Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm for dry skin
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Madecassoside- Centella Asiatica Extract
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil Grape Seed Oil
High
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for dry skin; a few pre-cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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
- Highly suitable for your dry skin as Cetyl Ethylhexanoate and Caprylic Capric Triglyceride effectively dissolve makeup and impurities, while Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil and Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil provide essential hydration and support barrier repair.
- The formulation's emollient properties are particularly beneficial for dry or flaky skin, ensuring a comfortable and nourishing cleansing experience.
- The product is safe for your skin, containing no harsh or irritating ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover in your PM routine every evening to gently clean your face. Always pair with a gentle cleanser afterward.
- Apply this makeup remover as a pre-cleanser step before using your regular cleanser and moisturizer.
- Gently wipe a small amount of makeup remover across your face using a soft cotton pad. Avoid any harsh rubbing on dry or flaky skin.
- Apply the makeup remover directly onto dry skin to easily dissolve makeup without stripping your natural moisture. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- Avoid direct contact with your eyes and do a patch test before first use. Discontinue use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsThis cleansing balm is highly recommended for sensitive and acne-prone skin, with users frequently praising its hygienic grinding dispenser and gentle, moisturizing formula that leaves skin soft. The innovative packaging and smooth texture are also commonly highlighted positive aspects. A significant number of users find the 50ml size runs out quickly and note that it may require extra effort to remove heavy waterproof makeup.
Highlights
Hygienic packaging Mostly Mentioned
- “Innovative dial mechanism”
- “sanitary dispensing”
- “no dipping fingers”
- “mess-free”
Gentle formula Often Mentioned
- “Soothes sensitive skin”
- “no tight feeling”
- “safe for acne-prone areas”
- “moisturizing finish”
Smooth texture Often Mentioned
- “Melts instantly”
- “spreads easily”
- “non-greasy feel”
- “emulsifies quickly”
Small quantity Often Mentioned
- “Runs out fast”
- “only 50ml”
- “expensive for size”
- “wish for larger version”
Effective daily cleansing Sometimes Noted
- “Removes sunscreen well”
- “dissolves foundation”
- “clears pores”
- “leaves no residue”
Packaging design Sometimes Noted
- “Hard to see remaining amount”
- “difficult to empty completely”
- “plastic waste concerns”
Weak on waterproof Sometimes Noted
- “Struggles with waterproof mascara”
- “requires scrubbing”
- “needs separate eye remover”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “Clouds vision temporarily”
- “film on eyes”
- “slight stinging for some”
Sources: lovi.care, oliveyoung.com, stylekorean.com, olivekollection.com, iherb.com, stylevana.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm a great fit for dry skin?
Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm is a great fit for dry skin because ingredients like cetyl ethylhexanoate and caprylic capric triglyceride easily melt away makeup while plant oils provide essential moisture and help repair your skin barrier. Its softening ingredients are especially helpful for flaky skin to keep cleansing comfortable and nourishing. It is also unlikely to irritate your skin since it contains no harsh ingredients.
Annales Pharmaceutiques Francaises, 2017Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate and Caprylic Capric Triglyceride make this cleanser a great fit by dissolving makeup while keeping dry skin hydrated, and Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil and Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil provide essential moisture and support barrier repair.
What does Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride do for dry skin?
Caprylic/capric triglyceride helps keep dry skin soft by increasing skin hydration and reducing the amount of water that escapes through the surface. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may double certain natural protective acids in the outer skin layer.
What does Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil do for dry skin?
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil helps improve hydration and calm redness, making it a great fit for dry skin. It supports the skin barrier and boosts moisture so your face feels soft and smooth.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser. It safely dissolves makeup and impurities while providing essential hydration and support for a dry skin barrier.
Annales Pharmaceutiques Francaises, 2017Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
How often should I use it?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine as the first step to take off makeup before cleansing. It is safe for daily use and helps keep dry skin feeling soft and comfortable.
Annales Pharmaceutiques Francaises, 2017Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleansing balm is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin since it contains gentle oils and soothing plant extracts that nourish without leaving a heavy film. It does not cause skin purging because it is a rinse-off makeup remover rather than an exfoliating treatment that speeds up cell turnover.
Annales Pharmaceutiques Francaises, 2017Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Tea seed oil makeup remover successfully removed foundation and eyeliner without causing skin irritation in 20 human volunteers, with the 60% formulation showing superior foundation removal compared to other formulations and an olive oil benchmark.
Annales Pharmaceutiques Francaises, 2017Topical application of an emollient emulsion containing 15.0% caprylic/capric triglyceride doubled the amount of urocanic acid isomers and increased skin hydration with reduced transepidermal water loss in healthy subjects, though it did not prevent ultraviolet-induced urocanic acid isomerization.
Life, 2023Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016A 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, 2017Tea seed oil loaded nanostructured lipid carriers prepared with a combination of surfactants (NLC-C) showed significantly greater nontoxicity and hair growth-stimulating effects on human follicle dermal papilla cells compared to intact oil, while improving the sensory and diffusion properties of the hair serum.
Pharmaceutics, 2022Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Grapeseed oil-loaded dermocosmetic nanoemulgel applied on the cheeks of healthy volunteers significantly reduced skin melanin, erythema, sebum production, and pores while increasing moisture and elasticity compared to a placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical treatment with cranberry oil and grape oil improved wound healing in rats, with cranberry oil showing an 88.1% wound area reduction and grape oil showing 84.6% compared to 74.1% in controls and 78.4% in the mupirocin standard group on day 13.
Phytotherapy Research, 2011An ionic liquid-based grapeseed oil emulsion increased transdermal penetration by 4.63-fold and improved skin hydration, firmness, elasticity, and facial wrinkles after 28 days of continuous use compared to ordinary emulsion.
Pharmaceuticals, 2024
Ingredients
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Synthetic Wax, Peg-10 Isostearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil Grape Seed Oil, Madecassoside, Centella Asiatica Extract, Asiaticoside, Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
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
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