Brand Comparison
Nuori 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)
Rating8.3/108.8/10
Price RangePremium ($$$)Mid-Range ($$)
Founded20142003
OriginDenmarkSeoul, South Korea
Products85
Best ForSensitive, normal, Dry, MatureSensitive, compromised-barrier, Mature, Dry
PhilosophyFresh skincare — every formula preserved naturally with a 12-week shelf life, minimising synthetic preservatives.Dermatologist-led K-beauty — clinical formulations, no wasted space, 147 as in the number of ingredients in the cream that made them famous.
Nuori
The brand that made "fresh skincare" a category. Batch-numbered, date-stamped, pharmacist-serious. The Supreme-C Skin Tonic is the star.
Pros
- ✓ Genuinely fresh formulations
- ✓ Batch-labelled
- ✓ Minimal preservatives
Cons
- ✗ Short shelf life is a commitment
- ✗ Premium price
- ✗ Lean on hero products
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
