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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 respected Korean skincare brands known for their thoughtful arrays of serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and masks. The former utilizes key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit oily and acne-prone skin best, while the latter features gentle, nourishing formulas that cater primarily to dry and mature skin. Through these targeted components, both offer specialized solutions, such as balancing hydration or addressing hyperpigmentation, allowing individuals to select the formulations that best align with their unique complexion needs.

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 · S$125.10 · 91% fitBuy COSRX routine · S$41.07 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

COSRX vs Dr. Althea routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · S$130.21 · 90% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · S$322.85 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs Dr. Althea routines for combination skin

Buy COSRX routine · S$130.21 · 88% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · S$219.15 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which is better?

COSRX is better for oily, acne-prone skin, while Dr. Althea is better for dry and mature skin types. COSRX offers superior deep hydration and acne control, whereas Dr. Althea provides gentler cleansers and highly soothing moisturizers.

What is the difference between COSRX and Dr. Althea?

COSRX is founded in 2013 and best fits oily and acne-prone skin, while Dr. Althea started in 2014 and offers a superior routine fit for dry and mature skin.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for dry skin?

For dry skin, Dr. Althea achieves a Superior routine fit, while COSRX achieves a High routine fit on this page. Review themes show that COSRX provides deeper hydration and moisturization, whereas Dr. Althea excels in soothing and calming sensitive skin.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which cleanser is better?

When comparing cleansers, COSRX offers products on this page with Lovi fit levels ranging from Superior to Low, while Dr. Althea features cleansers with fit levels spanning from Superior to Low.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Dr. Althea?

This page compares COSRX and Dr. Althea as two South Korean skincare brands, but it does not provide pricing information to determine which brand is more affordable.

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

Both brands offer fragrance-free options, as 37 of the 38 products on this COSRX page list no fragrance and every product on this Dr. Althea page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for acne and pore control?

COSRX is the better choice for acne and pore control because the products on this page achieve a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin and oily acne-prone skin, whereas Dr. Althea achieves a High fit level for those same skin types.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for oily skin?

COSRX is the better choice for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior while Dr. Althea's routine fit is High. Reviewers frequently note that COSRX products excel in deep hydration, moisturization, and effective acne control.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, COSRX offers superior deep hydration and acne and pore control, making it an excellent choice for oily and acne-prone skin types. On the other hand, Dr. Althea provides exceptional soothing and calming benefits for sensitive skin, with its 345 Relief Cream achieving a superior fit for acne-prone skin.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for sensitive skin?

COSRX and Dr. Althea are both well-suited for sensitive skin, with Lovi rating COSRX as High and Dr. Althea as High. COSRX products on this page frequently list no fragrance, helping to minimize irritation.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for acne-prone skin?

COSRX is the better choice for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to Dr. Althea's High. The products on this page for COSRX feature key ingredients like snail mucin and salicylic acid, which help with effective acne control and clearing.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for mature skin?

COSRX and Dr. Althea both feature strong options for mature skin, with Dr. Althea holding a Superior routine fit compared to COSRX's High fit on this page. COSRX provides widely varied treatments such as The Retinol 0.1 Cream that helps smooth texture, while Dr. Althea's products are noted for deeply soothing sensitive or aging barriers.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

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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