Dr Althea 345 Relief Cream review: pharmacist-led analysis
What is Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream and why does it belong in pharmacy skincare?
Dr. Althea is a Korean skincare brand with a clinical-dermatology positioning from Seoul. That matters, because it is not just another K-beauty brand built around packaging and social media. Its formulas are designed for skin that needs comfort, barrier support and a more careful routine.
Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream is one of the brand’s best-known products. The name is not random: the three numbers describe the structure of the formula. Three blemish-care ingredients. Four nourishing ingredients. Five soothing ingredients. Twelve active-style ingredients working in layers.
I added it to the Farma2Go catalogue with a healthy dose of scepticism. Another Korean cream, I thought. But the formula made me pay attention: niacinamide at 10,000 ppm and panthenol at 10,000 ppm. Those are not decorative levels. They make sense in a cream designed for sensitive, reactive or barrier-weakened skin.
Inside the formula: 3 + 4 + 5 actives
Let’s open up the formula, because there is always a difference between a packaging claim and what the INCI list actually says.
The 3 blemish-care ingredients
Niacinamide leads this group. At 10,000 ppm, it helps support sebum balance, improve the look of post-blemish marks and refine skin texture. It is joined by resveratrol, an antioxidant ingredient with a stronger reputation than many trend-led actives, and Opuntia ficus-indica extract, a botanical used for its soothing profile.
The 4 nourishing ingredients
This is where the formula becomes more interesting for skin that needs comfort as well as moisture. Ceramides, essential fatty acids, squalane and shea butter help support the skin barrier. I think of them as the mortar between loose tiles: the skin may still be standing, but it needs help becoming more cohesive again.
The 5 soothing ingredients
Panthenol at 10,000 ppm is the standout here. It is supported by Centella asiatica, one of the iconic ingredients in Korean dermocosmetic skincare, plus allantoin, bisabolol and liquorice extract. Five ingredients pointing in the same direction: helping calm the feel of reactive skin and reduce the look of redness.
Texture and real-life application
This is where 345 Relief Cream separates itself from the usual barrier creams. The European repairing creams most people know — Cicaplast, Cicalfate, CeraVe — tend to have richer textures. They work, of course they work. But you feel them on the skin. They have weight.
Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream is a gel-cream. Light. Fast-absorbing. No greasy residue. That changes things for three specific profiles:
- Combination-to-oily skin that needs barrier support but cannot tolerate rich textures.
- People who wear make-up and do not want pilling.
- Warm climates or summer routines where a heavy barrier balm feels unbearable.
I first tested it on the inner forearm, as I do with everything. Immediate absorption. Then two weeks on the face: morning under SPF, evening after retinol. No comedones. Less tightness on waking. Skin felt calmer.
That is the point of this cream. It does not try to impress in the mirror in 30 seconds. It makes the routine easier to keep.
How to use it by skin type
These are the three protocols I would recommend in pharmacy, depending on the skin profile in front of me.
Sensitive or reactive skin
Gentle cleansing
Use a sulphate-free cleanser with a skin-friendly pH. Do not rely on micellar water as your only cleanser if you leave residue behind: anything you apply afterwards will sit on a compromised base.
Hydrating toner or essence
Optional, but if you use a toner with Centella or hyaluronic acid, apply it while the skin is still slightly damp.
Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream
Use a pea-sized amount for the whole face. Spread gently without dragging the skin. It absorbs in around 30–40 seconds.
SPF in the morning
Always. Niacinamide can support the look of post-blemish marks, but UV exposure makes uneven tone more persistent. Apply SPF 50 on top in the morning.
Post-treatment skin — peeling, laser, microneedling
In general, once your dermatologist confirms you can reintroduce moisturising products, 345 Relief Cream can fit well because it avoids a heavy, greasy finish and combines panthenol, Centella and allantoin. I see it as a transition cream between the immediate post-procedure phase — where your dermatologist’s instructions rule — and your normal routine.
Combination-to-oily skin with blemishes
For this profile, 345 Relief Cream works especially well at night. After a niacinamide serum, if you use one, apply the Relief Cream as the final step. If you produce a lot of oil in the morning, you may prefer serum + SPF only. But if your skin feels tight, this gel-cream is light enough not to overload it.
Korean soothing creams and masks in pharmacy
Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream is the star product, but it does not work alone. At Farma2Go, we stock Dr. Althea masks too, each with a different focus: hydration, comfort and radiance. We also stock a treatment-led Korean option from another brand, Medicube with PDRN technology, for those looking for a more intensive-looking skin recovery and firmness routine.
Dr. Althea masks make sense as a complement to 345 Relief Cream: use them 2–3 times a week for extra hydration or comfort, and use the cream daily as your routine base. Medicube with PDRN sits in a more treatment-led category, but it pairs surprisingly well with a Dr. Althea routine.
What I would tell a customer
If you asked me at the pharmacy counter, I would say this: Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream is not here to replace Cicaplast or Cicalfate. It fills a gap they do not always cover. The gap for sensitive skin that needs barrier support and lightness. For people who want meaningful actives without a heavy face feel. For those looking for K-beauty with more substance than packaging.
At £16.50 for 50 ml, with niacinamide and panthenol at 10,000 ppm, Centella, resveratrol and Opuntia, with no aggressive fragrance or denatured alcohol, it is difficult to find a stronger value-for-money option in this niche.
I use it. And I recommend it with the calmness that comes from knowing exactly what is inside.
Because sometimes your skin does not need more cream. It needs the right one.
Summary table: Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream
| Feature | Dr. Althea 345 | Cicaplast B5 | Cicalfate+ | CeraVe Moisturizing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texture | Light gel-cream | Dense balm | Rich cream | Lotion/cream |
| Niacinamide | 10,000 ppm | 5% (B5) | No | Yes (no % declared) |
| Panthenol | 10,000 ppm | 5% (panthenol) | No | No |
| Centella asiatica | Yes | Madecassoside | No (thermal water) | No |
| Comedogenic | No | Possible (due to density) | Possible | No |
| Daily use full face | Yes, ideal | Better localised | Better localised | Yes |
| Price / 50 ml | €16.50 | ~€11–14 | ~€12–15 | ~€10–13 |
Preguntas frecuentes
Referencias científicas
