Brand Comparison
Deconstruct 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 8.3)
Deconstruct
Deconstruct is the Indian skincare brand for people who actually open the carton and read every name on the back — every product spotlights its key actives at the percentage they're used. Multi-active serums, sunscreens, and creams that lean clinical-leaning-millennial. Mid-tier pricing, distribution mostly D2C and Nykaa.
Pros
- ✓ Ingredient transparency at percentage level
- ✓ Multi-active formulations
- ✓ Strong D2C presence
- ✓ Affordable for actives-led skincare
Cons
- ✗ Newer brand — limited heritage
- ✗ D2C-heavy distribution
- ✗ Some scents are heavy
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
