I’ve had acne for what feels like forever. It started in middle school and just... never really stopped. I’ve tried SO many products that either dried me out, broke me out more, or did absolutely nothing. 

When I saw people talking about Dr. Althea’s 345 Relief Cream on Reddit and TikTok, I was like, okay… another calming cream? But the ingredients list actually looked promising, and I really liked that it’s supposed to be gentle enough for irritated, breakout-prone skin.

So here’s my experience after using it every night for about a month. I didn’t change anything else in my routine except for swapping out my moisturizer for this one.

First impressions: the packaging is kinda plain but in a way that makes it feel like serious skincare. It comes in a simple white tube that honestly reminds me of a medicine ointment or toothpaste—very no-nonsense, almost like something you'd find in a dermatologist’s office. I actually like that though—it makes it feel trustworthy. Plus, the tube format is super hygienic and easy to use. The cream itself has a light, smooth texture. It’s not thick or greasy, but it’s definitely not a gel either. I’d call it a soft cream that melts into the skin really easily.

When I first applied it, I was honestly surprised by how instantly soothing it felt. I had a few red pimples along my jaw and some flaky patches near my nose from spot-treating with benzoyl peroxide, and it didn’t sting at all. Actually, it felt cool and calming, like my skin just exhaled a little.  

The next morning, the redness around my pimples had gone down noticeably. That’s when I started to get a little excited. I kept using it night after night, and over the course of two weeks, I started noticing a real difference—not just in the redness, but in overall skin texture. My skin felt softer and less angry. Not like perfect or magically clear, but just… calmer.Like it was finally healing instead of constantly freaking out.  

Something else I loved was that it didn’t clog my pores. That might sound basic, but a lot of “calming” creams have heavy oils or fatty alcohols that leave me with closed comedones. This one didn’t. I even layered it over active treatments like azelaic acid or salicylic acid and it played nicely with everything—no pilling, no weird separation, and no irritation.  

There’s a very faint scent to it, kind of herbal, but it fades fast and didn’t bother me at all. I also appreciated that a little goes a long way—I only need a pea-sized amount to cover my whole face, and I still have a ton of product left after four weeks.  

As for the ingredients, it has panthenol, madecassoside, and centella asiatica—pretty much the holy trinity for calming skin. I’m no cosmetic chemist, but I know my skin tends to love anything with centella. 

I wouldn’t call this a moisturizer for super dry skin—it’s more of a recovery cream. If you have combo or oily skin like me, it’s perfect as a last step at night. I don’t feel greasy when I wake up, but my skin still feels hydrated and soothed.  

The only downside for me is that it’s not super easy to find in local stores. I had to order it online and wait a bit, but it was worth it. Also, I wouldn’t rely on this alone if your acne is severe—it’s not an acne treatment, but it makes a huge difference in reducing irritation and helping your skin recover from breakouts faster.  

TL;DR? It won’t erase acne overnight, but it will help your skin chill out so it can heal. And for someone who’s tried way too many harsh creams that made everything worse, that’s a big deal.  If you’re a fellow teen dealing with breakouts and your skin is tired of being angry all the time, give this a shot. It’s gentle, calming, and actually makes your skin feel better—not just coated in something.  I’d totally repurchase this, and I already recommended it to my cousin who has sensitive skin too. So far, she’s loving it.