Brand Comparison
Dermalogica 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 8.2)
Dermalogica
Born inside esthetician education (The International Dermal Institute), Dermalogica still feels more professional-facial than consumer brand — which is both its charm and its limitation. Daily Microfoliant is the one everyone owns.
Pros
- ✓ Strong esthetician pedigree
- ✓ Daily Microfoliant is a deservedly iconic product
- ✓ Good at sensitive and barrier-friendly formulations
Cons
- ✗ Product naming is clinical to the point of unmemorable
- ✗ Packaging feels 1990s professional
- ✗ Prices higher than equivalent formulas elsewhere
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
