Okay, so I bought Dr. Althea 147 Serum for my chin zits. Then I accidentally used it on a hangnail. And my dry scalp. And my chapped lips.
This thing doesn’t just kill breakouts — it’s basically a first-aid kit in a dropper. The weirdest part? It works better on my cuticles than any $30 oil I’ve tried.
[IMG_1: A close-up of the serum bottle next to a hangnail and a dry patch on a knuckle]
It’s a $22 Korean spot treatment with 5% sulfur, 1% salicylic acid, and niacinamide. The claim that got me? “Reduces acne in 4 hours.” I rolled my eyes so hard — but then it actually did.
Thick gel texture
Sinks in 10 seconds flat. No sticky residue.
Dries down matte
Perfect under makeup — no white cast or peeling.
Travel-friendly dropper
Small enough for a coin purse. I keep one in my work bag.
[IMG_2: The serum being applied to a fingertip, showing the gel consistency]
The hero is 5% colloidal sulfur — it’s antibacterial AND anti-inflammatory. Not just drying. The niacinamide calms redness while salicylic acid clears pores. It’s like a multitool for inflammation.
- 5% Colloidal Sulfur: Kills bacteria without nuking your skin barrier
- 1% Salicylic Acid: Unclogs pores gently — no burn
- Niacinamide: Fades red marks while you sleep
- Zinc PCA: Controls oil without stripping
[IMG_3: The ingredient list on the box, with the key actives highlighted]
It’s a pale yellow gel that smells like… hard-boiled eggs? The sulfur is real. But it dries matte in 30 seconds, so the smell fades fast. First dab felt cooling — not stingy.
Week 2: I put it on a paper cut. Healed in 1 day. Week 3: dabbed on a dry scalp patch. Gone in 2 days. This serum is unhinged in the best way.
[IMG_4: A split image — serum on a pimple on one side, on a cuticle on the other]
My chin cyst shrank 60% overnight. The cuticle hangnail? Gone in 24 hours. Scalp flaking? Reduced 80% after 3 uses. But it didn’t touch my hormonal chin acne long-term — this is a spot treatment, not a cure.
[IMG_5: A before-and-after of a pimple on the jawline, 4 hours apart]
Buy it for acne. Keep it for everything else. This is the Swiss Army knife your medicine cabinet didn’t know it needed.