Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream for skin with dark spots
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for skin with dark spots; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- This product offers excellent moisturizing and barrier support for your normal skin, with niacinamide and panthenol working to enhance resilience and provide mild brightening for pigmentation concerns.
- The inclusion of hyaluronic acid and various botanical extracts further contributes to hydration and soothing, complementing the primary ingredients.
- The formulation is safe for your skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing agents like Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract and Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it too hard so it absorbs nicely.
- For the best moisture, you can apply it when your skin is slightly damp. This helps your skin stay soft and happy.
- Remember to avoid the eye area when applying. Always do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 2.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this gel-cream is highly regarded by users with oily and acne-prone skin for its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that effectively soothes redness and strengthens the skin barrier without causing pore congestion. Some users with dry skin find it insufficiently moisturizing, and a few report occasional breakouts or pilling when layered with other products.
Highlights
Hydrating for Oily Skin Often Mentioned
- “hydrating but light”
- “good for oily skin”
- “glass skin effect”
- “moisture hug”
Lightweight & Fast Absorbing Often Mentioned
- “absorbs beautifully”
- “lightweight”
- “non-greasy”
- “perfect for summer”
Soothing & Calming Often Mentioned
- “calms redness”
- “soothes irritation”
- “healed skin barrier”
- “great for post-acne”
Improves Skin Texture Sometimes Noted
- “faded acne scars”
- “smoother texture”
- “brightens skin”
- “helped with bumps”
Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “broke me out”
- “caused closed comedones”
- “gave me whiteheads”
- “cystic acne”
Not moisturizing enough Sometimes Noted
- “not enough for dry skin”
- “skin felt tight”
- “need a thicker cream”
- “drying in winter”
Pilling issues Rarely Noted
- “pills under makeup”
- “rolls off”
- “doesn't layer well”
- “pilling with sunscreen”
Scent/Irritation Rarely Noted
- “smells like plants”
- “irritated my skin”
- “strong herbal scent”
- “reaction to botanicals”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, stylevana.com, yesstyle.com, reddit.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream a great fit for skin with dark spots?
This cream is a great fit because it contains niacinamide and panthenol, which help fade dark spots while keeping your skin calm and moisturized. These ingredients work to brighten uneven tone and support your skin barrier safely and effectively.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for skin with dark spots?
This cream is a great fit for skin with dark spots because it contains niacinamide and panthenol, which help fade dark areas and brighten your complexion. Niacinamide works by reducing excess pigment, while panthenol provides deep moisture to keep your skin smooth and healthy.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
What does Niacinamide do for skin with dark spots?
Niacinamide helps fade dark spots and uneven pigmentation by slowing down the transfer of pigment in the skin. It is generally well tolerated and may improve overall skin brightness with consistent use.
What does Centella Asiatica do for skin with dark spots?
Centella asiatica helps reduce dark spots by targeting the processes that cause excess pigment in the skin. Studies show that key compounds in this ingredient help calm the skin and manage melanin production.
Molecular Medicine Reports, 2014International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2025
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This moisturizing treatment goes near the end of your morning routine before sunscreen, and as the final step in your evening routine. It provides great barrier support and hydration while helping to brighten dark spots.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizing treatment with retinol by applying it either before or after your retinol to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. The formulation is very safe and well-suited to support your skin barrier while you use retinoids, which helps lower the likelihood of dryness and irritation.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice daily as part of your morning and evening routine. Regular daily application helps keep skin hydrated and supports a brighter, more even look for dark spots.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This cream is a great fit for skin with dark spots, but some reviewers do report that it may cause breakouts. It helps brighten dark spots and hydrate your skin while keeping the formula gentle and safe.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizing treatment is well-suited for the body and the thin skin around the eyes because its gentle formulation provides deep hydration and strong barrier support without harsh ingredients. Regular use helps smooth dry areas and keeps the skin calm and soft.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Electrospun poly (vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) patches loaded with evening primrose oil applied to the forearm of volunteers for 6 hours increased skin moisture, with pore size, shape, and fiber diameter influencing oil transport.
Biomaterials Advances, 2022A topical preparation containing urea, sunflower oil, evening primrose oil, wheat germ oil, and sodium pyruvate led to clinical improvement after a month in diverse hyperkeratotic skin conditions except pityriasis lichenoides.
Medicina Cutanea Ibero-latino-americana, 1986Topical application of linseed, evening primrose, and olive oil emulsions accelerated wound closure in rats with excision wounds compared to untreated controls, though via different mechanisms.
Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Polyglycerin-3, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydrogenated Poly C6-14 Olefin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Sargassum Fulvellum Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Empetrum Nigrum Fruit Juice, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, C14-22 Alcohols, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-51, Tromethamine, Fructooligosaccharides, Adenosine, Beta-Glucan, Glycine Soja Soybean Sterols, Peg-40 Castor Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Resveratrol, Tocopherol, Ceramide Np, Oligopeptide-1, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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