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Dr. Althea vs Clinique

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

Dr. Althea and Clinique are renowned skincare brands offering thoughtfully crafted moisturizers, serums, and makeup removers designed to support diverse complexions. While the Korean brand relies on soothing formulas with standout solutions like the 345 Relief Cream to suit dry and acne-prone skin best, the American brand incorporates hydrating hyaluronic acid, nourishing glycerin, and invigorating caffeine to suit dry sensitive and oily skin best. Although both provide targeted options for concerns like dark spots and mature skin, they differ in their origin, founding eras, and foundational ingredients.

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

doctoraltheaglobal.comdoctoralthea.co.kr

Clinique is an American skincare brand founded in 1968 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.combusinesswire.comglossy.co

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

Popular Dr. Althea vs Clinique products

People Say

Dr. AltheaClinique
  • Soothing and Gentle Formulas 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”
    • “great for sensitive skin — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
  • Texture and Lightweight Feel Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs beautifully — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “rich but non-greasy — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Melts instantly — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “hydrating but light — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “consistently hydrated mornings — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “skin feels soft and smooth — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
  • Skin Texture and Tone Improvement Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “faded dark spots — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
    • “faded acne scars — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
    • “gentle enough for everyday — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
  • Cleansing and Makeup Removal Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Removes sunscreen well — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “great for morning routine — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “Melts waterproof mascara — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “squeaky clean — Clinique all about clean”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Base Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “holds concealer in place — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “perfect primer base — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
  • Expensive Price Point Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “a bit pricey — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
  • Scent and Irritation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “smells like plants — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “clinical scent — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Smells like nail polish remover — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
    • “Made my skin super dry — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
  • Causes Breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “broke me out — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “gave me cystic acne — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Woke up with whiteheads on my chin — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “gave me tiny bumps — Clinique moisture surge”

Dr. Althea vs Clinique routines for dry skin

Buy Dr. Althea routine · $144.68 · 91% fitBuy Clinique routine · $370.23 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Dr. Althea vs Clinique routines for oily skin

Buy Dr. Althea routine · $296.69 · 90% fitBuy Clinique routine · $440.07 · 78% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Dr. Althea vs Clinique routines for combination skin

Buy Dr. Althea routine · $276.17 · 89% fitBuy Clinique routine · $440.07 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Dr. Althea or Clinique: which is better?

Dr. Althea is better for dry, combination, acne-prone, mature skin, and skin with dark spots, where Lovi rates its routines as Superior or High compared to Clinique. Both brands offer equal routine fit levels for sensitive and dry sensitive skin. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea provides better soothing and gentle formulas as well as lighter textures.

What is the difference between Dr. Althea and Clinique?

Dr. Althea offers a superior routine fit for dry, acne-prone, and mature skin types compared to Clinique. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea tends to excel in soothing and gentle formulas, while Clinique is frequently recognized for a higher price point.

Dr. Althea or Clinique for dry skin?

For dry skin, Lovi finds that Dr. Althea has a superior routine fit compared to Clinique, which has an average fit.

Dr. Althea or Clinique: which cleanser is better?

Dr. Althea is better for cleansers on this page, as Lovi rates its Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser as a Superior fit for most skin types. Clinique's cleansers show much lower fit levels on this page, including a warning for dry skin.

Which is more affordable, Dr. Althea or Clinique?

Clinique is more affordable, whereas Dr. Althea's review themes indicate an expensive price point.

Dr. Althea or Clinique for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi rates Dr. Althea as having a Superior routine fit, while Clinique has a High routine fit. Dr. Althea provides better results for texture and lightweight feel on the products on this page.

Dr. Althea or Clinique: which moisturizer is better?

Dr. Althea is better for moisturizers because its products on this page achieve a Superior fit for dry skin, whereas Clinique achieves an Average fit. Lovi rates the Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream as Superior for acne-prone skin and oily acne-prone skin, while Clinique moisturizers lean more toward Average or Low fits for those same skin types.

Dr. Althea or Clinique for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, Lovi rates both Dr. Althea and Clinique as High, meaning the brands perform equally well for this skin type on the products on this page.

Dr. Althea or Clinique for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Lovi rates Dr. Althea as Superior and Clinique as High. Dr. Althea's products on this page help provide soothing and gentle formulas that reviewers frequently mention.

Dr. Althea or Clinique for mature skin?

Dr. Althea provides a Superior routine fit for mature skin, whereas Clinique offers a High fit level. Reviewers indicate that Dr. Althea does better for soothing, gentle formulas and lightweight feel.

Dr. Althea or Clinique for skin with dark spots?

For skin with dark spots, Dr. Althea provides a High fit level, whereas Clinique is rated as Average. The products on this page for both brands list no fragrance in their ingredients.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Dr. Althea or Clinique for dry sensitive skin?

For dry sensitive skin, Lovi rates both Dr. Althea and Clinique as High fit, showing that the products on this page help provide good care for this skin type. Reviewers note that both brands offer fragrance-free options and focus on hydration, though Dr. Althea specifically stands out for its soothing and gentle formulas.

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

How does it fit your skin?

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