I tried the Korean cream with 1 billion views on TikTok: my verdict after one week
A cream racking up more than one billion views on TikTok is a rare thing. Yet Dr. Althea’s 345 Relief Cream has pulled off exactly that, and its white tube with black lettering is now instantly recognisable across social media. But behind all the buzz, is there actually a product that delivers on its promises?
20 million units sold: what the numbers really mean
Since its launch, the 345 Relief Cream has sold more than 20 million units worldwide. That figure is no small thing: it points to a level of adoption that goes well beyond a passing trend. Korean brand Dr. Althea, founded in 2014, has built its reputation on a clear philosophy: creating effective skincare that is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin, with the skin barrier at the heart of every formula.
The 345 Relief Cream is the embodiment of that approach. It sits somewhere between a gel and a cream, designed for everyday use. Its formula is non-comedogenic, making it suitable for acne-prone and redness-prone skin. In plain terms: it won’t clog your pores, which is a non-negotiable for reactive skin types.
That positioning goes a long way towards explaining why this product has broken out of the K-beauty niche to reach a much wider audience, largely through TikTok, where testimonials and demos have been multiplying for months.
An ambitious formula hiding behind a minimalist exterior
The plain white tube, stripped back and fuss-free, gives nothing away about the complexity of what’s inside. The cream is built around what Dr. Althea calls the 345 Relief Complex, a combination of resveratrol, tannic acid and niacinamide. These three actives work in tandem to even out skin tone, fade blemishes and improve overall texture.
The formula also brings in a range of hydrating and nourishing ingredients: beta-glucans, hydrolysed hyaluronic acid and ceramides. These components help to restore and maintain the skin barrier, a key concern for dehydrated or compromised skin, particularly for those undergoing anti-acne treatments.
- Resveratrol, tannic acid and niacinamide to even skin tone and reduce blemishes
- Beta-glucans and ceramides to nourish and strengthen the skin barrier
- Hydrolysed hyaluronic acid for deep hydration
- Green tea water and centella asiatica to soothe irritation
- Madecassoside to calm redness and discomfort
On the soothing side, green tea water, centella asiatica and madecassoside round out the formula. These ingredients target discomfort, redness and that tight, uncomfortable feeling. For a cream that looks this simple, the ingredient list is remarkably comprehensive.
What the texture tells you from the very first application
A non-greasy finish and fast absorption are claims brands make all the time, but rarely live up to. With the 345 Relief Cream, the gel-cream texture genuinely holds its own. From the very first use, the product sinks into skin quickly without leaving any sticky residue, a real plus for anyone who can’t stand heavy creams.
After applying it, skin feels noticeably less tight and the hydration hit is immediate. Dr. Althea even puts a precise number on it: +177.34% hydration after a single use. That figure, measured by the brand, gives a sense of just how intense the moisturising effect feels from the first touch.
The cream is particularly well suited to dehydrated or compromised skin. Used daily, it gradually shows its impact on blemishes and texture, two concerns the formula directly addresses. Its lightweight feel also makes it a viable option year-round, with no sense of suffocation on the skin.
TikTok as a sounding board for a K-beauty product
This TikTok phenomenon isn’t down to the algorithm alone. The 345 Relief Cream ticks several boxes at once: hydration, soothing, blemish care and skin barrier protection. That versatility makes it easy to recommend, because it works for almost every skin type.
On TikTok, skincare test videos and routine content have elevated this product to K-beauty reference status within a matter of months. With more than one billion cumulative views on the platform, the cream has long since outgrown the status of a fleeting trend. It belongs to that category of products TikTok users keep recommending long after their first discovery.
For skin compromised by anti-acne treatments, or simply in search of an effective, lightweight daily moisturiser, the 345 Relief Cream is a serious contender to consider in 2026. Virality often gets a bad reputation, but in this particular case, the formula seems to justify the hype.
