Brand Comparison

Biotherm vs Krave Beauty

A head-to-head comparison of two popular K-beauty brands. Which one is right for your skin?

Our Pick

Krave Beauty

Higher editor rating (8.7 vs 7.5)

Biotherm Krave Beauty

Rating7.5/108.7/10

Price RangeMid-Range ($$)Mid-Range ($$)

Founded19522017

OriginMonaco, FranceSeoul, South Korea

Products37

Best ForDry, Combo, normalSensitive, Acne-Prone, compromised-barrier

PhilosophyLife Plankton — a thermal-spring microorganism — is the signature active, with a deep marine-based product architecture.Liah Yoo's "press reset" philosophy: strip skincare back to what the barrier actually needs.

Biotherm

The French pharmacy brand most people forget exists. Life Plankton Essence is a legitimate hero serum that's been consistently reformulated since 1952. Aquasource gel moisturizer is a classic. L'Oréal ownership has watered down the 'prestige pharmacy' positioning a bit. Still a reasonable pick for hydration-forward routines.

Pros

✓ Life Plankton has real research behind it
✓ Strong hydration-focused lineup
✓ Widely available globally
✓ Reasonable premium-pharmacy pricing

Cons

✗ Brand energy has dipped in 2020s
✗ Formulations less distinctive than they used to be
✗ Not really a pharmacy brand — sold mostly at Sephora/department stores

Krave Beauty

Liah Yoo built Krave Beauty the way you wish more brands would — with a skincare-fatigued YouTube audience in mind, a commitment to stripping back rather than piling on, and one genuine cult hit in Great Barrier Relief. Small catalog, specific mission, loyal fans. Not for people who want a 10-step system. Very much for people whose skin has been yelled at for too long.

Pros