Dr. Althea vs ISDIN
Dr. Althea and ISDIN are esteemed skincare brands rooted in distinct traditions that offer thoughtfully crafted moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and sunscreens featuring gentle, nourishing formulas. The Korean brand excels in soothing hydration with standout solutions like the 345 Relief Cream for dark spots and the Vitamin C Boosting Serum for mature skin, whereas the Spanish house delivers dependable protection with remedies such as Eryfotona Actinica and K-Ox Eyes. While Dr. Althea suits dry and mature skin best, ISDIN caters primarily to dry and sensitive skin, allowing both to support a healthy and balanced complexion through their targeted offerings.
Dr. Althea is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd..
doctoraltheaglobal.comdoctoralthea.co.kr
ISDIN is a Spanish skincare brand founded in 1975 and owned by Puig.
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This page compares some of the most popular Dr. Althea and ISDIN products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Dr. Althea vs ISDIN products
People Say
Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
- “ultra-light fluid product, which makes it super easy to apply — ISDIN Fusion Water”
- “Lightweight formula absorbs fast — ISDIN Hyaluronic Concentrate”
- “absorbs beautifully — 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”
- “Sensitive/reactive skin tolerates — ISDIN Hyaluronic Moisture”
Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “Improved moisture and texture — ISDIN Hyaluronic Moisture”
- “My skin felt sooo hydrated and looks so plump and dewey. — ISDIN Fusion Water”
- “skin looks smooth and healthy — ISDIN K-Ox Eyes”
- “hydrating but light — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
Skin Texture and Tone Improvement Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “My hyperpigmentation has lightened and skin looks more even, even shines more. — ISDIN Flavo-C Serum”
- “skin was much smoother — ISDIN Retinal Intense Serum”
- “fades dark spots — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
- “faded dark spots — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
Soothing and Calming Mostly MentionedNot 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”
Scents and Fragrance Concerns Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “smells like plants — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
- “clinical scent — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
- “prominent acidic hint — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
- “smell is overpowering — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
Expensive Price Point Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “a bit pricey — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
- “very expensive — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
Dr. Althea vs ISDIN routines for dry skin
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Cleanser
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$25.06
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Hydrating Toner
COSRX Propolis Synergy Toner
Morning
S$41.07
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Moisturizer
d'Alba First Spray Serum
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$25.94
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SPF
Eryfotona Actinica
Morning
S$110.01
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Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
S$39.68
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Serum or Treatment
Flavo-C Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$161.49
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Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Collagen Essential Mask
Once a week
S$62.94
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Cleanser
Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$22.31
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Hydrating Toner
COSRX Propolis Synergy Toner
Morning
S$41.07
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Moisturizer
345 Relief Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$29.47
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SPF
thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+
Morning
S$21.09
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Pre-Cleanser
Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
S$25.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Vitamin C Boosting Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$29.86
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Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Collagen Essential Mask
Once a week
S$62.94
Buy ISDIN routine · S$466.19 · 93% fit
Buy Dr. Althea routine · S$125.10 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit
Dr. Althea vs ISDIN routines for oily skin
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Cleanser
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$30.40
-
Hydrating Toner
TROIAREUKE H+Cocktail Purifying Ampoule Toner
Morning · Once a week
S$168.51
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Moisturizer
SKIN1004 Centella Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$33.87
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SPF
Eryfotona Actinica
Morning
S$110.01
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Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$70.21
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening · Once a week
S$36.48
-
Serum or Treatment
Flavo-C Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$161.49
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
-
Cleanser
Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$22.31
-
Hydrating Toner
TROIAREUKE H+Cocktail Purifying Ampoule Toner
Morning · Once a week
S$168.51
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Moisturizer
345 Relief Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$29.47
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
S$28.72
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Pre-Cleanser
Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
S$25.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening · Once a week
S$36.48
-
Serum or Treatment
Vitamin C Boosting Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$29.86
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
Buy ISDIN routine · S$700.11 · 91% fit
Buy Dr. Althea routine · S$322.85 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
Dr. Althea vs ISDIN routines for combination skin
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Cleanser
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$30.00
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Hydrating Toner
Whamisa Organic Flowers Toner Deep Rich
Morning · Once a week
S$64.81
-
SPF
Eryfotona Actinica
Morning
S$110.01
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$70.21
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening · Once a week
S$36.48
-
Serum or Treatment
Flavo-C Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$161.49
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
-
Cleanser
Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$22.31
-
Hydrating Toner
Whamisa Organic Flowers Toner Deep Rich
Morning · Once a week
S$64.81
-
Moisturizer
345 Relief Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$29.47
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
S$28.72
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
S$25.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening · Once a week
S$36.48
-
Serum or Treatment
Vitamin C Boosting Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$29.86
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
Buy ISDIN routine · S$562.14 · 92% fit
Buy Dr. Althea routine · S$219.15 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
Questions and answers
Dr. Althea or ISDIN: which is better?
