Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream is a lightweight Korean gel-cream made for skin that is recovering from breakouts. The brand sells a 50 ml (1.69 fl oz) tube for $27 and markets it for redness, uneven texture, and lingering blemish marks.
Ratings vary a lot by source. The brand's own store shows 4.9 stars from 827 reviews, Ulta shows 3.9 from 63 reviews, and SkinSort shows 3.1 from several hundred. Reviewers agree on one thing: the texture is light, fast absorbing, and hydrating.
Our team at Optimal Weight Plan went through the ingredient list, the brand's claims, and retailer reviews. This guide covers what the cream does, who it suits, and where the hype outruns the evidence.
What Is Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream?
Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream is a non-comedogenic daily moisturizer for acne-prone and sensitive skin. The brand describes it as a regenerating ointment-gel cream that calms stressed skin and restores hydration without a heavy or greasy finish.
The name comes from its formula structure. Three blemish-care ingredients, four nourishing ingredients, and five soothing ingredients make up the 3-4-5 blend. The tube sits in the Dr. Althea Pro Lab line and carries the tagline 'Clean Formula. Derma Inspired.'
Buyers are mostly people with post-breakout redness, dehydrated oily skin, or skin irritated by active treatments. The brand also promotes a sandwich method: apply a thin layer of 345, apply a retinoid or other active, then seal with a second layer.
Who Makes Dr. Althea?
Dr. Althea is a Korean skincare brand that sells through its own global store, Amazon, Ulta, and Shopee. The 345 Relief Cream is one of its best-known products and has circulated as a viral K-beauty moisturizer for some time.
What Are the Ingredients in 345 Relief Cream?
The formula lists 38 ingredients, led by water, tea tree leaf water, propanediol, and glycerin. Niacinamide, panthenol, ceramide NP, beta-glucan, and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid follow in the active and barrier support group.
The brand splits its actives into three groups. Each group has a stated job, and the brand backs the claims with its own testing rather than independent trials.
Key Ingredient Groups:
- Blemish care: niacinamide, resveratrol, and tannic acid
- Nourishing: ceramide NP, beta-glucan, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, and sodium DNA (rice bran PDRN)
- Soothing: camellia sinensis leaf water, tea tree leaf water, centella asiatica leaf water, madecassoside, and sodium DNA (centella PDRN)
The base also contains silicones such as vinyl dimethicone and caprylyl methicone. These give the silky, fast-absorbing slip reviewers like. Disodium EDTA appears near the end of the list as a stabilizer.
Does It Contain Fragrance or Added Oils?
The brand states the cream has no added oils, and Ulta's listing says it has no artificial colors or fragrances. The ingredient list shows no fragrance or essential oil. Tea tree appears only as a leaf water, a gentler form than tea tree oil.
How Does 345 Relief Cream Work?
The cream pairs humectants and barrier lipids with soothing plant waters to hydrate skin while calming visible irritation. Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and beta-glucan pull water into the skin. Ceramide NP helps limit water loss through the barrier.
Niacinamide targets uneven tone and texture. Tea tree leaf water brings mild antimicrobial and astringent action. Centella and madecassoside are widely used for comfort on irritated skin, and SkinSort notes centella is considered a weak sensitizer with uncommon allergic reactions.
The gel-cream texture does the rest. Reviewers describe a cooling, gel-like feel that sinks in quickly. Dr. Althea says a Korea Institute of Dermatological Sciences clinical test supports the non-comedogenic claim.
How Well Does It Fade Post-Acne Marks?
The brand says the cream helps reduce the appearance of post-breakout marks and uneven tone. No independent trial backs that claim. Niacinamide has a reasonable track record for tone, but expect gradual, modest change over weeks, not overnight clearing.
What Do Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream Reviews Say?
Reviews split sharply by platform, from 4.9 stars on the brand site to 3.1 on SkinSort. Verified-buyer sites on the brand's own store skew positive. Independent databases and retailers show a more mixed picture.
SkinSort's review summary says users most often call the cream light (40%), well absorbing (39%), and hydrating (35%). A Reddit reviewer in r/AsianBeauty called it amazing after one week on skin that was dehydrated, oily, sensitive, and textured.
One YouTube reviewer noted the cream has been viral for a while. Some people call it an overhyped moisturizer that other Korean creams can match. That view is worth weighing before paying $27.
