Brand Comparison
Mustela 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 7.9)
Mustela
Mustela was born for babies and grew up. Dermatologist-recommended for sensitive adult skin, barrier repair, and pregnancy safety. Pharmacy-grade gentleness that's not just for infants.
Pros
- ✓ Pregnancy-safe lineup
- ✓ Fragrance-free options
- ✓ Barrier-repair pedigree
Cons
- ✗ Not targeted at mature skin
- ✗ Baby-brand perception limits appeal
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
