Brand Comparison
VT Cosmetics 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 7.5)
VT Cosmetics
VT Cosmetics rode the CICA wave better than most, building a solid lineup of centella-based products. The Cica line is genuinely soothing and well-formulated. The BTS collaboration brought them mainstream attention, but the products hold up on their own merit. Good value for calming, barrier-repair skincare.
Pros
- ✓ CICA line is genuinely effective for calming
- ✓ Affordable pricing across the range
- ✓ Good for post-procedure and irritated skin
- ✓ Wide availability globally
Cons
- ✗ Brand identity is tied to celebrity collabs
- ✗ Some products feel generic
- ✗ Fragrance in several products
- ✗ Premium lines don't justify the markup
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
