Brand Comparison
Dr. Barbara Sturm 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)
Rating8/108.8/10
Price RangePremium ($$$)Mid-Range ($$)
Founded20142003
OriginDüsseldorf, GermanySeoul, South Korea
Products55
Best ForMature, Sensitive, normalSensitive, compromised-barrier, Mature, Dry
PhilosophyBlood-plasma-inspired, anti-inflammatory-led skincare — the German MD who made molecular cosmetics mainstream.Dermatologist-led K-beauty — clinical formulations, no wasted space, 147 as in the number of ingredients in the cream that made them famous.
Dr. Barbara Sturm
Premium celebrity-adjacent skincare with actual clinical pedigree. Hyaluronic Acid Serum is the hero.
Pros
- ✓ Clinical credentials are real
- ✓ Signature anti-inflammatory positioning
- ✓ Beautiful minimalist packaging
Cons
- ✗ Very premium pricing
- ✗ Hype sometimes outpaces results
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
