Brand Comparison
Cure 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 8.7)
Cure
Cure is the Japanese single-product brand that rewrote the rules of at-home exfoliation. The Natural Aqua Gel — a watery, enzyme-free peeling gel that rolls dead skin off in visible pills — has been Japan's #1-selling peeling product for over 20 straight years, selling one bottle every 12 seconds nationally. No actives, no acids, just Hibamata extract in a hydrogenated polymer. Gentle enough for eczema skin, effective enough that you'll actually see the exfoliated product. Almost cult-like loyalty in Japan.
Pros
- ✓ single-product focus for 25+ years
- ✓ genuinely gentle exfoliation — no acids, no actives
- ✓ suitable for sensitive, eczema-prone, and pregnancy skin
- ✓ Japan's #1 peeling gel by volume
Cons
- ✗ the "pills" rolling off are partly the product itself (cellulose), not pure dead skin — classic criticism of the format
- ✗ distribution outside Japan and Asian groceries is limited
- ✗ peeling gel category has more derm-skeptics than fans
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
