Dr. Althea tends to do better at soothing and calming sensitive skin, while COSRX delivers deeper hydration and moisturization.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for acne-prone skin?

Both COSRX and Dr. Althea provide a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. COSRX fits best for acne-prone skin and oily acne-prone skin, while Dr. Althea also features products like the Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser with a Superior fit.

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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