Althea is a Korean beauty e-commerce platform that sells a wide range of K‑beauty skincare, makeup, and body care products to customers worldwide, shipping directly from Korea. It acts as a one‑stop online shop for popular and niche Korean cosmetic brands at discounted prices.
Althea is a vertically focused beauty e-commerce company specializing in Korean skincare, makeup, and body care. Launched in 2015, it curates hundreds of popular K‑beauty brands as well as its own in‑house lines, offering everything from cleansers and serums to masks, hair care, and beauty tools. Orders are fulfilled from Korea and shipped to customers in over 200 countries, with localized storefronts for markets such as the U.S., Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.([us.althea.kr](https://us.althea.kr/))
A charge from “althea” on a card statement is typically associated with an online purchase made through one of Althea’s regional sites (for example, us.althea.kr) for Korean beauty products. Customers may see a single one‑time charge for a completed order, and in some cases a small temporary authorization or currency conversion variance if the charge is processed in Korean won or another foreign currency. Larger orders can show as multiple line items if shipping, duties, or promotions are applied separately at checkout.
If you don’t recognize the charge, start by checking your email (including spam) for an order confirmation from Althea or logging into your Althea account to review recent orders and payment history. Because orders ship from Korea, posting dates may lag a few days behind the order date and may appear under a simple descriptor like “ALTHEA” rather than the full website URL. For help, you can contact Althea’s customer support via the Help/Support link on their site, referencing your order number and the exact amount/time of the charge; if no matching order is found and you suspect fraud, work with both Althea support and your card issuer to dispute the transaction.
Bank Statement Variations
1 known variations
These are the raw merchant codes that appear on bank and credit card statements that we've identified as belonging to Althea.
Why do I see a charge from ALTHEA on my card statement?
A charge labeled “ALTHEA” usually comes from an online order placed on one of Althea’s regional K‑beauty stores (such as us.althea.kr), where you may have purchased skincare, makeup, or other beauty products shipped from Korea. Check your email for an order confirmation from Althea and log into your account to verify recent orders and amounts.
Does Althea bill in local currency or in Korean won, and can that affect the final amount charged?
Depending on your country and which regional site you used, Althea may display prices in your local currency but ultimately settle the transaction in a foreign currency such as Korean won. Your bank or card network then converts the amount, which can result in minor differences between the checkout total and the final posted charge due to exchange rates or foreign transaction fees.
Can Althea charges appear as multiple transactions for a single order?
Yes. In some cases you might see a small temporary authorization when you place the order and a separate final capture when the order ships. Additionally, customs duties, taxes, or separate shipping adjustments may appear as distinct line items, especially for large cross‑border orders.
How do I cancel or change an order I placed with Althea?
Once an order is submitted, Althea typically processes it quickly for export from Korea, so cancellations or changes are time‑sensitive. Log into your Althea account and check the order status; if it is still in processing, contact customer support immediately via the site’s help portal with your order number and requested change. If the order has already shipped, you may need to wait for delivery and then request a return according to their return policy.
How do I request a refund for an Althea order I’m unhappy with or that arrived damaged?
If items arrive damaged, incorrect, or defective, take clear photos of the products, packaging, and shipping label and submit a ticket through Althea’s support or contact form within the time window stated in their returns policy (often within 30 days of receipt). Include your order number, a description of the issue, and whether you prefer a refund, replacement, or store credit; Althea will advise whether you must ship products back or can receive a refund without return.
Why is there a small pending or $0 authorization from ALTHEA that later disappears?
Althea’s payment processor, like many online merchants, may place a small temporary authorization hold to verify that your card is valid when you check out. This hold may appear as a pending charge but is automatically released and never actually posted; the final order amount is captured in a separate, full transaction once payment is confirmed and the order is processed.
How can I verify that an Althea charge is legitimate and not fraud?
Match the transaction date and amount with any Althea order confirmations in your email or in your Althea account order history, and check whether anyone else in your household used your card to buy K‑beauty products. If you cannot find a corresponding order or your account has no recent activity, contact Althea via their official website support and, in parallel, alert your card issuer so they can investigate and block any further unauthorized use.
How can I contact Althea customer service about a billing or shipping issue?
Go to althea.kr (or your regional site, such as us.althea.kr) and use the Help, Support, or Contact links, which typically open a support portal or email form. Provide your full name, order number, email used at checkout, and a detailed description of the billing or shipping problem, along with screenshots of your bank statement if the issue is a disputed or duplicated charge.