Brand Comparison

Hyphen 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 8.3)

Hyphen Dr. Althea

Rating8.3/108.8/10

Price RangeMid-Range ($$)Mid-Range ($$)

Founded20222003

OriginIndiaSeoul, South Korea

Products35

Best ForIndian millennials, celebrity-backed skincare, brightening, Bollywood fansSensitive, compromised-barrier, Mature, Dry

PhilosophyCelebrity-founded Indian beauty brand backed by Kriti Sanon, formulated for Indian skin and climate.Dermatologist-led K-beauty — clinical formulations, no wasted space, 147 as in the number of ingredients in the cream that made them famous.

Hyphen

Hyphen is the Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon-cofounded skincare brand built specifically around Indian skin needs — heavy humidity, hard water, melanin-rich pigmentation patterns. The vitamin C-led brightening line is the clear hero, and the broader catalog leans treatment-led with celebrity-marketing reach. Mid-tier pricing, distribution heavy on Nykaa and Amazon India.

Pros

✓ Celebrity-backed credibility
✓ Formulated for Indian climate
✓ Strong vitamin C lineup
✓ Strong India D2C distribution

Cons

✗ Celebrity branding can feel marketing-led
✗ Limited international distribution
✗ Newer brand

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