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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 are two distinct beauty houses offering reliable moisturizers, cleansers, makeup removers, and serums crafted from carefully balanced formulas. The first is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2014 that suits acne-prone skin and dry skin best through gentle ingredients like amino acids and vitamins, while the second is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 that suits balanced skin best with targeted lotions, cleansing oils, and serumizers. Both labels provide steady, soothing experiences for daily routines, differing mainly in their founding origins and the specific skin types they prioritize.

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 is better for soothing and calming, while MAC is better for hydration, moisture, and makeup bases. Reviewers often note strong fragrance and sensitivity issues with MAC, whereas the products on this page for Dr. Althea list no fragrance.

What is the difference between Dr. Althea and MAC?

Dr. Althea has a High fit for soothing and calming and lists no fragrance in the products on this page, whereas MAC has a High fit for hydration and moisturizing but includes fragrance across its lineup.

Dr. Althea or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

For moisturizers, Dr. Althea does better with soothing and calming, while MAC is better for hydration and moisture. The 345 Relief Cream on this page achieves a Superior Lovi fit for acne-prone skin, whereas MAC's Hyper Real Serumizer reaches a High fit for dry sensitive skin.

Which is more affordable, Dr. Althea or MAC?

Dr. Althea is more affordable, as MAC reviewers often note a high price point while Dr. Althea wins on price and value according to the review themes on this page.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Dr. Althea or MAC?

Dr. Althea and MAC perform equally for causing breakouts, as reviewers note the same breakout concerns for both brands. However, Dr. Althea products on this page list no fragrance, which may help minimize irritation compared to MAC's fragranced options.

Which brand has products with no fragrance, Dr. Althea or MAC?

Dr. Althea has products on this page that list no fragrance in their ingredients, whereas all MAC products on this page include fragrance.

Which brand was founded earlier, Dr. Althea or MAC?

MAC was founded earlier in 1984 in Canada, whereas Dr. Althea was founded later in 2014 in South Korea.

Which brand is better for soothing and calming skincare?

Dr. Althea is better for soothing and calming skincare, as it outperforms MAC in soothing and calming benefits according to reviewer themes and every product on this page lists no fragrance. Reviewers mostly mention its soothing and calming cleansers and moisturizers.

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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