Brand Comparison
Kama Ayurveda 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)
Rating8.4/108.8/10
Price RangePremium ($$$)Mid-Range ($$)
Founded20022003
OriginIndiaSeoul, South Korea
Products85
Best ForDry, Mature, normal, hyperpigmentationSensitive, compromised-barrier, Mature, Dry
PhilosophyAuthentic classical ayurveda, modernised — Kerala-sourced herbs, traditional textures, clean-beauty-adjacent.Dermatologist-led K-beauty — clinical formulations, no wasted space, 147 as in the number of ingredients in the cream that made them famous.
Kama Ayurveda
The cleaner, more clinical cousin of Forest Essentials. Kumkumadi Oil (the saffron one) is the cult product every Indian grandmother knew about first.
Pros
- ✓ Clinical ayurveda
- ✓ Authentic Kerala sourcing
- ✓ Iconic Kumkumadi oil
Cons
- ✗ Premium pricing
- ✗ Heavy textures
- ✗ Less accessible outside India
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
