Dr. Althea vs celimax
Dr. Althea and celimax are popular Korean skincare brands that offer thoughtfully crafted moisturizers, cleansers, makeup removers, serums, and toners featuring gentle ingredients. Dr. Althea suits dry skin and mature skin best with soothing hydration and care, while celimax suits sensitive skin and acne-prone skin best with effective compositions. Both brands offer standout solutions for specific concerns, such as dark spots and acne-prone skin, using precise blends to support a balanced complexion. Ultimately, they differ in their foundational focuses, with the former leaning toward nourishing hydration and the latter delivering reliable daily results.
Dr. Althea is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd..
doctoraltheaglobal.comdoctoralthea.co.kr
celimax is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2019 and owned by ABSORBLAB Co., Ltd..
This page compares some of the most popular Dr. Althea and celimax products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Dr. Althea vs celimax products
People Say
Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “absorbs beautifully — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
- “rich but non-greasy — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
- “absorbs incredibly fast — celimax Pore+Dark Spot Brightening Serum”
- “skin feels noticeably smoother — celimax Heartleaf BHA Peeling Pad”
Gentle Formula Mostly MentionedOften 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”
- “cleans deeply without stripping — celimax Noni Acne Bubble Cleanser”
Soothing and Calming Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
- “calms redness — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
- “instantly calms irritated skin — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
- “calms my face redness upon application — celimax Noni Ampoule”
- “Calms irritation — celimax Dual Barrier Creamy Toner”
Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “hydrating but light — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
- “consistently hydrated mornings — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
- “Skin stays soft throughout the day — celimax Dual Barrier Creamy Toner”
- “gives a very beautiful glow to your skin — celimax Noni Ampoule”
Skin Repair and Anti-Aging Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “glass-like smoothness — celimax RETINAL SHOT”
- “Helped restore skin after chemical peels — celimax Dual Barrier Skin Wearable Cream”
- “plumper skin — celimax RETINAL SHOT”
- “strengthened my skin barrier — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
Cleansing Performance Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “Removes sunscreen well — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
- “great for morning routine — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
- “skin feels noticeably smoother — celimax Ji.Woo.Gae Cica BHA Blemish Toner Pad”
- “emulsifies well — celimax Derma Nature Fresh Blackhead Jojoba Cleansing Oil”
Scent and Irritation Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “smells like plants — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
- “clinical scent — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
- “stinging — celimax RETINAL SHOT”
- “redness — celimax RETINAL SHOT”
Price and Quantity Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “Runs out fast — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
- “a bit pricey — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
- “tiny — celimax RETINAL SHOT”
- “Expensive for only 150ml — celimax Dual Barrier Creamy Toner”
Packaging Issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “Hard to see remaining amount — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
- “hard to squeeze — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
- “pump shoots out — celimax Derma Nature Fresh Blackhead Jojoba Cleansing Oil”
- “Getting the product out requires strength — celimax Dual Barrier Skin Wearable Cream”
Dr. Althea vs celimax routines for dry skin
-
Cleanser
Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$22.31
-
Hydrating Toner
COSRX Propolis Synergy Toner
Morning
S$41.07
-
Moisturizer
345 Relief Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$29.47
-
SPF
thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+
Morning
S$21.09
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
S$25.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Vitamin C Boosting Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$29.86
-
Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Collagen Essential Mask
Once a week
S$62.94
-
Cleanser
Noni Acne Bubble Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$22.60
-
Hydrating Toner
Dual Barrier Creamy Toner
Morning
S$31.24
-
Moisturizer
Dual Barrier Skin Wearable Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$27.93
-
SPF
thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+
Morning
S$21.09
-
Pre-Cleanser
Derma Nature Fresh Blackhead Jojoba Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$15.86
-
Serum or Treatment
Pore+Dark Spot Brightening Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$31.02
-
Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Collagen Essential Mask
Once a week
S$62.94
Buy Dr. Althea routine · S$125.10 · 91% fit
Buy celimax routine · S$146.29 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit
Dr. Althea vs celimax routines for oily skin
-
Cleanser
Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$22.31
-
Hydrating Toner
TROIAREUKE H+Cocktail Purifying Ampoule Toner
Morning · Once a week
S$168.51
-
Moisturizer
345 Relief Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$29.47
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
S$28.72
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
S$25.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening · Once a week
S$36.48
-
Serum or Treatment
Vitamin C Boosting Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$29.86
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
-
Cleanser
