++++

[ DemythSkin Verdict ]

Dr. Althea

Dr. Althea Pure Retinol 0.15% Cream

Name: Dr. Althea Pure Retinol 0.15% Cream
Brand: Dr. Althea

MoisturizerAnti-Aging

Efficacy

Strong

4.3 / 5.0

Safety

Safe

4.4 / 5.0

System Verdict

This is a thoughtfully built mid-strength retinol cream with a surprisingly sophisticated support system, but the headline actives are likely at conservative levels that make it more of a gentle long-game product than a rapid-results treatment. The 0.15% retinol, placed around mid-INCI and buffered by emollients, humectants, and barrier lipids, should deliver meaningful anti-aging over months while staying tolerable for many users, but the positioning suggests a moderate, not aggressive, dose. Bakuchiol and a peptide are added as complementary treatment actives, yet they sit low in the list, so they function more as incremental support than primary drivers. Kojic acid appears very late in the INCI, so any brightening effect from it will be subtle and slow, not the kind of concentration used in clinically strong pigment-correcting formulas. The base is robust: glycerin, panthenol, betaine, cholesterol, and ceramide NP create a barrier-supporting moisturizer framework that makes retinol use more sustainable, but there are no gold-standard high-level brightening or firming actives beyond the retinoid itself. Multiple antioxidants and stabilizers around retinol (vitamin E, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl p-Cresol, Hydrogenated Lecithin) suggest decent retinol stability in an opaque cream format, which boosts efficacy compared to many poorly protected retinol creams. Overall, the formula earns a strong efficacy score for a moisturizer-type retinol product: it prioritizes tolerability, barrier support, and gradual remodeling rather than maximum-intensity anti-aging, making it a smart choice for beginners or sensitive users but slower for deep wrinkle correction.

Active Ingredients Detected

S Tier: Gold StandardsHigh Clinical Proof | Skin-Transformative

RetinolKojic Acid

A Tier: Good BasicsProven Results

GlycerinPanthenolBetaineCholesterolTocopherolAllantoinCeramide NPMadecassoside

B Tier: Supporting IngredientsPromising Ingredients

Hydrogenated PolydecenePolyacrylamideHydroxyacetophenoneC13-14 IsoalkanePentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamateBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl p-CresolBakuchiolGlyceryl PolymethacrylateHDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone CrosspolymerPolyvinyl AlcoholAcetyl Hexapeptide-8

C Tier: Marketing IdolsHype | Limited or Weak Data

Sodium DNA

D Tier: Potential IrritantsBe Cautious

Phenylpropanol

What Each Ingredient Does

Water: solvent
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water: soothing botanical base
Glycerin: primary humectant
Butylene Glycol: humectant and solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride: emollient and texture enhancer
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate: emollient and slip agent
Hydrogenated Polydecene: emollient and skin protectant
1,2-Hexanediol: solvent and preservative booster
Panthenol: humectant and soothing agent
Betaine: osmolyte and humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer: gelling and stabilizing polymer
Polyacrylamide: thickener and film former
Hydroxyacetophenone: antioxidant and preservative booster
C13-14 Isoalkane: emollient and texture enhancer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer: thickener and stabilizer
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate: antioxidant for formula stability
Hydrogenated Lecithin: emulsifier and delivery aid
Retinol: anti-aging retinoid active
Ethylhexylglycerin: preservative and humectant
Tromethamine: pH adjuster
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl p-Cresol: UV absorber for formula protection
Bakuchiol: retinoid-mimetic treatment active
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate: film former and humectant
HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer: film-forming polymer and texture aid

Full Ingredient List (INCI)

Water, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Betaine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Polyacrylamide, Hydroxyacetophenone, C13-14 Isoalkane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Retinol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl p-Cresol, Bakuchiol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Laureth-7, Xanthan Gum, Cholesterol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Sodium Phytate, Methylpropanediol, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide NP, Phenylpropanol, Madecassoside, Kojic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium DNA.

Frequently Asked

Is Dr. Althea Pure Retinol 0.15% Cream worth it?

Dr. Althea Pure Retinol 0.15% Cream scores 4.3 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Strong) and 4.4 out of 5.0 for safety (Safe) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. This is a thoughtfully built mid-strength retinol cream with a surprisingly sophisticated support system, but the headline actives are likely at conservative levels that make it more of a gentle long-game product than a

What are the key active ingredients in Dr. Althea Pure Retinol 0.15% Cream?

Dr. Althea Pure Retinol 0.15% Cream contains these gold-standard actives with strong clinical evidence: Retinol, Kojic Acid.

Does Dr. Althea Pure Retinol 0.15% Cream contain fragrance or known irritants?

DemythSkin flags these ingredients in Dr. Althea Pure Retinol 0.15% Cream as potential irritants: Phenylpropanol.

How is Dr. Althea Pure Retinol 0.15% Cream scored?

DemythSkin grades every product on two independent axes: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are classified S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. No brand pays for a score.

Analyze on DemythSkin →

Analysis last updated: 2026-09-03. DemythSkin is an independent ingredient analyzer. Scores are computed by a deterministic rubric from published clinical evidence — no brand pays for a score.