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Dr. Althea vs Kiehl's

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

Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are skincare brands celebrated for moisturizers, cleansers, and serums that feature soothing formulas and key ingredients like glycerin and squalane. The Korean brand suits dry skin and acne-prone skin best with products like the Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser and 345 Relief Cream, while the American brand suits dry skin and sensitive skin best with selections like the Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner and Ultra Facial Toner. These lines differ as one focuses on balanced hydration and calm comfort, and the other works to increase hydration, restore epidermal barrier function, counteract oxidative stress, and stimulate fibroblast migration.

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

doctoraltheaglobal.comdoctoralthea.co.kr

Kiehl's is an American skincare brand founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000.

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Dr. Althea vs Kiehl's products

People Say

Dr. AltheaKiehl's
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs beautifully — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “rich but non-greasy — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
  • Soothing and Gentle Formulas Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Skin Barrier and Tone Improvement Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “skin feels incredibly soft afterwards — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “strengthened my skin barrier — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
  • Hydration and Moisture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “savior for dry patches — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “hydrating but light — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Primer Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Removes sunscreen well — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “great for morning routine — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “no pilling — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • High Price Point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “a bit pricey — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Scent and Irritation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “smells like plants — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “clinical scent — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “burned my face immediately — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “stings my face and feels like burning — Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
  • Pilling and Application Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “hard to spread — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “rolled off my face — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “Dropper doesn't reach bottom — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Struggles with waterproof mascara — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”

Dr. Althea vs Kiehl's routines for dry skin

Buy Dr. Althea routine · A$223.85 · 91% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · A$685.63 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Dr. Althea vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

Buy Dr. Althea routine · A$403.84 · 89% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · A$767.92 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Dr. Althea vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

Buy Dr. Althea routine · A$337.14 · 87% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · A$693.88 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's: which is better?

Both brands are great choices, but Dr. Althea achieves a Superior routine fit for dry and acne-prone skin while every product on this page lists no fragrance. Kiehl's is better for skin barrier, tone, and hydration, though it is often noted for a high price point.

What is the difference between Dr. Althea and Kiehl's?

Dr. Althea and Kiehl's both offer solid skincare products, but they differ in pricing, formulation approach, and specific strengths. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea has a lower price point and does better with soothing and gentle formulas, while Kiehl's is known for a higher price point and excels more in hydration, moisture, skin barrier, and tone improvement.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for dry skin?

For dry skin, Dr. Althea has a Superior routine fit while Kiehl's has a High fit on this page.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

Dr. Althea is better for soothing and gentle cleansers, while Kiehl's is better for deep hydration and barrier support. Both brands offer high-performing cleansers, but Dr. Althea provides superior soothing benefits for sensitive skin.

Which is more affordable, Dr. Althea or Kiehl's?

Dr. Althea is more affordable, as Kiehl's is noted by reviewers for its high price point. Lovi rates Dr. Althea's routine fit as Superior for dry and acne-prone skin and High for other skin types, while Kiehl's is rated High across all skin types on this page.

Between Dr. Althea and Kiehl's, which brand performs better for mature skin?

Both brands perform well for mature skin, with Lovi giving Dr. Althea a High fit and Kiehl's a High fit as well. Kiehl's also features specific options like retinol, which helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

How do the fragrance ingredients compare between Dr. Althea and Kiehl's products?

Dr. Althea has no fragrance listed in the ingredients for any of the products on this page, whereas Kiehl's includes fragrance in 2 of its 28 products.

Which brand has a better routine fit for dry sensitive skin, Dr. Althea or Kiehl's?

For dry sensitive skin, Dr. Althea has a High routine fit, while Kiehl's also has a High routine fit, making them equal on this page.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for oily skin?

Both brands fit oily skin well, as Lovi rates Dr. Althea High and Kiehl's High for this skin type. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea offers soothing and gentle formulas, while Kiehl's provides deep hydration.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, Dr. Althea and Kiehl's both offer great options, but Dr. Althea has a Superior routine fit for dry and acne-prone skin while Kiehl's has a High fit for those same types. Kiehl's is often praised for deep hydration, whereas Dr. Althea is known for soothing moisturizers.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are a High fit on this page. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea excels in soothing and gentle formulas, while Kiehl's offers lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and deep hydration.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

Dr. Althea is a superior fit for acne-prone skin on this page, while Kiehl's has a high fit. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea offers soothing and gentle cleansers and moisturizers, whereas Kiehl's is sometimes reported to cause breakouts and irritation.

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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