Pros:
- Lightweight, cooling, fast absorbing texture
- Non-comedogenic claim backed by the brand's clinical test
- No added fragrance or added oils
- Works as a cushion layer under retinoids and other actives
Cons:
- Mixed independent ratings (3.1 on SkinSort, 3.9 on Ulta)
- Contains silicones and tea tree leaf water, which some skin dislikes
- Post-acne mark claims lack independent proof
- May feel too light for very dry skin
What Do Positive Reviews Highlight?
Happy reviewers praise the texture first. A WordPress reviewer described an easy-applying gel feel that is both cooling and calming. Others value the hydration boost for oily, acne-prone skin that still gets dry from treatments.
What Are the Common Complaints?
Critics say results are modest for the price and that the cream does not clearly outperform cheaper barrier creams. Ulta's 3.9 average shows a real group of buyers who did not see a difference.
How Does 345 Relief Cream Compare to Purito and Dr.G?
SkinSort lists Purito Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream, Purito Oat-In Calming Gel Cream, and Dr.G R.E.D Blemish Clear Soothing Cream as the products shoppers compare most often. Dr. Althea's own 147 Barrier Cream is the fourth.
All four target calming and barrier support. The 345 stands out for combining a niacinamide and tannic acid blemish angle with ceramide and centella comfort in a single light gel-cream.
Product Comparison:
| Product | Positioning | Texture |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream | Post-breakout redness and hydration | Light gel-cream |
| Dr. Althea 147 Barrier Cream | Barrier repair | Cream |
| Purito Oat-In Calming Gel Cream | Calming sensitive skin | Gel-cream |
| Purito Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream | Soothing and hydration | Cream |
| Dr.G R.E.D Blemish Clear Soothing Cream | Blemish-prone redness | Cream |
What Are the Side Effects of 345 Relief Cream?
Side effects are uncommon, and reported issues are mostly mild irritation or breakouts on very reactive skin. Any leave-on product with plant waters can trigger a reaction in sensitive people. A patch test on the inner forearm or jawline takes two minutes and avoids most problems.
Disodium EDTA is a mild penetration enhancer according to SkinSort. For very reactive skin, that means other ingredients may absorb a little more strongly. Most users will not notice it.
Who Should Avoid 345 Relief Cream?
Anyone allergic to tea tree, centella, or any listed ingredient should skip it. People with very dry skin may want a richer cream. Anyone with active, severe, or painful acne should see a dermatologist, since a moisturizer does not treat acne.
Is Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream Legit and Safe?
Yes. The cream is a real, widely sold product from an established Korean skincare brand and is sold directly, on Amazon with Dr.Althea as the seller, and at Ulta.
The full ingredient list is public, and the formula uses common cosmetic ingredients. The marketing claims are the soft spot. They come from the brand, so treat 'clinically tested' as a non-comedogenic test, not proof of acne or scar results.
How Much Does 345 Relief Cream Cost?
The 50 ml tube costs $27 at the brand store and on Amazon, with Ulta listing it on sale at $18.90. That works out to about $15.98 per fluid ounce on Amazon. Amazon's Subscribe & Save lowers it to $21.60 with the 20 percent discount.
The brand also sells sets. A 345 Relief Cream and Mist Duo costs $37.52, and a Dual Cream Set with the 147 Barrier Cream costs $43.20.
Is 345 Relief Cream Worth the Price?
It is worth it at the Ulta sale price if you want a light gel-cream and have oily or breakout-prone skin. At $27 it is a fair gamble, not a bargain. Mixed independent ratings suggest trying a single tube first.
Where to Buy 345 Relief Cream?
Buy it from the Dr. Althea global store, Amazon (sold by Dr.Althea), or Ulta. Check that the listing is sold by the brand to avoid counterfeits, and note that Amazon lists a Ver.2 version of the tube.
Why Should You Try Optimal Weight Plan?
Skin rarely acts alone. Breakouts, redness, and stubborn marks often tie back to stress, sleep, inflammation, and what you eat. A $27 cream can soothe the surface, but it can't fix the pattern underneath.
Our coaches at Optimal Weight Plan build personalized plans around the habits that drive inflammation and energy. Here's the thing: a good moisturizer helps for hours. A good plan helps for years.
Ready to look and feel better from the inside out? Talk to Optimal Weight Plan today and start a plan built around you.
