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Dr. Althea vs Kiehl's

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

Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are two distinct skincare brands with dedicated followers around the world. The Korean brand is known for soothing moisturizers, gentle cleansers, makeup removers, and nourishing serums that suit dry and acne-prone skin best, while the American brand is appreciated for moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products incorporating glycerin and squalane that favor skin with dark spots and combination skin. While both offer thoughtful formulations, they differ in their heritage, 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

Kiehl's is an American skincare brand founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000.

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Dr. Althea vs Kiehl's products

People Say

Dr. AltheaKiehl's
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs beautifully — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “rich but non-greasy — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
  • Soothing and Gentle Formulas Mostly MentionedOften 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”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Skin Barrier and Tone Improvement Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “skin feels incredibly soft afterwards — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “strengthened my skin barrier — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
  • Hydration and Moisture Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “savior for dry patches — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “hydrating but light — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Primer Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Removes sunscreen well — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “great for morning routine — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “no pilling — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • High Price Point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “a bit pricey — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Scent and Irritation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “smells like plants — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “clinical scent — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “burned my face immediately — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “stings my face and feels like burning — Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
  • Pilling and Application Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “hard to spread — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “rolled off my face — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “Dropper doesn't reach bottom — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Struggles with waterproof mascara — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”

Dr. Althea vs Kiehl's routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Dr. Althea vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Dr. Althea vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's: which is better?

Dr. Althea is a better fit for acne-prone skin with a Superior routine fit, while Kiehl's works well for skin with dark spots, combination skin, and mature skin. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea excels in soothing and gentle formulas, whereas Kiehl's is frequently praised for deep hydration and skin barrier and tone improvement.

What is the difference between Dr. Althea and Kiehl's?

Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are both skincare brands, but Dr. Althea is a South Korean brand founded in 2014 and owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd., while Kiehl's was founded in the United States in 1851 and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000. For dry skin, the routine fit for Dr. Althea is Superior, whereas the routine fit for Kiehl's is High.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for dry skin?

For dry skin, both brands work well, but Dr. Althea has a Superior routine fit while Kiehl's has a High routine fit. The products on this page from Dr. Althea are well-suited for dry skin, with the Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser offering a Superior fit.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

Dr. Althea and Kiehl's both offer top cleansers, but Dr. Althea provides a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin while Kiehl's features specialized choices like the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash.

Which is more affordable, Dr. Althea or Kiehl's?

Dr. Althea is more affordable, whereas reviewers often mention Kiehl's has a high price point.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's: which brand is better for soothing formulas?

Dr. Althea is better for soothing formulas, as review themes show the brand outperforms Kiehl's in providing soothing and gentle products. The products on this page for Dr. Althea are entirely fragrance-free, whereas Kiehl's includes fragrance in a couple of items.

Do Dr. Althea or Kiehl's products contain fragrance?

Every Dr. Althea product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. For Kiehl's, 26 of the 28 products on this page list no fragrance, while two do contain it.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for oily skin?

Both brands fit oily skin well, with Kiehl's offering a high routine fit and Dr. Althea achieving a high routine fit as well. Reviewers note that the products on this page for both brands address oily skin effectively, though Dr. Althea tends to excel in soothing and gentle formulas.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

Both brands offer solid options, but Dr. Althea's routine fit for dry skin is Superior compared to Kiehl's High. The products on this page for Dr. Althea feature soothing and hydrating moisturizers with no fragrance, whereas Kiehl's moisturizers often come with a higher price point and are sometimes noted for causing breakouts or irritation.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

Both brands fit sensitive skin at a High level on this page. Reviewers report that Dr. Althea offers soothing cleansers, while Kiehl's provides gentle serums and deep hydration.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

Dr. Althea is a better choice for acne-prone skin, as its routine fit is Superior while Kiehl's is Average. The products on this page from Dr. Althea feature soothing and gentle formulas that help prevent irritation and breakouts.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for skin with dark spots?

Both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are a High fit for skin with dark spots. Reviewers note that Kiehl's is particularly helpful for brightening and fading dark spots.

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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