Dr.Althea 345 vs 147 Barrier Cream — Which One for Pakistani Skin?
The Dr.Althea 345 Relief Cream is the lighter, soothing daily moisturiser for sensitive, red-looking, combination and acne-prone skin, while the Dr.Althea 147 Barrier Cream is the richer cream for dry, tight skin with a weak barrier. Korean Skincare Pakistan is an Official Authentic seller of Dr.Althea in Pakistan, with Cash on Delivery. The core difference is texture and purpose: the 345 calms and suits Pakistani summers and everyday use, while the 147 adds lasting moisture and is better suited to winter, air-conditioned rooms and dry skin. This comparison explains which formula is right for your skin type and Pakistan's climate.
If you have been scrolling through K-beauty options and landed on Dr.Althea's cream line, you are probably facing the same question many Pakistani skincare lovers ask: should I go for the Dr.Althea 345 Relief Cream or the Dr.Althea 147 Barrier Cream? Both are crowd favourites, both are gentle, barrier-friendly moisturisers, and both ship to Pakistan from our Seoul warehouse. But they serve different skin needs, different skin types, and different seasons. Let's break it all down so you can make a confident decision.
Quick Answer
The Dr.Althea 345 Relief Cream is best for sensitive, reactive or stressed skin that needs calming. It is built around Dr.Althea's 345NA complex with niacinamide and panthenol, in a soft, light cream that spreads easily and is comfortable, not heavy, which makes it a good everyday choice for combination and acne-prone skin too. The Dr.Althea 147 Barrier Cream, on the other hand, is the richer formula, made with ceramides, centella asiatica and glycerin to support a dry, weak skin barrier and help tight, rough or flaky skin feel comfortable again. In short: if your skin is red and sensitive, choose the 345; if your skin is dry and tight, the 147 is your go-to.
What is Dr.Althea 345 Relief Cream?
The Dr.Althea 345 Relief Cream gets its name from the 345NA complex, Dr.Althea's own soothing ingredient blend. Alongside it, the cream contains niacinamide (vitamin B3), which supports the skin barrier and helps the tone look more even over time, and panthenol (vitamin B5), which helps the skin hold moisture and feel calm and comfortable. The version we sell is the renewed one, Dr.Althea's newer version of the cream.
The texture is a soft, light cream that spreads easily, comfortable rather than heavy. It suits skin that feels red, tight or uncomfortable after breakouts, sun, harsh weather or over-exfoliating, and it is a good soothing layer for anyone using retinol, AHA or BHA. If you have a rash, broken skin or a condition that is getting worse, see a doctor before trying new products.
In Pakistan, where dust, pollution, hard water, and harsh sunlight are daily realities, a calm, simple moisturiser is not a luxury — it is a basic need for sensitive skin types.
What is Dr.Althea 147 Barrier Cream?
The Dr.Althea 147 Barrier Cream is the barrier-focused partner to the 345. Where the 345 is about calming, the 147 is about moisture and a stronger-feeling barrier. Its formula is richer than the 345 Relief Cream, yet comfortable and not greasy.
The 147 contains ceramides, lipids naturally found in the skin barrier that help the skin hold moisture and feel less tight; centella asiatica extract, a soothing plant extract that helps stressed skin feel calm; and glycerin, a humectant that draws water into the skin and keeps it soft. It is the cream to reach for when your skin feels tight after cleansing, looks flaky in winter, or has become rough and dry from retinol, acids or over-exfoliating. Ours is the renewed 50ml version.
For people with very oily skin in Pakistan's humid summers, the 147 may feel too rich in the daytime; a thin layer at night, or the lighter 345, is often more comfortable.
Key Differences
| Feature | 345 Relief Cream | 147 Barrier Cream |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Calming red, sensitive or stressed skin | Supporting a dry, weak skin barrier |
| Key Ingredients | 345NA complex, niacinamide, panthenol | Ceramides, centella asiatica, glycerin |
| Texture | Soft, light cream; comfortable, not heavy | Richer cream; comfortable, not greasy |
| Best For | Sensitive, combination and acne-prone skin; skin using retinol or acids | Dry, dehydrated and tight-feeling skin |
| Best Season in Pakistan | All year; easiest choice for humid summers | Winter, dry weather and air-conditioned rooms |
| Sizes | 15ml and 50ml | 50ml |
Each product page shows the live price right under the Add to Cart button.
Which Skin Type Should Choose Which?
If you have dry or very dry skin, the Dr.Althea 147 Barrier Cream is almost certainly the better fit. Its richer consistency gives the lasting moisture that dry skin craves, and its ceramides help the skin hold on to the water it keeps losing.
If you have sensitive skin with visible redness, or skin that reacts to heat, sun or strong products, the 345 is your answer. It is made to calm skin that looks red or feels sensitive, tight or stressed. If your redness is persistent or you think you may have rosacea, see a dermatologist.
For those with combination or oily skin who still experience dehydration, tightness or irritation — especially after using strong actives like retinol or AHAs — the Dr.Althea 345 Relief Cream is the smarter daily choice. It gives moisture without a heavy, greasy layer; in humid weather, a thin layer is enough.
Normal skin types can honestly go either way: the 345 is lighter and more practical as a morning staple, while the 147 is a comforting night cream in dry months.
