345 Relief Cream — Reddit Reviews
by Dr. Althea
Updated November 10, 2026
Niacinamide-led gel-cream fades marks and calms redness; clogging complaints persist.
What the community says
A watery gel-cream with niacinamide, panthenol, ceramide NP, and tea tree leaf water, built for lightweight barrier support and calmer-looking redness. It suits oily or combination skin and layers neatly under makeup, though clog-prone users report closed comedones.
What this means for you
What people love
- Fast-absorbing gel-cream; excellent under makeup
- Niacinamide helps fade post-acne marks
- Comfortable barrier support for oily, combination skin
Watch out for
- Closed comedones and breakouts are common enough to patch-test
- Tea tree and niacinamide can trigger stinging, redness, or burning
- Too light for persistently dry skin; hydration fades by morning
Product details
What TikTok says
From 13 TikTok videos2 sponsored, marked with outlined numbers
Several creators say the lightweight cream is soothing and suits acne-prone or irritated skin 12345. Pharmacists disagree on its strength: one says it isn't enough for deep repair 67, while another rates it 5/10 for barrier science 3. Sponsored creators say it suits irritated skin, while the 147 Barrier Cream is richer for dry skin 28.
Sponsored means the creator disclosed a brand partnership or the video ran as a paid ad.
Videos open on TikTok in a new tab.
How to use it
From Reddit routinesWhat the science says
Niacinamide has some evidence for helping acne, with most studies finding it helped and often working about as well as clindamycin applied to the skin 1. Niacinamide has some evidence for fading dark spots, as all four direct studies found it helped them fade 2. Niacinamide has some evidence for signs of aging, with studies showing firmer skin, fewer wrinkles, and better water retention 3. For the skin barrier, one study found less water loss, but that evidence is not proven yet and is thin 4.
- Niacinamide for acne Some evidence · 17 studies
- Niacinamide for hyperpigmentation Some evidence · 17 studies
- Niacinamide for anti-aging Some evidence · 8 studies
- Niacinamide for skin barrier Not proven yet · 17 studies
Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.
How we grade researchFull ingredient list · 38
Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream ingredients
Aqua (Water), Melaleuca Alternifolia (TEA Tree) Leaf Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Vinyl Dimethicone, C14-22 Alcohols, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylyl Methicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyquaternium-51, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Beta-Glucan, Resveratrol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Tocopherol, Madecassoside, Sodium DNA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide Np, Tannic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Phytate
Listed in label order, highest concentration first. Linked ingredients have their own page.
Real Reddit threads — 684 mentions across 23 threads
Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream on Reddit, in one place — 23 threads from r/tretinoin, r/koreanskincare and 2 more, summarized.
“after that, i use dr. althea 345 relief cream”
Positive
“It’s very lightweight.”
Positive
“it’s lightweight, hydrating, and layers really well with the rest of my routine.”
Positive
“Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream: This cream is more watery than the other ones.”
Positive
“It’s also gentle, moisturizing and odorless.”
Positive
“The Dr. Althea cream does feel more like a lotion than cream!”
Positive
“So far I've gotten: Dr. Althea 345 Cream”
Positive
“At this point they are my #1 source, with exceptions for sunscreen, and a few HG's, every time I go the selection gets better and better.”
Positive
“What have you found, and what do you think about k-beauty in costco?”
Positive
“- Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
Positive
“I really like the Dr Athena 345, it was my intro into Korean skincare.”
Positive
“I’ve gone through a few tubes already of the 345 but I feel like it’s just ok, but my skin tolerates it and it doesn’t break me out”
Positive
“Dr. Althea 345 moisturizer ($29.99 after rebate, normally $39.99)”
Positive
“Wow I spent $22 for a single 345 moisturizer! That’s incredible”
Positive
“The dr Althea moisturizer is amazing”
Positive
“VT reedleshot + Dr. Althea 345 has been pretty good at removing my acne dark spots.”
Positive
“i have it and love for my oily skin but 345 cream has saved me”
Positive
“my routine is Skin1004 ampoule foam cleanser, the skin1004 ampoule and i also have the soothing gel but i use 345 cream more”
Positive
Dupes & Alternatives
Often paired with
Products Redditors use alongside this one
Skin1004
Madagascar Centella Asiatica Ampoule
Mentioned together in 11 threads
“Then Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Asiatica Ampoule. Next: COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence. Moisturizer: Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel or Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream.”
COSRX
Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
Mentioned together in 6 threads
“AM - cerave oil cleanser, pair cream, snail mucin, 345 cream, BoJ spf”
Vaseline
Mentioned together in 5 threads
“I only put Vaseline at night and once I got a handle on the rashes (after a couple weeks) I would put Dr Althea 345 relief cream after showers.”
— r/eczema
Vanicream
Mentioned together in 5 threads
“pm: bioderma micellar water, vanicream gentle cleanser, naturie hatomugi skin conditioner, skin1004 centella ampoule, iunik beta glucan, dr althea 345 relief cream”
— r/acne