Image: Dr.Althea
Dr.Althea
Pore Refresh Grinding Cleansing Balm
A face cleanser built around Vitamin E, for barrier repair and smoothing.
Brand price
USD 22.90 · checked 26 Sept 2026 · on the brand's site
From the brand
What the brand says about this product. Our ingredient analysis follows below.
The brand recommends it for
- Oily skin
- Combination skin
- Large pores
- Oiliness & shine
What's inside
Ingredients List
10 trigger at least one check · 20 trigger none
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Vitamin E
- Anti-Pollution
- Antioxidant
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- Plant oils and butters (coconut, olive, shea)
- Plant or mineral oil
- May Worsen Oily Skin
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Hydrating6
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair12
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Glycine Soja Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Synthetic Wax, Tocopherol
Smoothing8
Refines rough or uneven texture.
Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycine Soja Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Anti-Pollution3
Helps defend against airborne pollutants.
Concerns
May Trigger Acne3
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis9
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Glycine Soja Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, PEG-10 Isostearate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sorbitan Sesquioleate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris3
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
May Worsen Oily Skin3
May increase shine or excess oil.
Glycine Soja Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Ingredients Explained
Click on any ingredient to learn more about it
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetyl Ethylhexanoate →Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Fragrance, Perfuming, Occlusive, Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is the mixed triester of glycerin and caprylic and capric acids.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride →Synthetic Wax
Abrasive, Binding, Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Viscosity Controlling
Synthetic Wax is a hydrocarbon wax derived generally through Fischer-Tropsch or ethylene polymerization processes.
Learn more about Synthetic Wax →PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient, Emulsifying
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate →PEG-10 Isostearate
Cleansing, Emulsifying
PEG-10 Isostearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-10 Isostearate →Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate →Glyceryl Oleate Citrate
Cleansing, Emulsifying
Glyceryl Oleate Citrate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glyceryl Oleate Citrate →Tocopherol
Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Occlusive
Tocopherol is vitamin E.
Learn more about Tocopherol →Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Oryza Sativa Bran Oil →Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Sesquioleate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan Sesquioleate →