Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser for oily skin
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Glycerin
Low
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for oily skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.
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
- Offers moderate cleansing for your oily skin due to cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium cocoyl isethionate, which effectively cleanse pores, while Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice and glycerin provide humectant action to support hydration without exacerbating oiliness.
- While the formula is generally safe and suitable for oily skin, its primary benefits are supportive rather than directly addressing your concern of oily shine.
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
★4.7Overall 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
Why is Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser a weak match for oily skin?
This cleanser is a weak match because its benefits are only supportive rather than directly targeting oily shine. Oily skin needs a product that provides excellent cleansing without irritation, utilizes effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, or salicylic acid to manage oily shine and support skin health, and maintains moisture balance.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for oily skin?
Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser is a weak match for oily skin because its formula is supportive rather than directly managing oily shine. A cleanser for this skin type needs ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, or salicylic acid to control oil and support skin health.
What does Water do for oily skin?
Water helps keep oily skin hydrated without adding grease or clogging pores. Keeping oily skin properly hydrated may also help balance oil production and reduce unwanted shine.
What does Birch Juice do for oily skin?
Birch juice helps hydrate oily skin while keeping it balanced without clogging pores. It supports the skin barrier and improves moisture levels so your face stays smooth and comfortable.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine for oily skin, right before hydrating toners and moisturizers. A cleanser of this type for oily skin needs ingredients that deeply clear out pores and control excess shine without drying out the face.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first on damp skin, rinsing thoroughly, and following with your retinol treatment after your skin is dry. This cleanser gently washes the skin while supporting hydration, which helps keep oily skin comfortable while using active treatments.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. Oily skin needs a cleanser that helps remove excess oil and shine while keeping pores clean.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as its gentle ingredients clean pores without heavy residues. Oily skin still needs a cleanser that balances oil and provides deep purifying benefits with ingredients like salicylic acid or clay to help control shine.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is safe to use around the eyes and on the body, though the skin around the eyes is much thinner than on other areas. When cleansing these zones, a cleanser for oily skin needs ingredients that gently clear away dirt while keeping the skin soft and comfortable.
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, 2017Sodium cocoyl isethionate micelles are too large to penetrate stratum corneum aqueous pores, resulting in significant steric hindrance that prevents skin barrier perturbation and explains its skin mildness.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Betula 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 oily skin better
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019A 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, 2024Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021
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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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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