Brand Comparison
Clio 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 8.5)
Clio
Clio is the Korean makeup brand pros use when they want full coverage and long wear. Kill Cover — the cushion and liquid foundation line — is the industry-standard recommendation for anyone whose skin-tint era has expired. Not skincare-forward. Unapologetically makeup.
Pros
- ✓ Kill Cover line is legit full-coverage
- ✓ extensive shade range for a Korean brand
- ✓ MUAs recommend it
- ✓ long-wearing formulas
Cons
- ✗ makeup-first, not skincare-forward
- ✗ more expensive than mass-market K-cosmetics
- ✗ shades still lean lighter
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
- ✗ brand voice is drier than its peers
