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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 tends to be better for soothing and calming, and for price and value among the products on this page, while MAC does better for cleansing and makeup removal, hydration and moisture, and makeup bases and primers.

What is the difference between Dr. Althea and MAC?

Dr. Althea features fragrance-free formulas with soothing and hydrating cleansers and moisturizers, while MAC offers products like cleansing oils and lotions that often contain fragrance and focus on makeup bases and primers. For price and value, Dr. Althea does better on this page.

Dr. Althea or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

For moisturizers, Dr. Althea provides the 345 Relief Cream and Barrier Cream, with the 345 Relief Cream getting a Superior fit for acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin and High fits elsewhere. MAC offers the Hyper Real Serumizer and Mineralize Timecheck Lotion, both achieving High fit levels for dry sensitive skin while rating Average on most other skin types. Reviewers often mention MAC for lightweight moisturizers, whereas Dr. Althea's moisturizers are noted for being soothing and hydrating without fragrance.

Which is more affordable, Dr. Althea or MAC?

Dr. Althea is more affordable, as price and value is an area where Dr. Althea does better. MAC's products on this page have a high price point.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Dr. Althea or MAC?

Both brands are equal when it comes to causing breakouts.

Between Dr. Althea and MAC, which brand has better soothing and calming properties?

Between Dr. Althea and MAC, Dr. Althea does better for soothing and calming. Reviewers mostly mention Dr. Althea's soothing moisturizers and cleansers, and every product on the brand's page lists no fragrance.

How do the founding years and parent companies of Dr. Althea and MAC compare?

Dr. Althea was founded in 2014 in South Korea and is owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd.. In contrast, MAC was founded earlier in 1984 in Canada and has been owned by The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

Which brand offers fragrance-free products compared to MAC?

Dr. Althea offers fragrance-free products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in the ingredients. In contrast, none of the products on MAC's page are fragrance-free.

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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