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The Ordinary vs Dr. Althea

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

The Ordinary and Dr. Althea are distinct skincare brands founded respectively in Canada in 2016 and in Korea in 2014. The Canadian brand centers on targeted serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the Korean brand is widely beloved for soothing moisturizers, gentle cleansers, effective makeup removers, and nourishing serums. Both options suit dry skin best, though the former also fits dry sensitive skin and the latter fits acne-prone skin. They differ in their core formulations, with the former emphasizing single-ingredient potency for specific aging and blemish concerns and the latter providing balanced hydration and calm comfort through gentle, multifaceted care.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

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

doctoraltheaglobal.comdoctoralthea.co.kr

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

Popular The Ordinary vs Dr. Althea products

People Say

The OrdinaryDr. Althea
  • Gentle and non-irritating formula Sometimes NotedMostly 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”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Texture smoothing and glow improvement Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “skin looks smoother and brighter — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “Melts instantly — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
  • Great value and price Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
  • Redness reduction and soothing Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “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 down the redness immediately — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “hydrating but light — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “consistently hydrated mornings — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “feels hydrated — Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Lightweight absorption and texture Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs beautifully — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “absorbs quickly — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Breakouts and purging Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “broke me out — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “gave me cystic acne — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
  • Makeup pilling and compatibility issues Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “pills under makeup — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
  • Sticky or tacky finish Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “leaves a tacky film — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”

The Ordinary vs Dr. Althea routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Dr. Althea routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs Dr. Althea routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Dr. Althea: which is better?

Both brands are great, but The Ordinary is especially well-suited for targeting dark spots and oily skin, while Dr. Althea tends to excel for acne-prone skin. Reviewers often praise The Ordinary for texture-smoothing serums and great value, and Dr. Althea for soothing, gentle moisturizers.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Dr. Althea?

The Ordinary is a Canadian brand known for value and targeting concerns like dark spots and texture, while Dr. Althea is a South Korean brand focusing on gentle, soothing hydration. Both brands offer fragrance-free products on this page.

The Ordinary or Dr. Althea for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Dr. Althea are a Superior fit for dry skin. Reviewers find that The Ordinary provides great value, while Dr. Althea offers hydrating moisturizers.

The Ordinary or Dr. Althea: which cleanser is better?

Both brands offer strong options, but Dr. Althea's Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser is rated Superior for acne-prone skin, dry skin, combination skin, and oily skin, while The Ordinary features popular cleansers like the Glucoside Foaming Cleanser with High fit levels across similar skin types.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Dr. Althea?

The Ordinary is more affordable, offering popular reviews for great value and price across the products on this page.

Which brand is better for fading dark spots, The Ordinary or Dr. Althea?

The Ordinary is generally better for fading dark spots, as Lovi rates its dark spot routine as Superior compared to High for Dr. Althea. Niacinamide, a key ingredient featured in The Ordinary products on this page, helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Do products from The Ordinary and Dr. Althea contain any fragrance?

Every product on this page from both The Ordinary and Dr. Althea lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Which brand performs better when it comes to soothing and reducing redness?

Dr. Althea performs better than The Ordinary for soothing and reducing redness. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea provides superior soothing effects and gentle care for the skin.

The Ordinary or Dr. Althea for oily skin?

The Ordinary is rated Superior for oily skin, while Dr. Althea is rated High, and reviewers note that The Ordinary offers great value and effective serums for this skin type.

The Ordinary or Dr. Althea: which moisturizer is better?

Both brands offer popular moisturizers, with The Ordinary fitting dry skin at a Superior level and Dr. Althea fitting acne-prone skin at a Superior level. The Ordinary features options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, while Dr. Althea provides the 345 Relief Cream. Hyaluronic acid helps provide hydration and anti-aging effects.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Dr. Althea for acne-prone skin?

Both brands are great for acne-prone skin, with Dr. Althea achieving a superior routine fit and The Ordinary achieving a high fit level. The Ordinary offers specialized acne-clearing serums on this page, while Dr. Althea provides soothing moisturizers and gentle 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?

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