The very best Korean sunscreens are amongst our absolute favourite sunscreens, and the explanations are past skin-deep. Along with their clear, cast-free finishes and hydrating, brightening, and even acne-fighting properties, Korean sunscreens are formulated with progressive UVA and UVB filters that have not been accredited stateside. (Hey, FDA, get on it.) TL;DR They can not be legitimately offered on Amazon, and another U.S. retailers. Fortunate for us, there are Asia-based retailers resembling Olive Younger (the Sephora of Korea, primarily), Stylevana, and Yesstyle that you would be able to purchase from with confidence.
Be taught extra about what units the most effective Korean sunscreens aside, because of knowledge from Okay-beauty consultants, dermatologists, and each NYC and Seoul-based Attract editors.
Our Prime Korean Sunscreens
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
Finest Total: Thank You Farmer Solar Challenge Moisture Solar Cream SPF 40
Why it is price it: You may see some acquainted, editor-beloved components in Thank You Farmer’s Solar Challenge Water Solar Cream, like soothing aloe leaves and hydrating sunflower seed extracts. Particularly noteworthy is that this sunscreen is a hybrid method, that means it incorporates each mineral and chemical filters (homosalate, octocrylene, and titanium dioxide, to be actual). “Centella asiatica extract and bamboo water are two key components that soothe and hydrate the pores and skin,” notes Eunice Park, MD, a twin board-certified facial plastic surgeon based mostly in Lengthy Island, NY, and founding father of AIREM, including that this moisturizing sunscreen is good for regular to dry pores and skin sorts.
P.S. Dr. Park additionally recommends Thank You Farmer’s The Solar Essence, which she calls a favourite throughout steamy summer time months. “It has a lightweight, watery texture with a pearlescent end that’s ultimate for regular to oily pores and skin sorts,” she notes.
Tester suggestions from Attract commerce editor Sarah Han
“Thank You Farmer Solar Challenge Moisture Solar Cream SPF 40 encapsulates all the things I like about Korean sunscreens, that are 100% extra elite than US sunscreens (I stated what I stated.),” says commerce editor Sarah Han. “It is supremely hydrating—a lot in order that I truly skip my daytime moisturizer—with out feeling heavy or greasy and provides my pores and skin a pleasant however not over-the-top glow. This light-weight cream actually melts proper in with out the slightest little bit of forged.”
Sunscreen kind/Key components/Who it is for
- Sunscreen kind: chemical
- Key components: homosalate (9%), octinoxate (6.8%), octisalate (4.5%), octocrylene (4%), and nutritional vitamins B5, B3, E, and Okay (panthenol, niacinamide, tocopherol, and menadione)
- Who it is for: all pores and skin sorts (until you do not like a barely dewy end)
Finest Glowy: Fantastic thing about Joseon Reduction Solar: Rice + Probiotic SPF50+ PA++++
Why it is price it: When you’re on magnificence TikTok, likelihood is you’ve got seen Fantastic thing about Joseon Reduction Solar: Rice + Probiotic SPF50+ PA++++ throughout your FYP. The viral sensation is likely one of the greatest sunscreens we have tried in recent times, partly resulting from its glowy and healthy-looking end. Chock-full of nourishing components resembling niacinamide, rice extract, and grain-derived probiotics, this chemical-free, cast-free method may simply make you sit up for making use of sunscreen each single day.
P.S. We have seen a pattern of Okay-beauty manufacturers formulating FDA-approved sunscreens to promote on Amazon—presumably, to fight the excessive quantity of counterfeits (of the authentic, non-FDA-approved formulation) being offered on the location. Fantastic thing about Joseon has one known as Each day Reduction Sunscreen SPF 40, which Han says has a pleasing texture however is a smidge heavier than its predecessor.
Tester suggestions from Attract senior information editor Nicola Dall’Asen
“Fairly frankly, I would by no means go for an additional sunscreen once more after the torrid affair I am at present having with Fantastic thing about Joseon’s Reduction Solar SPF 50,” senior information editor Nicola Dall’Asen shared in our roundup for the greatest moisturizers with SPF. “On TikTok’s advice, I purchased a complete four-pack of this Okay-beauty staple and have been tearing via all of it summer time, which is all too straightforward to do, given the way in which it melts into pores and skin like butter and leaves a highlighter-level glow behind.”
