Brand Comparison
Benton 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)
Benton
Benton was one of the original K-beauty cult brands, and the Snail Bee line remains a genuinely effective option for irritated, blemish-prone skin. The brand had a contamination scare years ago that dented trust, but they've since tightened manufacturing and reformulated with better preservation systems. Their minimalist approach means products are rarely exciting, but they're reliably gentle and effective. The aloe propolis gel is an underrated gem that deserves more attention.
Pros
- ✓ Snail Bee line is excellent for blemish-prone skin
- ✓ Short, transparent ingredient lists
- ✓ No artificial fragrance across the range
- ✓ Very affordable for the quality
Cons
- ✗ Brand had a past contamination controversy
- ✗ Minimalist approach can feel underwhelming
- ✗ Packaging is plain and 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
