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Dr. Althea vs Medik8

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

Dr. Althea and Medik8 are skincare brands offering soothing moisturizers, gentle cleansers, effective makeup removers, nourishing serums, eye products, and toners. Founded in 2014 and 2009 respectively, the Korean brand features thoughtful formulas driven by key ingredients, while the British brand builds its products around hyaluronic acid. Both brands suit dry skin best, though the former also suits acne-prone skin and the latter dry sensitive skin. They differ in their standout solutions, with the former providing the Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser, 345 Relief Cream, and Vitamin C Boosting Serum, and the latter featuring Surface Radiance Cleanse, Oxy-R Peptides, and Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream.

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

doctoraltheaglobal.comdoctoralthea.co.kr

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular Dr. Althea and Medik8 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Dr. Althea vs Medik8 products

People Say

Dr. AltheaMedik8
  • Gentle Formula Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't dry out my face — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “skin doesn't feel stripped — Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser”
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Texture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs beautifully — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “rich but non-greasy — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Melts instantly — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “hydrating but light — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “consistently hydrated mornings — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
  • Brightening and Tone Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “pigmentation lightened slightly — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “faded dark spots — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
  • Soothing and Calming Mostly MentionedRarely 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”
    • “calming effects — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
  • Skin Texture Improvement Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “Reduces fine lines — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “faded acne scars — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
  • Price and Cost Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “a bit pricey — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Scent and Irritation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “stinging sensation — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
    • “caused slight redness — Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3”
    • “metallic scent — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
    • “smells like plants — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
  • Packaging Issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Hard to see remaining amount — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “hard to squeeze — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Glass bottle breaks easily — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “hard to get last bit — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”

Dr. Althea vs Medik8 routines for dry skin

Buy Medik8 routine · £187.36 · 97% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · £104.68 · 91% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Dr. Althea vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

Buy Dr. Althea routine · £189.45 · 89% fitBuy Medik8 routine · £285.55 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Dr. Althea vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

Buy Medik8 routine · £261.28 · 92% fitBuy Dr. Althea routine · £153.55 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Dr. Althea or Medik8: which is better?

Both brands are great choices, but they excel in different areas based on your skin goals. Dr. Althea tends to offer better value and shines with soothing and lightweight formulas, whereas Medik8 stands out for improving skin texture and brightening. For example, Lovi rates Medik8 as Superior for sensitive skin, while Dr. Althea is rated Superior for acne-prone skin.

What is the difference between Dr. Althea and Medik8?

Dr. Althea and Medik8 both offer strong routines for dry and oily skin, while Medik8 has a Superior Lovi fit level for sensitive, combination, mature, and dry sensitive skin, and Dr. Althea has a Superior Lovi fit level for acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots. Reviewers note that Medik8 excels in skin texture and brightening, whereas Dr. Althea is favored for its soothing and lightweight texture.

Dr. Althea or Medik8 for dry skin?

Both brands achieve a Superior routine fit for dry skin on the products on this page. Dr. Althea features gentle cleansers and soothing moisturizers, while Medik8 provides deep hydration and plumping benefits.

Dr. Althea or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

When comparing cleansers on this page, both Dr. Althea and Medik8 offer top-tier options depending on your primary concern. Dr. Althea features the Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser, which Lovi rates as a Superior fit for oily skin, combination skin, acne-prone skin, and dry skin. On the other hand, Medik8 features the Surface Radiance Cleanse, which Lovi rates as a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, oily acne-prone skin, and skin with dark spots.

Which is more affordable, Dr. Althea or Medik8?

Dr. Althea does better on price and cost compared to Medik8, whose high price point is often noted by reviewers. The products on this page offer a more affordable skincare routine.

Between Dr. Althea and Medik8, which brand is better for improving skin texture?

Medik8 does better for improving skin texture.

How do the origins and ownership of Dr. Althea and Medik8 compare?

Dr. Althea was founded in 2014 in South Korea and is owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd.. In comparison, Medik8 was founded in 2009 in the United Kingdom and has been owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products on this page, Dr. Althea or Medik8?

Dr. Althea has more fragrance-free products on this page, as every product listed for the brand lists no fragrance in its ingredients, while Medik8 includes fragrance in one of its twelve products.

Dr. Althea or Medik8 for oily skin?

For oily skin, Dr. Althea achieves a High routine fit on this page, while Medik8 also reaches a High routine fit. Reviewers note that Dr. Althea offers a lightweight and fast-absorbing texture, whereas Medik8 helps improve skin texture.

Dr. Althea or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, Dr. Althea and Medik8 both offer strong options depending on your primary skin goals and budget. Dr. Althea features options like the 345 Relief Cream that helps soothe and hydrate, while Medik8 provides choices like Hydr8 B5 Intense for deep hydration and plumping. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry skin as Superior for both brands, but Dr. Althea generally tends to be better for pricing while Medik8 addresses brightening and tone more effectively.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Dr. Althea or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Medik8 is a better choice for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to Dr. Althea's High level.

Dr. Althea or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Dr. Althea achieves a Superior routine fit on Lovi, while Medik8 reaches a High level. Dr. Althea also features cleansers and moisturizers that reviewers mention as gentle and soothing.

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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