Both brands offer strong options depending on your skin goals, with ISDIN achieving Superior routine fit for oily, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, and dry sensitive skin types. Dr. Althea features fragrance-free formulas across all the products on this page and tends to be favored by reviewers for offering a gentle formula, while ISDIN is more often noted for its ultralight sunscreens and high price point.
What is the difference between Dr. Althea and ISDIN?
Dr. Althea and ISDIN differ mainly in their formulation focus and fragrance profiles, where the products on this page for Dr. Althea feature no fragrance in their ingredients and are noted for soothing and gentle formulas, whereas ISDIN is often reviewed for its ultralight sunscreens and features fragrance in some of its products. Additionally, Lovi rates ISDIN as Superior for oily, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, dark spots, and dry sensitive skin types, while Dr. Althea receives High or Average ratings for those same categories.
Dr. Althea or ISDIN for dry skin?
Both brands are a Superior fit for dry skin, though they differ in formulations and review feedback. Dr. Althea features fragrance-free products on this page and is often noted for gentle and soothing cleansers and moisturizers. ISDIN stands out for ultralight, makeup-friendly sunscreens and lightweight moisturizers, though some of its products may contain fragrance.
Dr. Althea or ISDIN: which moisturizer is better?
When comparing moisturizers, Dr. Althea features options like the 345 Relief Cream which lists no fragrance and offers Superior fit for acne-prone skin, whereas ISDIN offers lightweight options such as Hyaluronic Moisture with a High fit for sensitive skin. Reviewers often note that Dr. Althea provides soothing moisturizers, while ISDIN is known for lightweight moisturizers despite a higher price point.
Which is more affordable, Dr. Althea or ISDIN?
ISDIN is often noted by reviewers for having a high price point, whereas Dr. Althea is noted for an expensive price point as a negative theme for them.
How do the origins and parent companies of Dr. Althea and ISDIN compare?
Dr. Althea was founded in South Korea in 2014 and is owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd., whereas ISDIN was founded in Spain in 1975 and is owned by Puig.
Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Dr. Althea or ISDIN?
Dr. Althea has more fragrance-free products than ISDIN, as every product on the Dr. Althea page lists no fragrance in its ingredients compared to only 3 of 8 products on the ISDIN page.
How do reviewer opinions differ regarding the texture and sunscreens of Dr. Althea versus ISDIN?
Reviewers note that ISDIN excels with ultralight, makeup-friendly, and skin-friendly sunscreens as well as lightweight and fast-absorbing textures, while Dr. Althea is recognized more for gentle and soothing formulas rather than specific texture highlights.
Dr. Althea or ISDIN for oily skin?
For oily skin, ISDIN is the better choice because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior, compared to High for Dr. Althea.
Dr. Althea or ISDIN for sensitive skin?
For sensitive skin, ISDIN is Superior according to Lovi routines, whereas Dr. Althea has a High routine fit level. Reviewers often note that ISDIN offers ultralight, skin-friendly sunscreens, while Dr. Althea provides gentle, fragrance-free cleansers.
Dr. Althea or ISDIN for acne-prone skin?
For acne-prone skin, both Dr. Althea and ISDIN offer great choices, with Lovi giving Dr. Althea a High fit and ISDIN a Superior fit. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea provides gentle and soothing formulas with no fragrance listed across the products on this page, while ISDIN excels in lightweight textures and skin texture improvements.
Research behind their key ingredients
Comparison of methods for assessing photoprotection against ultraviolet A in vivo
Development and efficacy assessments of tea seed oil makeup remover
Nanocomplex of quaternized cyclodextrin grafted chitosan and hyaluronic acid for a skin delivery
Effects of fermented tea seed oil on the skin lipid barrier and microbiome of sensitive skin
The clinical efficacy of a new emulsion for acne and conspicuous facial pore amelioration
Retrospective Review of Dermal Safety Studies of Organic Sunscreens
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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