Brand Comparison
Henua Organics 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)
Henua Organics
Henua Organics is what happens when two sisters get tired of paying premium prices for skincare that's mostly water. Founded in 2017 in Etelä-Pohjanmaa by Jenni Tuominen and Anu Kohtamäki, every Henua formula swaps the standard aqua base for Finnish birch sap — the spring-tapped tree fluid that's rich in minerals, amino acids, manganese, and natural xylitol. The result is a tightly edited six-product range (oil cleanser, toner, eye serum, mask, moisturizer, vitamin oil) with ingredient lists that feel hand-written: lingonberry seed oil, sea buckthorn, pine bark, oats, bakuchiol. ECOCERT COSMOS certified, vegan, handcrafted in small batches. Not the brand for someone who wants 47 products to choose from — the brand for someone who wants every product to actually do something.
Pros
- ✓ birch sap base instead of water — higher active concentration per ml
- ✓ ECOCERT COSMOS Natural certified — independently verified clean credentials
- ✓ tightly edited 6-product range — every SKU pulls its weight
- ✓ handcrafted in Finland in small batches
Cons
- ✗ limited range means it can only cover the basics, not specialty concerns
- ✗ premium pricing for what is still a small Finnish indie
- ✗ fragrance-free formulas can feel utilitarian
- ✗ international availability is patchy outside the EU and Nordic markets
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.
