Brand Comparison

Decorté 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)

Decorté Dr. Althea

Rating8.5/108.8/10

Price RangePremium ($$$)Mid-Range ($$)

Founded19702003

OriginJapanSeoul, South Korea

Products55

Best ForMature, Dry, Combo, normalSensitive, compromised-barrier, Mature, Dry

PhilosophyKosé's premium line — heavy on liposome delivery technology and AQ-grade anti-aging.Dermatologist-led K-beauty — clinical formulations, no wasted space, 147 as in the number of ingredients in the cream that made them famous.

Decorté

Decorté (often "Cosme Decorté" on the packaging) is Kosé's answer to its own La Mer moment. The AQ Meliority line sits at the top, and the Liposome Advanced Repair Serum is the brand's most copied — and most loved — hero. Real liposome delivery tech, genuine results on texture and plumpness, and a finish that feels considerably more modern than most legacy Japanese luxury lines.

Pros

✓ Liposome Advanced Repair Serum is a legit hero
✓ Real delivery-system science, not just marketing
✓ AQ Meliority line competes with much more famous names
✓ Modern textures — not greasy or dated

Cons

✗ Premium pricing, with AQ line into luxury territory
✗ Fragranced
✗ Less famous abroad than the quality warrants
✗ Range sprawl can be confusing

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