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Dr. Althea vs Galderma

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Dr. Althea and Galderma are established skincare brands offering targeted solutions for various complex needs. Founded in 2014, the Korean creator provides gentle moisturizers, cleansers, makeup removers, and serums suited best for acne-prone skin and dry skin, while the Swiss enterprise, established in 1981, specializes exclusively in serums. Both names serve different routines through their distinct formulations, as the first relies on soothing ingredients like amino acids and vitamins for balanced daily care, and the second focuses on specialized acne gels.

Dr. Althea is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd..

doctoraltheaglobal.comdoctoralthea.co.kr

Galderma is a Swiss skincare brand founded in 1981 and owned by Galderma Group AG.

en.wikipedia.org

This page compares some of the most popular Dr. Althea and Galderma products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Dr. Althea vs Galderma products

People Say

Dr. AltheaGalderma
  • Gentle Formula Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “doesn't dry out my face — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “skin doesn't feel stripped — Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser”
    • “great for sensitive skin — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
    • “didn't burn my face — Galderma Benzac AC Mild Strength 2.5% Acne Gel”
  • Acne Clearance and Prevention Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “cleared up my skin — Galderma Benzac AC Mild Strength 2.5% Acne Gel”
    • “cystic acne gone — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
    • “stops new pimples — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
  • Lightweight and Pleasant Texture Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “absorbs beautifully — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “rich but non-greasy — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Melts instantly — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
  • Soothing and Calming Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “calms redness — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “instantly calms irritated skin — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “perfect for sensitive skin — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedNot noted
    • “hydrating but light — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “consistently hydrated mornings — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “feels hydrated — Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser”
  • Skin Texture Improvement Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “skin feels smooth — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
    • “faded acne scars — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
  • Severe Burning and Dryness Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “face on fire — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
  • Causes Breakouts and Purging Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “broke me out — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “gave me cystic acne — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “broke me out badly — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
    • “got worse first — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
  • Redness and Irritation Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “red as tomato — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
  • Bleaches Fabrics Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “bleached my towel — Galderma Benzac AC 5”

Questions and answers

Dr. Althea or Galderma: which is better?

Galderma is better for acne clearance and skin texture improvement through its effective acne-clearing serums, whereas Dr. Althea does better for a gentle formula, hydration, and soothing care.

What is the difference between Dr. Althea and Galderma?

Dr. Althea focuses on gentle formulas with soothing and hydrating properties, earning a Superior fit for acne-prone skin with its 345 Relief Cream and Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser, while Galderma specializes in effective acne-clearing serums like Epiduo Gel. Reviewers note that Galderma provides strong acne clearance but can cause severe dryness and peeling, whereas Dr. Althea offers a more lightweight and soothing experience.

Which is more affordable, Dr. Althea or Galderma?

Neither Dr. Althea nor Galderma lists pricing information for the products on this page, so affordability cannot be compared.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Dr. Althea or Galderma?

Galderma does better for acne clearance and prevention with effective acne-clearing serums, whereas reviewers sometimes note that the products on this page for Dr. Althea cause breakouts.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Dr. Althea or Galderma?

Both Dr. Althea and Galderma have every product on this page listing no fragrance in its ingredients, so neither brand has more fragrance-free products than the other.

How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between Dr. Althea and Galderma?

Dr. Althea was founded in South Korea in 2014, while Galderma was founded in Switzerland in 1981.

What do reviewers say about the side effects of Dr. Althea compared to Galderma?

Reviewers note that Dr. Althea sometimes leads to scent and irritation issues, breakouts, and weakness on waterproof makeup, while Galderma frequently causes severe dryness, peeling, irritation, and discomfort.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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