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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 skin, offering fragrance-free products and superior fit for dry and acne-prone skin types. On the other hand, MAC excels in hydration, makeup bases, and cleansing, though its products on this page often contain fragrance.

What is the difference between Dr. Althea and MAC?

Dr. Althea focuses on fragrance-free formulas with soothing and hydrating cleansers and moisturizers, whereas MAC offers products that often contain fragrance and are known for makeup bases, primers, and lightweight moisturizers.

Dr. Althea or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

Dr. Althea does better for soothing and calming, offering moisturizers like 345 Relief Cream that have a Superior fit for acne-prone skin and High fit for dry and sensitive skin. Reviewers mostly mention that Dr. Althea provides soothing moisturizers with no fragrance listed in the ingredients on this page, whereas MAC products on this page feature fragrance and a high price point.

Which is more affordable, Dr. Althea or MAC?

Dr. Althea is more affordable, as MAC has a high price point. Reviewers note price and value as an area where Dr. Althea does better.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Dr. Althea or MAC?

Both brands are equal when it comes to causing breakouts, as reviewers note similar breakout issues for each. Lovi rates several Dr. Althea products on this page, such as the 345 Relief Cream, with a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, while MAC products on this page generally receive an Average fit for acne-prone skin.

How do Dr. Althea and MAC compare regarding fragrance in their products?

Dr. Althea does better on scent and irritation because every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas all three MAC products on this page contain fragrance.

Which brand offers better soothing and calming properties according to review themes?

Dr. Althea offers better soothing and calming properties compared to MAC, according to the review themes on this page.

What are the founding years and countries of origin for Dr. Althea and MAC?

Dr. Althea was founded in 2014 in South Korea, while MAC was founded in 1984 in Canada.

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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