Pakistani Climate Considerations
Pakistan's climate is anything but simple. From blistering dry heat in the south to humid, heavy summers on the plains and cold, skin-cracking winters in the north — your moisturiser needs to adapt to where you live and what season you are in.
In humid summer months, the Dr.Althea 345 Relief Cream will feel more comfortable. Its lighter texture will not sit heavily on skin already working overtime to manage sweat and humidity. In winter, or in drier regions, the Dr.Althea 147 Barrier Cream gives the richer moisture your skin barrier needs when cold air strips away natural moisture.
Tap water in many Pakistani cities is also hard and mineral-heavy, which can leave skin feeling tight and dry over time. That makes a gentle moisturiser like these a long-term skincare basic, not just a trend. Whichever you use, finish with a broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen every morning.
Can You Use Both Together?
Absolutely — and many Dr.Althea fans in Pakistan do exactly this. If your skin is both dry and sensitive, use the Dr.Althea 345 Relief Cream in the morning, under SPF, for calm, lightweight comfort through the day. Then in your nighttime routine, use the Dr.Althea 147 Barrier Cream as the last step for richer moisture overnight.
This combination is especially useful during seasonal transitions — like moving from October to November in Pakistan, when the air suddenly dries out and skin can react. On nights you use retinol, applying the cream first and the retinol on top can make it feel gentler; start retinol 2–3 nights a week, and if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor first.
Verdict
Choosing between the Dr.Althea 345 Relief Cream and the Dr.Althea 147 Barrier Cream really comes down to what your skin is telling you right now. Is it red, reactive or stressed? Go for the 345. Is it dry, tight or flaky? The 147 has you covered.
The good news for Pakistani shoppers is that both creams come from Dr.Althea in Pakistan at Korean Skincare Pakistan, an Official Authentic seller of Dr.Althea in Pakistan. Our stock is bought directly from official brand manufacturers and authorised distributors in Seoul, every inbound batch is batch-code verified, and every parcel ships from our Seoul warehouse by air, with delivery in 5–7 days and Cash on Delivery wherever you are in Pakistan.
If you are still unsure, start with the Dr.Althea 345 Relief Cream 15ml — it is a handy trial size to see how your skin responds before committing to the full 50ml. For more detail, read our Dr.Althea 345 Relief Cream review or our guide to the best barrier repair creams in Pakistan.
DR.ALTHEA
345 Relief Cream and 147 Barrier Cream
Dr.Althea 345 vs 147: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Dr.Althea 345 and 147 cream?
Both are face creams for the moisturiser step. The 345 Relief Cream is a soft, light cream with the 345NA complex, niacinamide and panthenol that calms red, sensitive or stressed skin, so it suits sensitive, combination and acne-prone skin. The 147 Barrier Cream is richer, with ceramides, centella and glycerin, and supports a dry, weak barrier, so it suits dry and dehydrated skin.
What is the Dr.Althea 147 Barrier Cream used for?
It is a moisturiser for dry skin with a weak barrier. It adds lasting moisture and helps skin that feels tight, rough or flaky feel soft and comfortable again, for example in winter, in air-conditioned rooms or after using retinol or acids. It is a moisturiser, not a spot corrector or an exfoliant, so pair it with targeted products for those goals.
Which is better for oily skin, Dr.Althea 345 or 147?
For most oily and combination skin, the 345 Relief Cream is the better daily choice. Its light, soft texture gives moisture without a heavy, greasy layer, and a thin layer is enough in humid weather. The 147 Barrier Cream is made mainly for dry skin, so very oily skin may find it too rich in summer, though a thin layer at night can help skin that has become dry from acne products.
Can I use Dr.Althea 345 and 147 together?
Yes. If your skin is both dry and sensitive, use the 345 Relief Cream in the morning under a broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen, and the 147 Barrier Cream at night as the last step of your routine. This works especially well when the weather turns dry. Introduce one new product at a time and patch-test on the jawline for 24 hours if you have reacted to Dr.Althea products before.
Does the Dr.Althea 345 white cream change your skin colour?
No. The Dr.Althea 345 Relief Cream is a white, soothing moisturiser, and it does not change your natural skin colour. The niacinamide in it supports the skin barrier and helps the tone look more even over time, but it is not made to fade dark spots. For dark marks, add a targeted brightening serum such as vitamin C or niacinamide and wear sunscreen every morning.
Which size should I buy, 15ml or 50ml?
The Dr.Althea 345 Relief Cream comes in 15ml and 50ml. The 15ml is a trial or travel size, good for checking how the texture suits your skin, while the 50ml suits daily morning and evening use and works out better value per ml. The 147 Barrier Cream is sold in 50ml. The live price of each size is shown right under the Add to Cart button.
Where can I buy original Dr.Althea 345 and 147 cream in Pakistan?
You can buy both from Korean Skincare Pakistan, an Official Authentic seller of Dr.Althea in Pakistan. Our stock is bought directly from official brand manufacturers and authorised distributors in Seoul, every inbound batch is batch-code verified, and every parcel ships from our Seoul warehouse by air. Delivery takes 5–7 days nationwide, with Cash on Delivery.
