Brand Comparison

Dr.G 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 8.4)

Dr.G Dr. Althea

Rating8.4/108.8/10

Price RangeBudget ($)Mid-Range ($$)

Founded20032003

OriginSeoul, South KoreaSeoul, South Korea

Products35

Best ForSensitive, rosacea-prone, redness, compromised-barrierSensitive, compromised-barrier, Mature, Dry

PhilosophyDermatologist-designed K-beauty for reactive, sensitive, barrier-challenged skin.Dermatologist-led K-beauty — clinical formulations, no wasted space, 147 as in the number of ingredients in the cream that made them famous.

Dr.G

Dr.G (short for Dr. Gowoonsesang) built its cult on the Red Blemish Cream — a calming centella cream sold in Korean pharmacies for redness and rosacea-adjacent flares. Not flashy, not magazine-shiny, but the brand beauty editors reach for when their own skin breaks. If CeraVe had a Korean derm cousin, this would be it.

Pros

✓ dermatologist-formulated
✓ Red Blemish Cream is a quiet hero
✓ accessible drugstore pricing
✓ soothing / sensitive focus

Cons

✗ packaging is utilitarian, not magazine
✗ not as exciting as trendier K-brands
✗ some products fragranced

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