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Dr. Althea

Pore Refresh Grinding Cleansing Balm.

Dr. Althea Pore Refresh Grinding Cleansing Balm
Cleansers

About this product

A cleansing balm in a twist-scoop dispenser designed to remove makeup and sunscreen as a first cleanse, formulated with Centella asiatica and madecassoside.

Full ingredients

Guru Score

76%

Yay

5 experts · Moderate agreement
5Gurus
3Yay
2Mixed
0Nay

What they liked

  • Mess-free grinding dispenser
  • Removes makeup and sunscreen effectively
  • Calming ingredients like centella asiatica

What they flagged

  • Formula is average compared to other balms
  • Sister product has a superior ingredient list

What the gurus are saying

The standout here is the packaging: a twist-scoop dispenser that keeps hands clean and mess-free, which gurus found genuinely useful for a category that tends to be messy. The balm itself breaks down makeup and sunscreen well enough for a first cleanse. However, the formula sits solidly in the middle ground. One expert felt the ingredient list didn't match the product's popularity, and another preferred the performance of other cleansers despite appreciating the innovation. Those who dislike scooping balm with their fingers may find this worth trying; anyone prioritizing formula quality over convenience may want to explore other options first.
Synthesized from 5 expert reviews · most recent take June 2026

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
Yay
"Instead of an overpriced cleansing balm, I'd use the Grinding Cleansing Balm by Dr. Althea, around $16 on Prime Day. They also make a version in light blue that I love."
Yay
"The Dr. Althia Porefresh Grinding Cleansing Balm is my recent favorite. This one's especially mess free because it twists to reveal the formula which is much more sanitary and mess-free as you're removing your makeup. Cleansing balms are just the best of the best."
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"Dr. Althea Pore Refresh Grinding Cleansing Balm is one of my favorites. I really like this packaging and I definitely appreciate that they use it in this brand."
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"Not only is this better for me, someone who has very visible and oily pores, but the ingredient list on this one is far superior to the ingredient list used on their pure grinding cleansing balm. [...] I personally think this is far superior. If you were to choose between both grinding cleansing balms, I would definitely recommend the pore one. It's just such a good formula. I already repurchased another one. I really like it. And of course, if you haven't tried out the grinding packaging, it is so satisfying and so mess-free to use."
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"I'm always really intrigued by seeing new innovation in packaging, specifically for any type of cleansing products because cleansing products like cleansing balms, cleansing oils, micellar waters, they just tend to be really really messy. So I love that this makes it a lot easier and mess-free. I have to say, I really really enjoyed using this one. I've been using it consistently for like the past week, week and a half, and it always does a really good job of breaking up my makeup, tinted sunscreen and powder. It does a really good job of removing my makeup and my sunscreen, breaking up everything on my face to then follow up with a good water-based cleanser. Honestly, no complaints when it comes to this one. I also like that it does have some good ingredients like [madecassoside] and centella asiatica which are great for like calming down redness and sensitivity. But overall, I feel like it's just kind of like a good staple simple cleansing balm."
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"What I've personally been using recently, and I really love the Korean skincare brand Dr. Althia with their pore clearing grinding cleansing balm. I have been loving this one. Not only is it really satisfying and a very clean process of using a cleansing balm because it is a grinding one, but this one does a really good job of deeply cleansing the pores while it's breaking up all the sunscreen, makeup, dirt, sebum, all the buildup that's on your skin and has recently been my new favorite cleansing balm."
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"The Dr. Althia Porefresh Grinding Cleansing Balm is my recent favorite. This one's especially mess free because it twists to reveal the formula which is much more sanitary and mess-free as you're removing your makeup. Cleansing balms are just the best of the best."
Yay
"I actually like their cleansing balm quite a bit."
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"I actually like their cleansing balm quite a bit."
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"I really like their Pore Refresh Grinding Cleansing Balm. It's a bit similar to the shredding balm that we have except ours is a bit of the derm take hyalinoleic acid rich lipids and just a little bit more focus on sensitive eyelids, sensitive eyes, sensitive skin, and one of, if not the only cleansing balm that's actually got eczema foundation approval."
Mixed
"The technology here in terms of packaging is phenomenal if you're somebody that really doesn't like digging your fingers into your cleansing balm, you like something that's easy, you just twist and scoop, great, mess free. However, I'd say the cleansing balm itself is pretty average. It's not bad but it's not great either. It's a good quality mid-range cleansing balm with some nice packaging. Personally I still prefer other cleansing balms which just work better. So for me I would rather have better quality balm and less fancy packaging. But if you're someone that hates scooping out cleansing balm and you want something like this, it's a nice product, it's innovative in terms of its packaging and it's a nice one that you might want to try."
Mixed
"Dr. Althea's pure grinding cleansing balm went viral recently for a good reason, but Beplain do a better version of this in my opinion."

Frequently asked.

What is Dr. Althea Pore Refresh Grinding Cleansing Balm?

A cleansing balm in a twist-scoop dispenser designed to remove makeup and sunscreen as a first cleanse, formulated with Centella asiatica and madecassoside.

Is Dr. Althea Pore Refresh Grinding Cleansing Balm worth it?

Mostly yes. 3 of the 5 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 76%.

What is Dr. Althea Pore Refresh Grinding Cleansing Balm's Guru Score?

Dr. Althea Pore Refresh Grinding Cleansing Balm holds a Guru Score of 76%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 5 expert reviewers we have collected.

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