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Sunscreen is a hot topic among skincare experts. Here in America, we fully champion mineral-based sunscreens, but over in Korea, I often feel like they’re way ahead of the game. They have room to experiment with new and improved organic filters that really get the job done. Many of them make things like greasiness, white cast, and dryness a thing of the past—they even have fantastic options for sensitive, acne-prone skin.
What’s not to love! I’m a huge fan of Korean sunscreens and apparently dermatologists are too. I asked double board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD, FAAD, for some of his recs and included a few of our beauty-team favorites below. Keep scrolling and find the best Korean sunscreen for you.
Our Top Picks:
Innisfree Daily UV Defense Invisible Broad Spectrum SPF 36 ($18)
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics (SPF 50 + Pa++++) ($18)
Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb SPF 45 Korean Moisturizer Sunscreen ($38)
Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel ($18)
Iunik Centella Calming Moisture Daily Sunscreen SPF 50+ Pa++++ ($16)
Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen (SPF 50 + Pa++++) ($20)
Skin1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF 50+ Pa++++ ($9)
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Airyfit Daily Sunscreen ($17)
Innisfree
Daily UV Defense Invisible Broad Spectrum SPF 36 Sunscreen
“Formulated with green tea to provide antioxidant protection and sunflower seed oil for improved hydration, this daily SPF sunscreen offers broad spectrum SPF 36 protection.” — Camp
Pros: Affordable, no white cast, delivers lightweight hydration
Cons: Not oil-free
Customer Review: “This is one of the best sunscreens I’ve used. It gives you a beautiful, healthy glow, with zero white cast.”
Beauty of Joseon
Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics (SPF 50 + Pa++++)
This creamy Beauty of Joseon formula is a Who What Wear beauty team and dermatologist favorite. I love that this doesn’t feel like a sunscreen at all—it just feels like a second moisturizer but never feels too oily. Everyone’s skin is different, but this formula never breaks out my super-sensitive, acne-prone skin.
“Rice and grain fermented extracts are included in this daily SPF 50+ sunscreen because they are rich in vitamins B, C, E, amino acids, and minerals to nourish and fortify the skin.” — Camp
Pros: Rich in vitamins and minerals, feels more like a moisturizer, great for sensitive skin
Cons: None
Customer Review: “This sunscreen is absolutely amazing! It doesn’t have a smell to it, it is very lightweight, it doesn’t leave a white cast and it leaves a very nice glow after it. I stopped using my CC cream and replaced it with this instead. I have used it three times a day for a few weeks now and it hasn’t broken me out at all (I have oily skin) and it feels so hydrating.”
Belif
The True Cream Aqua Bomb SPF 45 Korean Moisturizer Sunscreen
We sure do love a two-in-one product. This moisturizer and sunscreen in one has super hydrators like glycerin and dimethicone to really lock the moisture in.
“This lightweight SPF 45 sunscreen is made with marigold and noni extract to help skin recover from UV rays.” — Camp
Pros: A moisturizer and sunscreen in one
Cons: Not oil-free
Customer Review: “This is one of the few spf/moisturizers that doesn’t make me break out. Dries down quickly and sits great under makeup. I have combination skin and I find this works year round!”
Isntree
Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel
This particular Korean sunscreen is a favorite of Who What Wear beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock. It features eight types of hyaluronic acid and other hero skin barrier–supporting ingredients like niacinamide. It also happens to be a dermatologist favorite.
“Different-size molecules of hyaluronic acid are included in this daily SPF 50+ sunscreen moisturizer to improve penetration in the skin and moisture retention.” — Camp
Pros: Lightweight texture, improves moisture retention, super hydrating with eight types of hyaluronic acid
Cons: Has a light fragrance and may not be suitable for allergy-prone skin
Customer Review: “After using for a week, I’m not returning other sunscreens’ calls! The watery texture, hydrating feel, satin finish, and lack of scent make this just about perfect for everyday wear on my combo, blemish prone, wisdom-showing skin. Wears well under makeup up and is easy to reapply without much disruption when using a cushion.”
IUNIK
Centella Calming Moisture Daily Sunscreen SPF 50+ Pa++++
This is my absolute favorite Korean sunscreen on the market. Like most other Korean sunscreens, it’s super lightweight and hydrating and just feels like a second moisturizer. It’s especially great for acne-prone, sensitive, and compromised skin, though, because it contains 49% Centella extract. Centella calms any red, irritated, or angry breakouts I have almost instantly. As a bonus, it’s also oil-free.
