Dr.althea
Dr.Althea is a Korean facial skincare brand built around calming, barrier-focused formulas. The range covers the full routine: cleansers like the Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm and Quick Step Sebum Cleanser, the 345 Relief Cream, a Gentle Vitamin C Serum, an eye serum, centella and cica products, peeling pads, lip balm, and two SPF50+ sunscreens. Many products lean on soothing ingredients such as centella asiatica, cica, azulene, and calamine, so the line suits sensitive or reactive skin that still wants results.
By Skinsli editorial Updated
Buying guide
Dr.Althea skincare: how to build your routine
Dr.Althea is a Korean skincare brand with a clear focus on calming and supporting the skin barrier. The range runs the whole facial routine, from cleansing balms and gel cleansers through serums, a relief cream, an eye serum, peeling pads, and SPF50+ sunscreens. A lot of the line leans on soothing ingredients like centella asiatica, cica, azulene, and calamine. We list 18+ Dr.Althea products, and this guide explains the families and how to fit them together for sensitive or stressed skin.
What Dr.Althea is
Dr.Althea makes facial skincare aimed at calm, healthy skin rather than aggressive actives. The brand keeps coming back to barrier-friendly ingredients, which is why centella, cica, azulene, and calamine show up across so many products. If your skin gets red, tight, or reactive easily, this is a line built with that in mind, while still offering a Vitamin C serum and exfoliating pads for when you want a bit more.
Cleansing: balm, oil-control, and gel options
Dr.Althea gives you a few ways to cleanse. The Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm melts away makeup and sunscreen as a first step, the Premium Quick Step Sebum Cleanser targets oilier skin and clogged pores, and the Green Relief Amino Gel Cleanser is a gentle daily wash. If you wear sunscreen or makeup, pair the balm at night with a gel or amino cleanser afterward for a double cleanse; in the morning a single gentle cleanse is enough.
Calming with centella and cica
The calming side of the range is its backbone. There is a Centella Asiatica Calming Facial Toner, a Centella Water Essence, Azulene and Calamine Ampoules, and a Cica Complex Cream Mixer. These all aim to reduce visible redness and soothe irritation, which makes them useful after sun, after exfoliating, or just on a day when skin feels reactive. The toner and essence are the everyday calmers; the ampoules are the more concentrated spot fixes.
Serums and targeted treatments
For treatment steps, Dr.Althea offers a Gentle Vitamin C Serum for brightening and tone, a Tea Tree Oil Serum and Camellia Seed Oil Serum for blemish-prone and drier skin, and the To Be Youthful Eye Serum for the eye area. The Vitamin C here is described as gentle, which fits the brand's sensitive-skin slant, so it is a reasonable entry point if stronger vitamin C formulas have stung in the past. Layer serums after toner and before your cream.
Moisturizers and mixers
The 345 Relief Cream is the brand's main moisturizer, built to comfort and support a stressed barrier. Dr.Althea also sells Cream Mixers, including the Cica Complex and Aqua Gel versions, which you blend into a base to dial up hydration or calming as needed. The Aqua Marine Jelly Mist is a lighter refresh you can use over the day. Pick the relief cream as your anchor and treat the mixers and mist as adjustable extras.
Gentle exfoliation
The Centella Asiatica Smooth Peeling Pads handle exfoliation while staying on-brand for calm skin: they pair mild chemical exfoliation with soothing centella so you smooth texture without provoking irritation. Use them a couple of times a week, not daily, and follow with a calming toner or essence and your moisturizer. Skip them on days you use other strong actives.
Sun protection
Dr.Althea offers two SPF50+ PA++++ sunscreens, the Aqua Glowing Sunscreen and the Green Tea Fresh Sunscreen. Both sit at the top of the daytime routine, with the Aqua Glowing leaning dewy and the Green Tea Fresh aimed at a lighter, fresher finish. Apply sunscreen as the last morning step, especially when you are using the Vitamin C serum or the peeling pads, since both make daily sun protection more important.
Putting a routine together
A simple Dr.Althea day routine is a gentle cleanse, the Centella toner, the Vitamin C serum, the 345 Relief Cream, and a sunscreen. At night, swap to a double cleanse with the cleansing balm, use a calming ampoule or essence, and finish with the relief cream. Add the peeling pads two or three evenings a week. Building the routine inside one brand keeps the calming ingredients consistent, which is easier on reactive skin than mixing many labels.
Who Dr.Althea suits
The line fits sensitive, redness-prone, and combination skin best, thanks to the centella, cica, azulene, and calamine running through it. Oilier skin has the Sebum Cleanser and Tea Tree serum to lean on; drier skin has the Camellia oil serum and the relief cream. Even the actives, like the Vitamin C and the peeling pads, are tuned to be gentle, so the range works for people who react to harsher formulas elsewhere.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does Dr.Althea make?
Dr.Althea is a Korean facial skincare brand. The range covers cleansers like the Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm and Quick Step Sebum Cleanser, calming centella and cica products, a Gentle Vitamin C Serum, the 345 Relief Cream, an eye serum, Centella peeling pads, a lip balm, and two SPF50+ sunscreens. We list 18+ Dr.Althea products.
Is Dr.Althea good for sensitive skin?
Yes, that is the brand's main focus. Many products use soothing ingredients such as centella asiatica, cica, azulene, and calamine, and even the actives are tuned to be gentle, like the Gentle Vitamin C Serum and the soothing Centella peeling pads. If your skin gets red or reactive easily, the Centella toner, water essence, and 345 Relief Cream are good places to start.
How strong is the Dr.Althea Vitamin C serum?
The Gentle Vitamin C Serum is formulated to be mild, which fits the brand's sensitive-skin slant. It works on tone and brightness over time and is a reasonable option if stronger vitamin C serums have stung or irritated you before. Apply it after toner and before your moisturizer, and always wear sunscreen the next morning.
Which Dr.Althea cleanser should I choose?
It depends on your skin and step. The Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm is for removing makeup and sunscreen as a first cleanse, the Premium Quick Step Sebum Cleanser suits oilier skin and clogged pores, and the Green Relief Amino Gel Cleanser is a gentle daily wash. At night, use the balm first then a gel or amino cleanser; in the morning one gentle cleanse is enough.
What order do I apply Dr.Althea products?
Go lightest to heaviest. In the morning: cleanse, then the Centella toner, then the Vitamin C serum, then the 345 Relief Cream, and a sunscreen last. At night: double cleanse with the balm and a gel cleanser, use a calming ampoule or essence, then the relief cream. Add the Centella peeling pads two or three evenings a week, not daily.
Is Dr.Althea Korean and is it authentic?
Yes. Dr.Althea is a Korean skincare brand, and every product we list is sourced as authentic stock. The barrier-focused, centella-and-cica approach is core to how the brand formulates its skincare.