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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 popular Korean skincare brands founded in 2013 and 2014, respectively. COSRX is dearly loved for its expertly formulated serums, moisturizers, cleansers, masks, and more, which thoughtfully incorporate hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit acne-prone skin and oily skin best. Meanwhile, Dr. Althea is widely beloved for thoughtful moisturizers, gentle cleansers, effective makeup removers, and nourishing serums driven by its soothing formulas that suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best. While both offer standout solutions for specific concerns, they differ in their primary formulation focuses and ideal skin types.

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 · £104.68 · 91% fitBuy COSRX routine · £52.48 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

COSRX vs Dr. Althea routines for oily skin

Buy COSRX routine · £143.60 · 90% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · £189.45 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

COSRX vs Dr. Althea routines for combination skin

Buy COSRX routine · £119.44 · 88% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · £153.55 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which is better?

Both brands perform well, but COSRX is better suited for deep hydration, acne control, and oily skin, whereas Dr. Althea excels at soothing sensitive skin and dark spots. Lovi rates COSRX as Superior for oily skin and sensitive skin, while Dr. Althea is rated Superior for dry skin and skin with dark spots.

What is the difference between COSRX and Dr. Althea?

COSRX tends to excel in acne and pore control as well as deep hydration, whereas Dr. Althea scores higher for soothing and calming sensitive skin and for cleansing performance. For daily routines, COSRX achieves a Superior fit for oily, sensitive, and oily acne-prone skin, while Dr. Althea achieves a Superior fit for dry skin and skin with dark spots.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for dry skin?

Dr. Althea fits dry skin better, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to COSRX at High. COSRX products on this page often feature deep hydration and moisturization, while Dr. Althea excels at soothing sensitive skin.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which cleanser is better?

Dr. Althea does better for cleansing and lather among the products on this page, while COSRX cleansers offer a wider range of options for specific skin types. For example, the Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser has a Superior fit for dry skin, whereas the COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser has an Average fit for dry skin.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Dr. Althea?

The products on this page do not list pricing information, so neither COSRX nor Dr. Althea can be called more affordable here.

Between COSRX and Dr. Althea, which brand is better for skin with dark spots?

Between COSRX and Dr. Althea, Dr. Althea does better for skin with dark spots, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to COSRX's High fit. Niacinamide helps control skin pigmentation as part of these formulations.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of COSRX and Dr. Althea compare?

COSRX was founded in South Korea in 2013 and has been owned by Amorepacific Group since 2024, whereas Dr. Althea was founded in South Korea in 2014 and is owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd.

Which brand performs better for soothing and calming sensitive skin?

Dr. Althea performs better for soothing and calming sensitive skin according to the review themes on this page.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for oily skin?

For oily skin, COSRX fits better with a Superior routine level compared to Dr. Althea at High. The products on this page for oily skin feature key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, which help regulate hydration and improve texture.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which moisturizer is better?

Both COSRX and Dr. Althea offer highly rated moisturizers on the products on this page, with COSRX excelling in deep hydration and Dr. Althea performing strongly in soothing sensitive skin. For instance, COSRX offers options like the Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream for a Superior fit on sensitive skin, while Dr. Althea features the 345 Relief Cream for a Superior fit on acne-prone skin.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for sensitive skin?

COSRX is the better choice for sensitive skin, where Lovi rates the brand as a Superior fit compared to Dr. Althea's High fit. The products on this page are mostly fragrance-free and feature soothing key ingredients like allantoin and centella asiatica that help calm irritation.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for acne-prone skin?

Both COSRX and Dr. Althea are well-suited for acne-prone skin, achieving a Superior routine fit level for this skin type. COSRX also features several specific products with Superior fit levels for acne-prone skin, including the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence and the BHA Blackhead Power Liquid.

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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