Noni Acne Bubble Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$22.60
-
Hydrating Toner
Dual Barrier Creamy Toner
Morning · Once a week
S$31.24
-
Moisturizer
Dual Barrier Skin Wearable Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$27.93
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
S$28.72
-
Pre-Cleanser
Derma Nature Fresh Blackhead Jojoba Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$15.86
-
Cleansing Toner
Ji.Woo.Gae Cica BHA Blemish Toner Pad
Evening · Once a week
S$36.16
-
Serum or Treatment
Heartleaf BHA Peeling Pad
Evening · Once a week
S$25.66
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
Buy Dr. Althea routine · S$322.85 · 88% fit
Buy celimax routine · S$210.92 · 79% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
Dr. Althea vs celimax routines for combination skin
-
Cleanser
Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$22.31
-
Hydrating Toner
Whamisa Organic Flowers Toner Deep Rich
Morning · Once a week
S$64.81
-
Moisturizer
345 Relief Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$29.47
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
S$28.72
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
S$25.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening · Once a week
S$36.48
-
Serum or Treatment
Vitamin C Boosting Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$29.86
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
-
Cleanser
Noni Acne Bubble Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$22.60
-
Hydrating Toner
Dual Barrier Creamy Toner
Morning · Once a week
S$31.24
-
Moisturizer
Dual Barrier Skin Wearable Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$27.93
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
S$28.72
-
Pre-Cleanser
Derma Nature Fresh Blackhead Jojoba Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$15.86
-
Cleansing Toner
Ji.Woo.Gae Cica BHA Blemish Toner Pad
Evening · Once a week
S$36.16
-
Serum or Treatment
Heartleaf BHA Peeling Pad
Evening · Once a week
S$25.66
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
Buy Dr. Althea routine · S$219.15 · 88% fit
Buy celimax routine · S$210.92 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
Questions and answers
Dr. Althea or celimax: which is better?
Both Dr. Althea and celimax perform well, with Dr. Althea achieving a Superior Lovi fit level for dry and mature skin while celimax excels in skin repair and anti-aging. The products on this page for both brands feature fragrance-free formulations.
What is the difference between Dr. Althea and celimax?
Dr. Althea provides a Superior Lovi fit level for dry and mature skin, while celimax provides a High level for those skin types. For gentle formulas, Dr. Althea does better, whereas celimax does better for skin repair and anti-aging.
Dr. Althea or celimax for dry skin?
For dry skin, Dr. Althea achieves a Superior routine fit while celimax reaches a High fit level on this page. Reviewers report that Dr. Althea provides gentle cleansers and soothing moisturizers without added fragrance.
Dr. Althea or celimax: which cleanser is better?
Dr. Althea provides better options for cleansers, featuring products like the Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser which achieves a Superior fit level for dry, oily, combination, and acne-prone skin types.
Which is more affordable, Dr. Althea or celimax?
Price and quantity are equal between Dr. Althea and celimax according to the review themes on this page.
Between Dr. Althea and celimax, which brand has better performance for skin repair and anti-aging?
Between Dr. Althea and celimax, celimax does better for skin repair and anti-aging according to the review themes on this page.
Do any products from Dr. Althea or celimax contain fragrance in their ingredients?
Every product from Dr. Althea and celimax on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.
Which brand fits best for mature skin according to their brand-focused routines?
For mature skin, Dr. Althea provides a Superior routine fit, while celimax offers a High routine fit on this page.
Dr. Althea or celimax for oily skin?
For oily skin, both Dr. Althea and celimax are well suited, as Lovi rates the routine fit for the products on this page as High for both brands. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea offers gentle and soothing cleansers, while celimax provides a variety of targeted blemish and oil-control options.
Dr. Althea or celimax: which moisturizer is better?
For moisturizers, Dr. Althea achieves a Superior Lovi fit level for dry and mature skin types with products like the 345 Relief Cream, while celimax also reaches a Superior fit level for dry and mature skin with the Dual Barrier Skin Wearable Cream. Both brands formulate their products on this page without added fragrance.
Dr. Althea or celimax for sensitive skin?
For sensitive skin, Lovi rates Dr. Althea as High and celimax as High, making both brands equally suitable. The products on this page for both brands list no fragrance in their ingredients.
Dr. Althea or celimax for acne-prone skin?
Both Dr. Althea and celimax are well suited for acne-prone skin, with Lovi rating both brands at a High fit level for this skin type.
Research behind their key ingredients
Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreens: focus on their safety and effectiveness
The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer
Effect of Camellia japonica oil on human type I procollagen production and skin barrier function
Protective effects of Camellia japonica flower extract against urban air pollutants
Morinda citrifolia Linn. (Rubiaceae) leaf extracts mitigate UVB-induced erythema
Development and efficacy assessments of tea seed oil makeup remover
Histometric assessment of the age-related skin response to 2-hydroxy-5-octanoyl benzoic acid
Effects of fermented tea seed oil on the skin lipid barrier and microbiome of sensitive skin
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.
-

Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

















































