🇮🇪Ireland

Dr. Althea vs Hada Labo

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

Dr. Althea and Hada Labo are celebrated Asian beauty labels that offer thoughtfully formulated skincare designed to nurture and protect the complexion. The Korean house is widely loved for its nourishing moisturizers, cleansers, makeup removers, and serums, featuring gentle ingredients that suit dry and mature skin best. Meanwhile, the Japanese brand is deeply cherished for its hydrating toners, gentle makeup removers, and nourishing moisturizers driven by advanced science, catering primarily to dry and acne-prone skin. Ultimately, they differ through their distinct product lineups and foundational philosophies, with the former leaning into soothing hydration and the latter focusing on barrier support through specialized lotions.

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

doctoraltheaglobal.comdoctoralthea.co.kr

Hada Labo is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 2004 and owned by Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd..

en.wikipedia.orghadalabosa.co.zahadalabotokyo.pl

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

Popular Dr. Althea vs Hada Labo products

People Say

Dr. AltheaHada Labo
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
    • “Plumps fine lines — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
    • “leaves skin soft, smooth, and hydrated — Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Lotion”
    • “hydrating but light — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
  • Gentle Formula 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”
    • “never stings my sensitive skin — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
  • 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”
    • “calms my redness — Hada Labo Premium Whitening Lotion (Light)”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs beautifully — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
    • “absorbs super quickly — Hada Labo Premium Whitening Lotion (Light)”
    • “absorbs super quickly — Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Lotion”
  • Skin Texture and Brightening Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “faded considerably — Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Lotion”
    • “Makes my skin plump and hydrating. — Hada Labo Gokujyun Perfect Gel”
    • “faded my PIH considerably — Hada Labo Premium Whitening Lotion (Light)”
    • “faded dark spots — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
  • Pleasant Texture Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “rich but non-greasy — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Melts instantly — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “foams up well — Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser”
    • “Thick serum-like — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
  • Sticky or Tacky Finish Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “leaves a tacky film — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
    • “Tacky residue — Hada Labo Gokujun Premium”
  • Causes Breakouts and Clogging Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “broke me out — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “gave me cystic acne — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “broke me out badly — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
    • “gave me tiny bumps — Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion”
  • Insufficient Moisture Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “not enough for dry skin — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “not enough for dry patches — Hada Labo Premium Whitening Lotion (Light)”

Dr. Althea vs Hada Labo routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Dr. Althea vs Hada Labo routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Dr. Althea vs Hada Labo routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Dr. Althea or Hada Labo: which is better?

Hada Labo is better for hydration and brightening with key hyaluronic acid ingredients, while Dr. Althea is better for soothing and gentle cleansing formulas. Reviewers note that Hada Labo provides deep hydration, whereas Dr. Althea offers superior soothing moisturizers and cleansers.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between Dr. Althea and Hada Labo?

Dr. Althea provides gentler and more soothing formulations, whereas Hada Labo excels in deep hydration and brightening with key hyaluronic acid ingredients. For overall routine fit, Dr. Althea reaches a Superior level for dry and mature skin, while Hada Labo achieves a Superior level across dry, oily, combination, acne-prone, mature, and dark spot skin types.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Dr. Althea or Hada Labo for dry skin?

Both Dr. Althea and Hada Labo achieve a Superior routine fit for dry skin. Hada Labo features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid to provide deep hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Dr. Althea or Hada Labo: which moisturizer is better?

Hada Labo achieves a Superior Lovi routine fit for dry skin with its Gokujyun Perfect Gel, whereas Dr. Althea offers the 345 Relief Cream, which provides a High Lovi fit for dry skin. Reviewers highlight Hada Labo for deep hydration and moisturization, while Dr. Althea is praised for soothing moisturizers.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Dr. Althea or Hada Labo?

The provided page facts do not mention the prices of products from either Dr. Althea or Hada Labo.

Between Dr. Althea and Hada Labo, which brand offers better soothing and calming benefits?

Dr. Althea does better for soothing and calming. Reviewers mostly mention its products as soothing cleansers and moisturizers.

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

Dr. Althea was founded in 2014 in South Korea and is owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd., while Hada Labo was founded a decade earlier in 2004 in Japan and is owned by Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Which brand performs better for skin texture and brightening according to reviews?

Hada Labo performs better for skin texture and brightening according to reviews, standing out for its brightening and dark spot reduction.

Dr. Althea or Hada Labo for oily skin?

For oily skin, Hada Labo achieves a Superior routine fit, whereas Dr. Althea reaches a High routine fit on Lovi. Hada Labo is noted by reviewers for lightweight and fast-absorbing toners, while Dr. Althea features gentle cleansers and soothing moisturizers.

Dr. Althea or Hada Labo for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Hada Labo achieves a Superior routine fit, whereas Dr. Althea achieves a High fit level according to Lovi. Hada Labo stands out for deep hydration and brightening, while reviewers note that Dr. Althea provides gentle, soothing cleansers.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play