Brand Comparison

Krave Beauty 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 8.7)

Krave Beauty Dr. Althea

Rating8.7/108.8/10

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

Founded20172003

OriginSeoul, South KoreaSeoul, South Korea

Products75

Best ForSensitive, Acne-Prone, compromised-barrierSensitive, compromised-barrier, Mature, Dry

PhilosophyLiah Yoo's "press reset" philosophy: strip skincare back to what the barrier actually needs.Dermatologist-led K-beauty — clinical formulations, no wasted space, 147 as in the number of ingredients in the cream that made them famous.

Krave Beauty

Liah Yoo built Krave Beauty the way you wish more brands would — with a skincare-fatigued YouTube audience in mind, a commitment to stripping back rather than piling on, and one genuine cult hit in Great Barrier Relief. Small catalog, specific mission, loyal fans. Not for people who want a 10-step system. Very much for people whose skin has been yelled at for too long.

Pros

✓ barrier-first philosophy
✓ cult hero in Great Barrier Relief
✓ transparent founder storytelling
✓ no fragrance / no essential oils

Cons

✗ very small catalog
✗ ships mostly US/intl, harder to find in Asia
✗ limited range of price points

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