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Dr. Althea vs Simple

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

Dr. Althea and Simple are two well-regarded skincare brands known for offering gentle cleansers, effective makeup removers, and soothing moisturizers designed to support daily routines. Dr. Althea suits dry skin and acne-prone skin best with nourishing serums, while the British brand suits acne-prone skin and oily skin best through formulations enriched with niacinamide and glycerin. Both companies feature standout items for specific concerns, such as solutions for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin. The two lines ultimately differ in their key ingredients, country of origin, and targeted hydration benefits.

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

doctoraltheaglobal.comdoctoralthea.co.kr

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular Dr. Althea vs Simple products

People Say

Dr. AltheaSimple
  • Gentle Formula for Sensitive Skin 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”
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “hydrating but light — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “consistently hydrated mornings — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
  • Soothing and Calming Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “calms redness — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “instantly calms irritated skin — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “perfect for sensitive skin — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “doesn't sting my eyes — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “absorbs really well — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “absorbs beautifully — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
  • Skin Texture and Tone Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “rich but non-greasy — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Melts instantly — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “faded dark spots — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
  • Affordable Price Point Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Can't beat the price for the quality. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Weak Makeup Removal Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Struggles with waterproof mascara — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “won't remove mascara — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “Did not remove my mascara very well at all. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
  • Causes Breakouts and Reactions Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “broke me out — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “gave me cystic acne — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “caused major breakouts — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Insufficient Hydration or Moisture Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “not enough for dry skin — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”

Dr. Althea vs Simple routines for dry skin

Buy Dr. Althea routine · $144.68 · 91% fitBuy Simple routine · $128.28 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Dr. Althea vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy Dr. Althea routine · $296.69 · 90% fitBuy Simple routine · $280.29 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Dr. Althea vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy Dr. Althea routine · $276.17 · 89% fitBuy Simple routine · $259.77 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Dr. Althea or Simple: which is better?

Dr. Althea achieves a Superior routine fit for dry skin, acne-prone skin, oily skin, mature skin, and oily acne-prone skin, while Simple reaches a High fit for those same types. Both brands list no fragrance in their products on this page.

What is the difference between Dr. Althea and Simple?

Dr. Althea features higher routine fit levels for dry, acne-prone, oily, and mature skin compared to Simple, and every product on the Dr. Althea page lists no fragrance. Simple is known for offering value-friendly moisturizers and sensitive-skin-friendly makeup removers while containing key ingredients such as niacinamide and glycerin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Dr. Althea or Simple for dry skin?

Dr. Althea is a better fit for dry skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Simple which has a High fit. Reviewers often mention Dr. Althea for its hydrating and soothing moisturizers.

Dr. Althea or Simple: which cleanser is better?

Dr. Althea offers a superior fit for cleansers compared to Simple. Its Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser achieves a Superior Lovi fit level for oily, combination, acne-prone, and dry skin.

Which is more affordable, Dr. Althea or Simple?

Simple is the more affordable brand, as reviewers frequently mention its affordable price point compared to Dr. Althea.

Between Dr. Althea and Simple, which brand is better suited for mature skin?

Dr. Althea is better suited for mature skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Simple's High fit level. Reviewers often note Dr. Althea for its soothing moisturizers.

Which brand performs better when it comes to soothing and calming the skin?

Dr. Althea performs better than Simple when it comes to soothing and calming the skin. Reviewers mostly mention gentle and soothing cleansers as well as soothing moisturizers for Dr. Althea.

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

Dr. Althea was founded in 2014 in South Korea and is owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd., while Simple was founded in 1960 in the United Kingdom and is owned by Unilever PLC.

Dr. Althea or Simple for oily skin?

For oily skin, Dr. Althea has a Superior routine fit while Simple has a High fit. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea offers soothing cleansers and hydrating moisturizers, whereas Simple is known for lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers.

Dr. Althea or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Dr. Althea offers a superior moisturizer option with its 345 Relief Cream, which achieves a Superior fit level for acne-prone and oily skin, and a High fit level for dry skin. In comparison, Simple features moisturizers like the Hydrating Light Moisturiser and Replenishing Rich Moisturiser that generally receive an Average fit level across most skin types.

Dr. Althea or Simple for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both Dr. Althea and Simple achieve a High Lovi fit level. Reviewers note that both brands offer gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly formulas across the products on this page.

Dr. Althea or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Dr. Althea is a better fit for acne-prone skin, with a Superior Lovi fit level compared to Simple's Average to High levels across its products on this page. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea offers soothing and gentle cleansers, though it may occasionally cause breakouts.

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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