Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream

I came to Dr. Althea's 345 Relief Cream with a healthy dose of skepticism. The name itself — "345" — feels like one of those arbitrary formulation codes that K-beauty brands use to sound clinical without actually saying anything. And "Relief Cream" is a category I've tested enough to know is often code for "thick, occlusive moisturizer with a few soothing extracts sprinkled in." But after two weeks of daily use, I'm ready to admit this one surprised me. It's not just a soothing cream — it's a botanical-loaded, multi-tasking moisturizer that manages to pack an almost unreasonable number of actives into one jar without feeling chaotic on the skin.

The Brand Behind the Number

Dr. Althea is a Korean clinical skincare brand founded by Dr. Althea Kim, a dermatologist who built the line around what she describes as "doctor-formulated" products. The brand sits in an interesting space — it's not quite medical-grade, but it leans harder into ingredient transparency and clinical positioning than most of the cute, pastel K-beauty brands on Olive Young shelves. The "345" in the product name refers to the brand's proprietary complex of 3 types of lipids, 4 types of ceramide-related ingredients, and 5 types of soothing botanicals. Whether that numbering scheme is meaningful or just marketing, the formula itself is genuinely impressive.

Ingredient Breakdown

This is where the 345 Relief Cream earns its keep. The INCI list is long — 56 ingredients — but unlike many long formulas that pad with fillers, this one is stacked with genuine actives. Let me walk through what's actually doing the work.

The Soothing Complex

The formula is loaded with botanical extracts, and unlike products that list them in the "less than 1%" footer, several of these appear high enough in the list to be meaningful:

The Barrier and Hydration Layer

Beyond the botanicals, the formula includes a solid foundation of barrier-supporting ingredients:

What's Notably Absent

For a formula this loaded, what's not here is almost as interesting. There's no fragrance — a rarity in K-beauty products with this many botanical extracts. No essential oils (though lavender extract is present, it's in small enough amounts that it's unlikely to cause issues for most people). No drying alcohols. No comedogenic heavy hitters. The preservative system is gentle (phenoxyethanol + potassium sorbate). This is a formula that's clearly designed for reactive, sensitized skin — the kind that flares up at the slightest provocation.

Texture and Application

The 345 Relief Cream has a medium-weight texture that sits somewhere between a gel-cream and a traditional emulsion. It's not as lightweight as a water cream, but it's not as heavy as a barrier-repair balm either. The color is a pale, almost imperceptibly yellow-white — likely from the turmeric and botanical extracts, though it doesn't stain the skin.

On application, it spreads easily and absorbs within about 60 seconds, leaving a satin finish that's neither matte nor dewy. There's a subtle slip from the cyclohexasiloxane and caprylic/capric triglyceride, but it doesn't feel silicone-heavy or pill under sunscreen. I found it worked well as the last step in my evening routine and as a daytime moisturizer under SPF — though in high humidity, it might feel slightly too rich for oily skin types.

Two-Week Wear Test

I tested the 345 Relief Cream twice daily (morning and night) for two weeks in late spring, with temperatures ranging from 18–26°C and moderate humidity. My skin was in a slightly sensitized state going in — I'd over-exfoliated with a 30% AHA peel a few days prior and was dealing with some redness and tightness across my cheeks.

Days 1–3: Immediate relief from the tightness. The cream absorbed well and didn't sting on my compromised barrier. Redness was visibly reduced by day two — not gone, but calmer. The texture felt comfortable, not occlusive.

Days 4–7: My barrier was clearly recovering faster than it normally would. The tightness was gone by day five, and the redness had faded to a faint pink. I noticed my skin felt plumper and more hydrated throughout the day — the polyquaternium-51 and beta-glucan were doing their job. No breakouts, no congestion.

Days 8–14: By the second week, my skin had fully recovered. The cream continued to perform well as a maintenance moisturizer — keeping hydration levels stable without feeling heavy. I did notice a subtle brightening effect, likely from the niacinamide and turmeric, though it's hard to say if that was the cream or just my barrier healing. No adverse reactions at any point.

Pros

Cons

Who Is This For?

The Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream is ideal for:

Those with very oily skin or those who prefer minimalist formulas may want to look elsewhere.

Price and Where to Buy

The Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream retails for approximately ₩38,000–45,000 in Korea (about $28–34 USD). It's widely available at:

The brand also has an official website, though international shipping options may be limited compared to the major K-beauty retailers.

How It Compares

Final Verdict

The Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream is a genuinely impressive formula that delivers on its promises. It's not just a soothing cream — it's a multi-tasking moisturizer that combines barrier repair, hydration, anti-inflammatory botanicals, and brightening actives in a single product. The texture is versatile, the ingredient list is thoughtful, and the results are real. It's not the cheapest option on the market, but for what it offers, it's a solid investment — especially for anyone dealing with sensitized, reactive, or post-procedure skin. I'll keep it in my rotation for the cooler months and reach for it whenever my barrier needs a reset.