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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 distinct skincare brands that offer thoughtful moisturizers, gentle cleansers, effective makeup removers, nourishing serums, toners, and eye products anchored by soothing formulas, glycerin, and squalane. Dr. Althea suits dry skin and acne-prone skin best, while Kiehl's suits skin with dark spots and mature skin best. Both brands differ because the first uses ingredients to provide balanced hydration and calm comfort, whereas the second relies on glycerin to increase hydration and restore epidermal barrier function, and squalane to counteract oxidative stress and stimulate fibroblast migration.

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 · 95% fit

Dr. Althea vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

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

Dr. Althea tends to be better for sensitive and acne-prone skin with its gentle, soothing formulas and fragrance-free products on this page, while Kiehl's is often preferred for deep hydration and targeting skin texture. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea is generally more budget-friendly, whereas Kiehl's comes with a high price point and occasional breakout concerns.

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

Dr. Althea and Kiehl's both offer solid skincare options, but they differ in pricing and specific routine fits, with Dr. Althea providing a Superior fit for acne-prone skin and Kiehl's often carrying a higher price point. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea excels with soothing and gentle formulas, while Kiehl's stands out for deep hydration and skin barrier improvement.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for dry skin?

For dry skin, Dr. Althea achieves a Superior routine fit, while Kiehl's achieves a High routine fit on this page.

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

When it comes to cleansers, Dr. Althea provides superior soothing formulas, while Kiehl's is often noted for deep hydration and targeting skin texture.

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

Dr. Althea is more affordable, as Kiehl's has a high price point.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for soothing and gentle formulas?

Dr. Althea does better than Kiehl's for soothing and gentle formulas, as reviewers mostly mention gentle cleansers and soothing moisturizers for the brand.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for oily skin?

Both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are good options, as Lovi rates both brands as having a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers often mention that Dr. Althea offers soothing and gentle cleansers while Kiehl's features lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers.

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 Kiehl's features options like the Ultra Facial Cream. Emollients and barrier-repair ingredients help maintain skin hydration across both brands.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

Both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are a High fit for sensitive skin. The products on this page for Dr. Althea list no fragrance across their entire range.

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

For acne-prone skin, Dr. Althea offers a Superior routine fit, while Kiehl's routine fit is Average. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea provides soothing and gentle cleansers and moisturizers, whereas Kiehl's is often mentioned for causing breakouts and skin irritation.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for mature skin?

Both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are a High fit for mature skin. Reviewers often mention Kiehl's for deep hydration, while Dr. Althea is noted for gentle cleansers and soothing moisturizers.

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

For skin with dark spots, both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are a High fit. Reviewers note that Kiehl's is particularly strong 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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