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Dr. Althea vs MAC

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

Dr. Althea and MAC represent two distinct cosmetic approaches, offering thoughtful moisturizers, makeup removers, gentle cleansers, and nourishing serums crafted from carefully balanced formulas. While Dr. Althea suits dry skin and acne-prone skin best with soothing ingredients like amino acids and vitamins, MAC suits balanced skin best with gentle and effective components. Both brands differ in their origins and target skin types, providing distinct paths to daily maintenance through standout solutions such as bubble cleansers, relief creams, cleansing oils, and serumizers.

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

doctoraltheaglobal.comdoctoralthea.co.kr

MAC is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

elcompanies.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Dr. Althea vs MAC products

People Say

Dr. AltheaMAC
  • Texture and Finish Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “rich but non-greasy — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Melts instantly — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “lit-from-within look — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Reduces appearance of pores — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Absorbs in a snap — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Leaves skin feeling soft and supple, never tight. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Innovative dial mechanism — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
  • Soothing and Calming Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “strengthened my skin barrier — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “doesn't dry out my face — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “skin doesn't feel stripped — Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser”
    • “Does not cause breakouts — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Makeup Base and Primer Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Cleansing and Makeup Removal Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Removes waterproof mascara completely without needing a separate remover. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Removes sunscreen well — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
  • Price and Value Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Runs out fast — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “a bit pricey — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “bottle goes fast — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Scent and Irritation Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like plants — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “clinical scent — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “scent is overpowering — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Stings if it accidentally gets into the eyes. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Causes Breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “broke me out — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “gave me cystic acne — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Breaks me out, I got pimples from this. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”

Questions and answers

Dr. Althea or MAC: which is better?

Dr. Althea is better for soothing and calming skincare, as Lovi rates its 345 Relief Cream as Superior for acne-prone skin, while MAC excels in makeup bases and primers. Reviewers note that every Dr. Althea product on this page lists no fragrance, whereas all MAC products on this page contain fragrance.

What is the difference between Dr. Althea and MAC?

Dr. Althea does better for soothing and calming and price and value, whereas MAC does better for hydration and moisture, makeup base and primer, and cleansing and makeup removal. Every product on the Dr. Althea page lists no fragrance, while zero of three MAC products on the page list no fragrance.

Dr. Althea or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

For moisturizers, Dr. Althea works better for soothing and calming, while MAC performs better for hydration and moisture. Lovi rates the Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream as Superior for acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin.

Which is more affordable, Dr. Althea or MAC?

Dr. Althea is more affordable, as reviewers often mention MAC for its high price point while noting price and value as an advantage for Dr. Althea on this page.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Dr. Althea or MAC?

Dr. Althea and MAC do equally well on breakouts, as reviewers note that both brands perform the same in this area. Lovi rates the products on this page for acne-prone skin from Average to Superior for Dr. Althea and Average to High for MAC.

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

Dr. Althea has more fragrance-free products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas 0 of the 3 MAC products on this page do so.

How do the founding countries and parent companies of Dr. Althea and MAC compare?

Dr. Althea was founded in South Korea in 2014 and is owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd., whereas MAC was founded in Canada in 1984 and has been owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

Which brand performs better for soothing and calming skincare according to reviewers?

Dr. Althea performs better for soothing and calming skincare according to reviewers. The products on this page list no fragrance, helping prevent the irritation sometimes noted with other brands.

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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