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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 esteemed skincare brands offering nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, and gentle cleansers designed to support a balanced and healthy complexion. Both lines suit dry skin and mature skin best because their thoughtful formulations address moisture loss and barrier resilience. Dr. Althea relies on gentle, nourishing formulas, whereas Kiehl's utilizes key ingredients like glycerin and squalane to significantly increase hydration and counteract oxidative stress. Through these distinct approaches, each brand provides tailored solutions for specific concerns such as acne-prone skin and dark spots.

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

Buy Kiehl's routine · S$209.58 · 92% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · S$125.10 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Dr. Althea vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

Buy Kiehl's routine · S$287.99 · 90% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · S$322.85 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Dr. Althea vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

Buy Kiehl's routine · S$287.99 · 90% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · S$219.15 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

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

Both brands perform well, but Kiehl's does better for hydration, moisture, skin barrier, and tone improvement, while Dr. Althea offers superior soothing and gentle formulas. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea helps keep prices lower, whereas Kiehl's has a higher price point and is sometimes linked to breakouts and skin irritation.

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

Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are two distinct skincare brands with different origins and product focuses. Dr. Althea, founded in South Korea in 2014, features fragrance-free products on this page and is recognized for its gentle cleansers and soothing moisturizers. Kiehl's, founded in the United States in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A., offers a wider range of products and scores higher for routine fit on oily skin and oily acne-prone skin.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for dry skin?

Both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are great options for dry skin, offering a Superior routine fit for this skin type. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea provides soothing and hydrating moisturizers, while Kiehl's offers deep hydration.

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

Both brands offer strong cleansers, but Dr. Althea tends to perform better for soothing and gentle formulas according to reviewer feedback. Kiehl's offers a wider variety of specialized cleansers, including options with a Superior routine fit for oily and oily acne-prone skin.

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

Dr. Althea is generally more affordable, whereas Kiehl's is frequently noted by reviewers for its high price point.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's: which brand is better for soothing and gentle formulas?

Dr. Althea does better for soothing and gentle formulas. Reviewers mostly mention gentle cleansers and soothing moisturizers, and every product on this page lists no fragrance.

How do the founding years and locations of Dr. Althea and Kiehl's compare?

Dr. Althea was founded in 2014 in South Korea, whereas Kiehl's has a much longer history, having been founded in 1851 in the United States.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for oily skin?

For oily skin, Kiehl's fits better with a Superior routine level compared to Dr. Althea's High fit level. Both brands offer targeted products for oil control, such as Kiehl's Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner and Dr. Althea's Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser.

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

Both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's offer effective moisturizers, with choices like Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream and Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream depending on your specific skin type and needs.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are good options with a High fit level from Lovi. Dr. Althea stands out for its soothing and gentle formulas, while Kiehl's provides a wider range of products that are fragrance-free except for a couple of items.

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

Both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's fit acne-prone skin well, earning a High Lovi fit level for this skin type. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea offers soothing and gentle cleansers, while Kiehl's provides targeted treatments like their Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution and Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque.

Dr. Althea or Kiehl's for mature skin?

Both Dr. Althea and Kiehl's are a Superior fit for mature skin. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea offers soothing and gentle formulas, while Kiehl's excels in hydration and moisture as well as skin barrier and tone improvement.

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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