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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 respected skincare brands offering thoughtfully crafted moisturizers, cleansers, and targeted serums for various complexions. The Korean brand, founded in 2014, features gentle formulas that suit dry skin and mature skin best, while the American brand, founded in 1851, utilizes glycerin and squalane to support mature skin and combination skin. Although both provide specialized solutions for concerns like acne and dark spots, they differ in their heritage, ownership, and foundational ingredient profiles.

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 · 98% 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 · 95% fit

Questions and answers

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

Both brands perform well, but Dr. Althea fits dry and mature skin with a Superior routine level, while Kiehl's fits mature skin and combination skin with a High routine level. Reviewers mention that Dr. Althea provides soothing and gentle formulas, whereas Kiehl's is noted for hydration and moisture.

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

Dr. Althea and Kiehl's differ primarily in their strengths, as Dr. Althea is noted for soothing and gentle formulas, while Kiehl's excels in skin barrier, tone improvement, and deep hydration.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for dry skin?

For dry skin, Dr. Althea fits better because Lovi rates its dry skin routine as Superior, while Kiehl's routine is rated as High.

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

For cleansers, Dr. Althea provides gentler and more soothing formulas, whereas Kiehl's excels in deep pore cleansing and refreshing care for oily skin types.

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

Dr. Althea is more affordable, as reviewers often mention Kiehl's for its high price point. Lovi notes that price is a disadvantage for Kiehl's compared to Dr. Althea.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's: which brand has fragrance in its products?

Kiehl's has fragrance in its products, as 2 of the 28 products on this page list fragrance in their ingredients, while every product on the Dr. Althea page lists no fragrance.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for oily skin?

For oily skin, both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are good choices because Lovi rates the routine fit for oily skin as High for both brands.

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

Both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's offer effective moisturizers, but Dr. Althea's 345 Relief Cream achieves a Superior fit for acne-prone skin while every product on this page for Dr. Althea lists no fragrance. Kiehl's provides deeply hydrating options like the Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate which achieves a Superior fit for dry skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

Both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin. Reviewers state that Dr. Althea excels in providing soothing and gentle formulas, while every product on this page for the brand lists no fragrance.

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

For acne-prone skin, Dr. Althea fits better than Kiehl's. Lovi rates Dr. Althea as High for acne-prone skin, whereas Kiehl's is rated Average.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for mature skin?

For mature skin, Dr. Althea fits better because Lovi rates its routine as Superior, while Kiehl's is High. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea provides soothing and gentle formulas, whereas Kiehl's often brings complaints about skin irritation.

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 on this page. Kiehl's is noted by reviewers for brightening and fading dark spots, while every product on the Dr. Althea page lists no fragrance.

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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