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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 skincare brands celebrated for their thoughtful formulas designed to support a healthy complexion. The former is a Korean brand known for nourishing moisturizers, cleansers, makeup removers, and serums that suit dry skin and mature skin best. Meanwhile, the American brand is beloved for expertly formulated moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products incorporating glycerin and squalane that suit combination skin and mature skin best. Ultimately, they differ in their heritage and specific ingredient approaches, with the first focusing on gentle soothing hydration and the second emphasizing barrier restoration and hydration.

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 · 97% fit

Dr. Althea vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% 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?

Both brands are great choices depending on your specific skin needs, as Dr. Althea provides a High routine fit across all skin types, while Kiehl's also offers a High fit for most skin types alongside specialized benefits like brightening and texture improvement. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea excels in soothing and gentle formulas, whereas Kiehl's stands out for hydration and moisture.

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

Dr. Althea and Kiehl's both offer high routine fit levels across most skin types, but Dr. Althea provides better soothing and gentle formulas while Kiehl's excels in hydration, moisture, skin barrier, and tone improvement. Additionally, Dr. Althea performs better for acne-prone skin with an Average fit compared to Kiehl's, and every product on Dr. Althea's page lists no fragrance.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for dry skin?

Both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are a High fit for dry skin on Lovi. Reviewers mention that Dr. Althea offers soothing and gentle formulas, while Kiehl's is noted for deep hydration.

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

Both brands offer top-tier cleansers for different needs, with Dr. Althea featuring fragrance-free formulas that reviewers find especially soothing and gentle. Kiehl's also delivers high-performing cleansers, with options like the Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner and specific washes earning high praise for oily and acne-prone skin.

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

Dr. Althea is more affordable, as Kiehl's is frequently noted by reviewers for its high price point. Both brands offer robust routines, but Dr. Althea avoids the higher pricing associated with Kiehl's.

Which brand has better soothing and gentle formulas, Dr. Althea or Kiehl's?

Dr. Althea does better for soothing and gentle formulas. Reviewers mostly mention its gentle and soothing cleansers and moisturizers, and every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for oily skin?

Both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are a High fit for oily skin. Reviewers mention that Dr. Althea offers gentle and soothing cleansers while Kiehl's provides lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers.

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

Both brands offer effective moisturizers, but Dr. Althea's products are generally better for soothing and gentle hydration, while Kiehl's provides a wider variety of specialized anti-aging and deep moisture options. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea helps avoid fragrance and irritation issues entirely across its page, whereas Kiehl's features a high price point and occasional reports of heavy residue.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

Both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are a High fit for sensitive skin on Lovi. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea provides soothing and gentle cleansers, while Kiehl's offers fragrance-free options across almost all products on this page.

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

Dr. Althea is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering a High routine fit compared to an Average fit for Kiehl's. Dr. Althea features gentle cleansers and soothing moisturizers with no fragrance across all products on this page.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for mature skin?

Both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are great options for mature skin, matching this skin type with a High fit level on Lovi. Every product on the Dr. Althea page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, while Kiehl's features a wider variety of specialized anti-aging serums and treatments.

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

Both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are good options for skin with dark spots, as Lovi rates both brands with a High fit level for this skin type. Reviewers note that Kiehl's is particularly recognized for brightening and fading dark spots, while Dr. Althea offers fragrance-free products on this page.

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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