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Dr. Althea vs Medik8

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

Dr. Althea and Medik8 are skincare brands offering thoughtfully crafted moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and more, driven by gentle formulas and hyaluronic acid. The Korean brand suits acne-prone skin and dry skin best with its reliable formulations, while the British brand fits dry skin and dry sensitive skin best. Both brands differ in their standout solutions, such as the Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser and Surface Radiance Cleanse for acne-prone skin, providing a steady, soothing experience.

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

doctoraltheaglobal.comdoctoralthea.co.kr

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular Dr. Althea and Medik8 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Dr. Althea vs Medik8 products

People Say

Dr. AltheaMedik8
  • Gentle Formula Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't dry out my face — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “skin doesn't feel stripped — Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser”
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Texture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs beautifully — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “rich but non-greasy — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Melts instantly — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “hydrating but light — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “consistently hydrated mornings — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
  • Brightening and Tone Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “pigmentation lightened slightly — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “faded dark spots — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
  • Soothing and Calming Mostly MentionedRarely 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”
    • “calming effects — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
  • Skin Texture Improvement Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “Reduces fine lines — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “faded acne scars — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
  • Price and Cost Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “a bit pricey — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Scent and Irritation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “stinging sensation — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
    • “caused slight redness — Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3”
    • “metallic scent — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
    • “smells like plants — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
  • Packaging Issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Hard to see remaining amount — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “hard to squeeze — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Glass bottle breaks easily — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “hard to get last bit — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”

Dr. Althea vs Medik8 routines for dry skin

Buy Medik8 routine · AED 1,017.94 · 95% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · AED 430.35 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Dr. Althea vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

Buy Dr. Althea routine · AED 765.52 · 90% fitBuy Medik8 routine · AED 1,453.26 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Dr. Althea vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

Buy Medik8 routine · AED 1,409.08 · 92% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · AED 619.88 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Dr. Althea or Medik8: which is better?

Both brands are great choices depending on your budget and skin goals, as Dr. Althea offers gentler, more budget-friendly soothing products, while Medik8 is known for advanced serums that target brightening and texture.

What is the difference between Dr. Althea and Medik8?

Dr. Althea and Medik8 both offer strong routines for dry and acne-prone skin, but Dr. Althea is better for oily skin while Medik8 excels for sensitive and dry sensitive skin. Medik8 features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid to help provide deep hydration and plumping.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Dr. Althea or Medik8 for dry skin?

Both Dr. Althea and Medik8 are great for dry skin, as their routines on the products on this page both achieve a Superior fit. Medik8 features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps provide deep hydration and skin-plumping benefits.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Dr. Althea or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

Both Dr. Althea and Medik8 offer top-tier cleansers on this page, with Dr. Althea featuring products like the Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser and Medik8 featuring the Surface Radiance Cleanse.

Which is more affordable, Dr. Althea or Medik8?

Dr. Althea is more affordable, as Medik8 products on this page are frequently noted by reviewers for their high price point.

Dr. Althea or Medik8: which brand has better brightening and tone results?

Medik8 does better for brightening and tone among the products on this page. Topical treatments containing ingredients like vitamin C help improve radiance and manage pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

Do any Dr. Althea or Medik8 products contain fragrance?

Every product from Dr. Althea on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, while Medik8 has mostly fragrance-free options with only the Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream containing fragrance.

Dr. Althea or Medik8 for oily skin?

Dr. Althea is a better fit for oily skin, offering a Superior routine level compared to Medik8's High level. Additionally, reviewers note that Dr. Althea provides lightweight and fast-absorbing textures, which helps suit oily skin types well.

Dr. Althea or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

Both Dr. Althea and Medik8 offer great moisturizers, with Dr. Althea excelling in soothing care and Medik8 providing strong hydration and anti-aging benefits. For instance, Dr. Althea's 345 Relief Cream features a Superior Lovi fit for acne-prone skin, while Medik8's Hydr8 B5 Intense delivers Superior Lovi fit for dry skin using hyaluronic acid.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Dr. Althea or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Medik8 is a better fit for sensitive skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Dr. Althea's High fit on this page.

Dr. Althea or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

Both Dr. Althea and Medik8 achieve a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Dr. Althea offers a gentle formula that helps soothe breakouts, while Medik8 provides serums that help improve skin texture.

Dr. Althea or Medik8 for dry sensitive skin?

Medik8 is a better fit for dry sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to High for Dr. Althea. Medik8 also offers deeply hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps improve moisture levels in dry skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

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

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