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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 skin care lines that offer targeted solutions for diverse complexions. The Canadian brand specializes in serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners featuring hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the Korean brand is widely loved for its thoughtfully crafted moisturizers, cleansers, makeup removers, and serums with gentle, nourishing formulas. Both lines suit dry skin best, though the former also fits oily acne-prone skin, and the latter suits mature skin. They differ primarily in their formulation philosophies and origins, with the former emphasizing specific active ingredients like niacinamide, mandelic acid, and lactic acid, and the latter focusing on soothing hydration and care through standout options such as the Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser, the 345 Relief Cream, and the Vitamin C Boosting Serum.

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

Buy The Ordinary routine · S$164.78 · 92% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · S$125.10 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The Ordinary vs Dr. Althea routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · S$393.06 · 89% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · S$322.85 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs Dr. Althea routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · S$289.36 · 88% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · S$219.15 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Dr. Althea: which is better?

Both The Ordinary and Dr. Althea are great, but The Ordinary offers better value and texture-smoothing serums, while Dr. Althea stands out for its soothing moisturizers and gentle cleansers. Lovi rates both brands as having a Superior routine fit for dry and mature skin.

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

The Ordinary offers a wider range of value-priced serums focused on texture smoothing and dark spots, while Dr. Althea specializes in gentle, soothing, and hydrating moisturizers and cleansers. Both brands achieve equal routine fit levels for dry, mature, and acne-prone skin types on this page.

The Ordinary or Dr. Althea for dry skin?

Both The Ordinary and Dr. Althea are great options for dry skin, offering routines that Lovi rates as Superior. Reviewers frequently mention The Ordinary for great value and price, while Dr. Althea is often noted for soothing and hydrating moisturizers.

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

When it comes to cleansers on this page, Dr. Althea tends to be gentler and more soothing, while The Ordinary offers a wider variety of affordable options like the Squalane Cleanser and Glucoside Foaming Cleanser that fit sensitive and oily skin well.

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

The Ordinary is more affordable on this page, as reviewers often mention its great value and price.

Between The Ordinary and Dr. Althea, which brand has a better routine for oily acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary has a better routine for oily acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its overall routine fit as Superior compared to High for Dr. Althea. Reviewers often mention that products on this page help with acne clearing and providing great value.

Which brand performs better for texture smoothing and glow improvement?

The Ordinary performs better for texture smoothing and glow improvement, offering a wide range of targeted serums that reviewers frequently praise for these benefits.

Do any of the products from The Ordinary or Dr. Althea contain fragrance?

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

The Ordinary or Dr. Althea for oily skin?

Both The Ordinary and Dr. Althea fit oily skin well, as Lovi rates their routines as High for this skin type. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea offers gentler cleansers, while the products on this page by The Ordinary provide better value and texture smoothing.

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

Both The Ordinary and Dr. Althea offer highly rated moisturizers on this page, with Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA and 345 Relief Cream both fitting dry skin at a Superior level. Reviewers often praise Dr. Althea for soothing moisturizers and hydration, while noting that The Ordinary provides great value.

The Ordinary or Dr. Althea for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and Dr. Althea are a High fit for sensitive skin. Reviewers often mention that Dr. Althea provides a gentle and non-irritating formula, while The Ordinary offers great value and price for serums.

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

Both The Ordinary and Dr. Althea are a High fit for acne-prone skin, with routines on this page that help clear and soothe breakouts. Reviewers mention that The Ordinary offers great acne-clearing serums, while Dr. Althea is praised for its 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

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