Pros: Calming, hydrating, oil-free, great for sensitive and acne-prone skin
Cons: None
Customer Review: “I bought this sunscreen because I wanted a centella/cica themed sunscreen, as I have a lot of redness and am more sensitive to sun. I love how quickly it absorbs into the skin and that it doesn’t affect my makeup on top of it. It is a small squeeze container that I can easily put in my purse. I love it and will likely repurchase when I run out!”
ROUND LAB
Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen (SPF 50 + Pa++++)
Active ingredients in this formula include niacinamide to help with hyperpigmentation and hyaluronic acid to provide deep hydration. Folks also praise its ability to be incredibly hydrating with zero white cast.
Pros: Includes niacinamide to lighten hyperpigmentation, hydrates the skin, lightweight lotion texture
Cons: Can feel a bit heavy to certain skin types
Customer Review: “This product is amazing. It dries down extremely well and you can’t even tell that it’s on your face, it feels like a normal lotion and does not have any sort of smell from what I can tell. I’ve tried other korean sunscreens, but I can always feel the oil especially after I sweat and it makes me feel extremely gross, but once this sunscreen dries down, it STAYS THAT WAY.”
Skin1004
Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF 50+ Pa++++
This organic sunscreen features hyaluronic acid, Centella asiatica extract, and niacinamide to hydrate, brighten, and calm the skin. Additional extracts provide antioxidant protection, and it leaves your skin plump and glowing.
Pros: Creamy texture that glides on easily; affordable; doesn’t leave a white cast; hydrates, brightens, and calms the skin
Cons: Leaves a dewy finish that might not be for everyone
Customer Review: “I use this for my oily t-zone and it’s light weight enough of a moisturizer (I skip my moisturizer), no white cast, not sticky, and I didn’t notice any pilling. It finishes natural, slight dew but nothing outrageously shiny. With all this, it’s hard to come by so it’s definitely a holy grail for me now. Other sunscreens, in my experience, for my t-zone it just ends up super shiny or pills.”
Haruharu Wonder
Black Rice Moisture Airyfit Daily Sunscreen
This gentle and hydrating formula works great for my sensitive skin. I don’t find it to be greasy or sticky, and it never leaves a white cast. It’s great for days my skin is extra dehydrated, but I do have to be careful with it because it has a bit of oil in it and my skin is super sensitive and acne-prone ATM.
Pros: Leaves a velvety finish, great for sensitive skin, ultra hydrating, contains powerful antioxidants
Cons: Not oil-free
Customer Review: “My old k-beauty sunscreen favorites are either hard to find, discontinued, and/or no longer the same formulas. My criteria for sunscreen are that it must be safe for sensitive skin, have no white cast, no/minimal fragrance and leave a matte or natural finish. I’m asian and have sensitive, oily, acne prone skin and upon researching through my skincare source of truth, reddit, I saw this product mentioned among many others. Amazon happened to have a sale on this one in particular (3/31/24) and after thoroughly checking all the ingredients, I decided to give it a go. Also the packaging is cute and it’s even reef safe. I love the pump and the fact that it keeps the product airtight! It’s texture is like a light cream to me and does give a nice natural glow, but not oily/greasy. It feels comfortable and moisturizing and wears well. Now that it’s approved by me, my family has been asking me to order them some and I’ve been checking amazon religiously ever since for a sale because I have a LOT of family members. Lo and behold, there’s a sale right now (5/1/24) and you best believe I just put in a bulk order (for the fam and a backup for me), arriving tomorrow 😉 I haven’t tried anything from Haruharu before this, but this sunscreen is now my holy grail everyday sunscreen. Get this and thank me later!”
FAQs
How Is Korean Sunscreen Different From American Sunscreen?
“Filters” are used to describe the ingredients in sunscreen that are used to stop UVA and UVB rays. There are physical filters (inorganic particles), which sit on top of the skin to block the sun’s rays (like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide), and organic chemical filters (like avobenzone or octinoxate), which work by absorbing the sun’s rays.
Here in the United States, the FDA hasn’t approved any new sunscreen filters for some time, because there is a much more rigorous testing and approval process to make sure filters put out here are considered safe. In Korea and other areas like Europe, sunscreen is considered a cosmetic product, and the standards aren’t quite as strict as they are in the U.S. For that reason, there’s room to experiment with newer types of chemical organic filters.
Are Korean Sunscreen Filters Safe?
While Korea often has access to new and improved organic chemical filters, the issue is that there are fewer studies done and safety data on these ingredients. Traditional filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are well-studied and have years of research to back up their efficacy and safety.
Don’t worry, though. Korean sunscreens are still subject to testing by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. So even though they may have less data behind them, they are still being tested. It is, however, something to consider if you’re concerned about long-term safety.
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