Dr Althea ABC Glow Whipped Serum Review - How Fast Can You Glow?

Dr Althea has had a hand in K-beauty's most radiant products for a while. They specialize in natural ingredients at their best, whether it's high-concentrated sea-buckthorn (rich in marine antioxidants) or Kakadu plum (deeply rich in vitamin C for unparalleled radiance). Although they specialize in sensitive skincare, they’ve never been afraid to expand into products for fine lines, firming skin and enhancing natural glow. 

This latest serum hits the latest trends in Korean beauty with the power of bubbles. Bubbles make for a fun sensory experience in your routine, but they do have function beyond that. Bubbles help enhance absorption in the skin, due to their naturally ‘sticky’ nature, creating a deeper and restorative user experience. It improves the saturation of active ingredients, yet is gentle for sensitive skin. This serum has a simple formula, with 90% vegan collagen, which is a gentle formulation of hydrating molecules and peptides that mimic animal collagen for a gentle moisturizing effect. This is balanced with revitalizing plant extracts, all brought into a lightweight foam for your skin. 

So, who is this serum exactly for? How do you use it correctly in your routine and what is the effect of it on your skin? Check out our before-and-after below to see if this serum is worth adding to your rotation. 

Vegan Collagen Water (90%): this hydrating formulation contains molecules and peptides extracted from plant-based sources to help seal the skin barrier, soften skin texture and improve natural hydration. 

Japanese Goldthread extract: this restorative extract helps bring deep balance to skin, soothing redness and inflammation, whilst improving skin barrier health and glow. 

Sea buckthorn extract: this glowing berry-like extract is rich in a variety of vitamins and essential fatty acids to help reduce skin biome stress, reduce scarring and dark spots and infuse a gentle glow to skin. 

Allantoin: this molecule is a favourite for gentle hydration of skin, whilst improving cell turnover and skin healing. It helps smooth out skin texture and create a refreshed appearance (perfect for dry skin). 

Bakuchiol: a derivative of retinol, this gentle plant-based alternative helps stimulate collagen production, firm skin and vanish fine lines. 

This glow serum has a very minimal formula, mostly with a base of vegan collagen water and stabilizing molecules that help improve skin hydration and bubble stability.

This gentle formula is designed for skin hydration and sensitive moisturization of skin - making it best suited for those with dry or flaking skin.

It's less suited for oily skin and normal skin types, who are less in need of gentle (but constant) hydration. This glow serum is also not beneficial for acne-prone skin.

It's designed to form a lightweight base for underneath make-up, so is really well suited for those who need a good skincare base for building foundation and highlights.

After testing out the Dr Althea 345 Barrier Cream, I had high trust in their ingredient selection and was excited to see if this bubbly serum could add extra hydration to my routine. I added it to my PM (evening) routine, to see if there were visible benefits for the ‘vegan collagen.' 

It can be actually a difficult application if you are not used to the bubble format (or if you sensory wise are not a fan of the bubbles), so I wouldn't recommend it if foam cleansers or other bubble products are not your ideal. It also takes some time for the bubbles to absorb properly, so it's not as suited if you have a tight schedule.

But if you like to relax back with a skincare routine, with gentle face massage and take time out of the day; it's quite a gentle experience.

Although well-suited under make-up (for a boost to your glow), I wanted to see if there was a visible benefit to using the bubble serum on its own. Unfortunately with gentle formulations, it does mean you are less likely to see any instant results.

It improves skin hydration (especially using ‘flooding’ techniques), gives skin a soft radiance, but there was no immediate improvement to fine lines or face firmness after 2 weeks of use.

If you are after gentle hydration (and love bubbles), it's a great addition to your routine for a little whimsy, but you are not likely to see radical results with this kind of formula.

This soft, delicate bubble serum is very well suited to dry skin care (especially for underneath make-up). I wouldn't recommend it for fine lines or skin firming, however, as there are other (far more effective) formulas that can be used to enhance your skin routine (which is expected of a gentle formula).

Looking for some incredible skincare to brighten your day? Check out the Dr Althea legendary Vitamin C serum or their fabulous 345 Barrier Cream (for all-round sensitive and hydrating skincare). All available on Arktastic (including latest releases from Seoul).

Want to learn more about your favourite K-Beauty brands? Check out how Dr Althea got started in skincare. Or check out our review of their restoring 345 Barrier Cream.

What is the Dr Althea ABC Glow Whipped Serum? 
This is a lightweight Korean bubble serum, designed to infuse hydration and soothe skin with minimal irritants and a fun bubbly texture. It contains soothing botanical extracts and 90% vegan collagen water for a boost of deep moisture (without feeling heavy on the skin). 

Is the Dr Althea ABC Glow Whipped Serum good for dry skin? 
Yes, the whipped texture and gentle formula is perfect for dry, flaking skin to add a glow to your skin and help maintain moisture throughout the day. 

What are the main benefits of the Dr Althea ABC Glow Whipped Serum? 
This serum is designed to help enhance natural glow and hydration, without irritation (making it ideal for sensitive skin types). Users typically select it for: 
- hydration and glow 
- softer skin texture 
- lightweight nourishment of skin 
- easy layering for underneath make-up 
- reduce dull-looking skin texture 

Does the Dr Althea ABC Glow Whipped Serum contain collagen? 
No, this formula does not contain traditional ‘animal’ collagen. Instead it contains a careful blend of peptides and molecules that mimic the effect of collagen, whilst being entirely plant-based. It helps hydrate without occluding skin and helps enhance moisture. 

How do you use the Dr Althea ABC Glow Whipped Serum? 
Apply 1-2 pumps after cleansing skin and toner. Gently massage into skin in small circles, before following with heavier serums and moisturizer. You can layer it into your routine too, creating a glowing base for make-up. 

Is the Dr Althea ABC Glow Whipped Serum worth it? 
If you are after a lightweight serum that melds well with make-up and sunscreen, adding a gentle glow without feeling heavy, this is a great choice. It is best suited for dry skin looking for a boost of hydration or those who are obsessed with bubble formulas.