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Dr. Althea vs Shiseido

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

Dr. Althea and Shiseido are distinguished Asian beauty houses originating from South Korea and Japan, respectively. The Korean label is widely beloved for thoughtful moisturizers, gentle cleansers, effective makeup removers, and nourishing serums driven by its soothing formulas, while the Japanese brand is beloved for its sophisticated moisturizers, gentle cleansers, protective sunscreens, nourishing serums, and more, all formulated with key ingredients like glycerin. Dr. Althea suits dry skin and acne-prone skin best, providing balanced hydration and calm comfort, whereas Shiseido suits sensitive skin and oily skin best, owing to their balanced formulations. The former differs through its foundational focus on soothing botanical extracts and targeted relief for dark spots or mature skin, while the latter differs through a long heritage of meticulous scientific preparations and clinically backed hydration.

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

doctoraltheaglobal.comdoctoralthea.co.kr

Shiseido is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1872 and owned by Shiseido Company, Limited.

corp.shiseido.comen.wikipedia.orgmarketscreener.com

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

Popular Dr. Althea vs Shiseido products

People Say

Dr. AltheaShiseido
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Immediate sensation of comfort — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “skin feels plump, soft and nourished, eliminates dryness, bouncy feel — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “Skin feels more hydrated — Shiseido Activating Essence”
    • “hydrating but light — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
  • Texture and Smoothness Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “rich but non-greasy — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Melts instantly — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “silky smooth, rich but non-greasy, absorbs quickly, melts into skin — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “foams into a rich cloud — Shiseido Clarifying Cleansing Foam”
  • Soothing and Gentle Formulas Mostly MentionedRarely 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”
    • “No irritation — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Lightweight, silky, non-sticky, sinks in instantly. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “Airy-soft texture — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly — Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs beautifully — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
  • Brightening and Even Tone Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “faded dark spots — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
    • “faded pimple marks — Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Gel Cream”
    • “Eyes look more awake — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Packaging Quality and Hygiene Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “Innovative dial mechanism — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “beautiful glass bottle — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
  • Price and Value Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Runs out fast — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “a bit pricey — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Very expensive for the size — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Scent and Fragrance Concerns Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “clinical scent — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “prominent acidic hint — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “smells a bit odd — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
    • “old lady smell — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
  • Breakouts and Skin Irritation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “broke me out — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “smells like plants — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “Caused some irritation — Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizing Cream”
    • “Caused burning and redness — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”

Dr. Althea vs Shiseido routines for dry skin

Buy Dr. Althea routine · A$223.85 · 91% fitBuy Shiseido routine · A$515.52 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Dr. Althea vs Shiseido routines for oily skin

Buy Dr. Althea routine · A$403.84 · 89% fitBuy Shiseido routine · A$737.92 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Dr. Althea vs Shiseido routines for combination skin

Buy Dr. Althea routine · A$337.14 · 87% fitBuy Shiseido routine · A$614.44 · 81% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Dr. Althea or Shiseido: which is better?

Dr. Althea is better for dry and acne-prone skin, while both brands offer equal fit levels for most other skin types on this page. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea provides gentler and fragrance-free formulas, whereas Shiseido excels in deep hydration and luxurious textures.

What is the difference between Dr. Althea and Shiseido?

Dr. Althea provides more budget-friendly and fragrance-free options with a Superior routine fit for dry and acne-prone skin, whereas Shiseido offers luxurious textures and deep hydration at a higher price point with frequent fragrance use. Both brands deliver similar results for sensitive, oily, and mature skin types on the products on this page.

Dr. Althea or Shiseido for dry skin?

For dry skin, Dr. Althea achieves a superior routine fit compared to Shiseido's average fit on this page. Reviewers report that Dr. Althea provides soothing and hydrating moisturizers without added fragrance, making it a gentler choice for dry skin types.

Dr. Althea or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

When it comes to cleansers, Dr. Althea tends to be a better choice for shoppers seeking gentle and soothing formulas, as every product on its page lists no fragrance. Shiseido also offers deep-cleansing and efficient options, but its cleanser line frequently includes added fragrance that may lead to skin sensitivity.

Which is more affordable, Dr. Althea or Shiseido?

Dr. Althea is more affordable, as Shiseido has a high price point.

Between Dr. Althea and Shiseido, which brand has fragrance-free products?

Dr. Althea offers fragrance-free options, as every product on the brand's page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, Shiseido includes fragrance in the majority of its products on this page.

How do the origins and founding years of Dr. Althea and Shiseido compare?

Dr. Althea was founded in 2014 in South Korea and is owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd., while Shiseido has a much longer history, founded in 1872 in Japan and owned by Shiseido Company, Limited.

Which brand performs better when it comes to soothing and gentle formulas according to reviewers?

Dr. Althea performs better than Shiseido when it comes to soothing and gentle formulas according to reviewers. The products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients.

Dr. Althea or Shiseido for oily skin?

For oily skin, Dr. Althea has a High routine fit and Shiseido has a High routine fit, making them equal. Reviewers note that the products on this page for Dr. Althea offer gentle and soothing cleansers with zero fragrance listed, while Shiseido offers deep hydration and deep-cleansing foam options.

Dr. Althea or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, Dr. Althea provides superior options for acne-prone skin while Shiseido excels in deep hydration and luxury textures. The products on this page for Dr. Althea feature no fragrance, whereas many Shiseido moisturizers include fragrance and a higher price point.

Dr. Althea or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both Dr. Althea and Shiseido offer a High routine fit on Lovi. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea features gentle cleansers and no fragrance in any products on this page, while Shiseido provides deep hydration and luxurious textures.

Dr. Althea or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Dr. Althea provides a Superior routine fit, while Shiseido offers a High fit. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea excels with soothing and gentle formulas, making it the better choice for this skin type.

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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