Brand Comparison
Plum 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)
Rating7.9/108.8/10
Price RangeMid-Range ($$)Mid-Range ($$)
Founded20142003
OriginIndiaSeoul, South Korea
Products135
Best ForOily, Combo, Acne-Prone, normalSensitive, compromised-barrier, Mature, Dry
Philosophy100% vegan, clean, transparent Indian skincare — sulfate- and paraben-free, Indian indie, aesthetic-forward.Dermatologist-led K-beauty — clinical formulations, no wasted space, 147 as in the number of ingredients in the cream that made them famous.
Plum
The Indian answer to The Ordinary — active-led, vegan, drugstore-accessible. Green Tea range is the starter pack for Indian skincare newbies.
Pros
- ✓ Fully vegan
- ✓ Active-led budget line
- ✓ Pan-India availability
Cons
- ✗ Limited hero products
- ✗ Fragrance-heavy
- ✗ Mass-market positioning
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
