Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Glycerin
Low
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A weak match for oily acne-prone skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 with cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium cocoyl isethionate to remove impurities, but lacks specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to effectively target acne and breakouts.
- Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice and glycerin provide humectant action and support skin hydration without exacerbating oiliness, making it suitable for your oily skin.
- The formula is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.
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 acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a weak match because it lacks specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to effectively target acne and breakouts, even though it removes impurities and supports hydration. An ideal cleanser for this skin type needs soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, or salicylic acid to address acne concerns and balance oil production.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a weak match for your oily acne-prone skin because it lacks specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to target breakouts. A cleanser for this skin needs soothing and effective ingredients like Niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, and salicylic acid to balance oil production and maintain clarity.
What does Water do for oily acne-prone skin?
Water helps keep oily, acne-prone skin hydrated without making it greasy. Keeping skin hydrated is important because acne treatments can dry it out and irritate the skin barrier.
What does Birch Juice do for oily acne-prone skin?
Birch Juice helps hydrate oily acne-prone skin without leaving it feeling heavy or greasy. It is unlikely to clog pores and may help calm angry skin while keeping it balanced and smooth.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine for oily acne-prone skin, washing away daily impurities without causing irritation. Because this cleanser lacks specialized ingredients like salicylic acid, an oily and breakout-prone skin routine needs acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid to effectively target breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first to wash your face before putting on your retinol treatment. This cleanser is a weak match for your oily acne-prone skin because it lacks specialized ingredients like salicylic acid, so an acne-fighting cleanser or treatment that includes ingredients like salicylic acid is needed to properly target breakouts.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. This type of cleanser needs specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to effectively target acne and breakouts on oily acne-prone skin.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause irritation, but it may not be enough to prevent breakouts because it lacks specialized ingredients like salicylic acid. A cleanser for oily acne-prone skin needs targeted acne-fighting ingredients to properly clear pores and keep blemishes under control.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can safely use this cleanser around the eyes and on your body because its gentle formula lacks harsh ingredients and poses no risk of irritation. However, because skin is thin around the eyes and varies in thickness across the body, a cleanser for oily acne-prone skin still needs ingredients like salicylic acid to target breakouts and blemishes effectively while keeping pores clear.
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, 2017Betula 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 acne-prone skin better
Topical 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, 2021A 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, 2024A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
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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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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
How does it fit your skin?
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