Brand Comparison
Aromatica vs Dr. Althea
A head-to-head comparison of two popular K-beauty brands. Which one is right for your skin?
Our Pick
Dr. Althea
Higher editor rating (8.8 vs 8.4)
Aromatica
Aromatica is what happens when clean beauty is built on twenty years of pharmacy R&D instead of marketing. COSMOS-certified organic, refillable packaging that actually ships in Korea, and a rosehip serum that's a genuine fragrance-forward budget alternative to Sunday Riley Luna. For people who want K-beauty without the fillers and without the fragrance-free sterility.
Pros
- ✓ COSMOS-certified organic across the line
- ✓ genuine refillable packaging program
- ✓ rosehip serum is a cult brightener
- ✓ Sephora-stocked globally
Cons
- ✗ essential-oil-forward — not for fragrance-sensitive skin
- ✗ pricing creeps toward mid-premium
- ✗ some formulations read more lifestyle than clinical
Dr. Althea
Dr. Althea is the dermatologist-led K-beauty brand quietly outperforming its more-hyped peers on every actives-forward product. The 147 Enriched Cream (147 active and adjunct ingredients in one barrier cream) is the reason Reddit's AsianBeauty community keeps pointing new people here. No sparkly packaging, no K-pop collab — just well-built formulas with peptide, ceramide, and panthenol stacks that hold up under scrutiny.
Pros
- ✓ dermatologist-led clinical approach
- ✓ 147 Enriched Cream is a legitimate barrier workhorse
- ✓ minimalist, no-nonsense branding
- ✓ every product is actives-first
Cons
