Brand Comparison
Dr. Althea vs Kahi
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 8.6)
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
- ✗ distribution outside Korea and Sephora is limited
- ✗ packaging photographs less well than the K-pop-adjacent competition
Kahi
Kahi is the K-beauty brand built around a single product that turned into a Korean kitchen-table essential — the Multi Balm. A solid stick balm formulated for face, hands, lips, and dry-elbow rescue, beloved by Korean actress Kim Go-eun and quietly recommended by every K-beauty fan you've ever met. The brand has expanded since, but the multi-balm is still the entry point.
Pros
- ✓ Multi-use stick format
- ✓ Celebrity-backed credibility
- ✓ Affordable enough for daily
- ✓ Cult Olive Young follow-up product
Cons