Sunscreen kind/Key components/Who it is for
- Sunscreen kind: chemical
- Key components: rice extract, niacinamide, pumpkin ferment extract, inexperienced tea, ginseng
- Who it is for: regular, mixture, and dry pores and skin
Finest Semi-Matte: Etude Sunprise Milk Ethereal End Solar Milk SPF 50+
Why it is price it: Many Korean sunscreens go away dewy or radiant finishes, however when you’ve got oily or mixture pores and skin, mineral formulation is perhaps extra snug to put on. True to its title, Etude Sunprise Milk Ethereal End Solar Milk SPF 50+ is a light-weight, milky, and fluid-like method that does not go away a chalky end or trigger your make-up to tablet, like different mineral sunscreens usually do. It does take a number of beats longer to totally take up, so so long as you do not thoughts that side, this subtly floral method is a goodie. Do not forget to shake effectively earlier than software!
“As somebody who primarily wears chemical sunscreens, it is not arduous to infer that I am very choosy about mineral sunscreens. Regardless of the preliminary jumpscare-white method, Etude’s Sunprise does not go away a ghastly forged on me, although I positively must be affected person mixing two fingers’ price of product—I take about 30 seconds altogether, and as you possibly can see in my after picture, my pores and skin returns to its pure state—only a smidge brighter and extra evened out. You’ll be able to see a delicate glow in my after picture, but when I have been to skip my moisturizer (which I completely might, since I utilized a hydrating essence and antioxidant serum prior), I believe I might obtain a more true matte end.”
Sunscreen kind/Key components/Who it is for
Sunscreen kind: mineral
Key components: zinc oxide (17%), aloe, acai berry, and acerola
Who it is for: mixture, oily, delicate pores and skin
Most Light-weight: Skin1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Match Solar Serum SPF 50+ PA++++
Why it is price it: All aboard the TikTok hype practice: Skin1004’s Hyalu-Cica Water-Match Solar Serum SPF 50+ PA++++ has taken over our feeds with its impossibly light-weight, serum-like method that leaves pores and skin trying dewy and contemporary. In line with the model, this sunscreen makes use of next-generation, photostable chemical UV filters resembling Tinosorb M, Uvinul A Plus, Uvinul T 150, and Iscotrizinol. How’s that for innovation?
One other Skin1004 sunscreen we love: Han says Skin1004’s Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Glow Solar Ampoule was her favourite magnificence launch of 2024. It is also extraordinarily light-weight, fluid, and leaves a really delicate dewy end that Han says does not emphasize her shiny areas.
Tester suggestions from Attract contributing editor Deanna Pai
“My pores and skin is of course oily and vulnerable to zits, so I at all times choose light-weight, fast-absorbing formulation. Nothing within the US market actually compares to this serum, which sinks in rapidly and leaves my pores and skin trying dewy, however not chalky or greasy. And it is infused with cica, which I’ve discovered truly tends to scale back redness of any energetic breakouts.”
Sunscreen kind/Key components/Who it is for
- Sunscreen kind: chemical
- Key components: hyaluronic acid, cica, arugula leaf, inexperienced tea, and broccoli extracts
- Who it is for: Individuals searching for a brilliant light-weight sunscreen; folks with oily/acne-prone pores and skin
Finest for Dry Pores and skin: Then I You Essence Mild Sunscreen SPF 50 PA+++
Why it is price it: Then I Met You’s Essence Mild Sunscreen SPF 50 PA+++ is a dream for pores and skin that craves hydration. Whereas this ethereal lotion is not as viscous as a typical Korean essence, it offers comparable, skin-boosting advantages—because of components resembling ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and provitamin B5—and leaves behind a dewy, radiant end. Even when you do not have dry pores and skin, it is price a strive, as our editors will attest.
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Tester suggestions from Attract affiliate magnificence director Sarah Kinonen
“Technically, I’ve mixture pores and skin, however catch me mid-day and you will see me shine from throughout the room. Whereas the Then I Met You Essence Mild Sunscreen SPF 50 PA+++ does not sop up oil and even forestall it, it does play into my day by day gleam in the most effective, most useful means by giving my pores and skin dehydrated much-needed moisture (within the type of ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and panthenol) because it protects it. I’ve gone via two, possibly three of those tubes already—it is the most effective!”
Sunscreen kind/Key components/Who it is for
Sunscreen kind: chemical
Key components: avobenzone (3%), homosalate (9%), octisalate (4.5%), octocrylene (5%), ceramides, fermented sake, hyaluronic acid, provitamin B5
Who it is for: folks with dry pores and skin (or anybody who does not thoughts trying glowy!)
Different nice Korean sunscreens
- Calling all those that are growing older gracefully: James Y. Wang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based mostly in LA, gave Cosrx’s Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen SPF 50+ a stamp of approval in our roundup of the greatest sunscreens for mature pores and skin. “Free radicals can contribute to untimely growing older, so the presence of vitamin E could assist preserve the well being and vitality of maturing pores and skin,” he defined. Silica and cotton extract assist curb extra sebum, so it is a superb alternative for shiny pores and skin as effectively.
- If in case you have delicate, redness-prone pores and skin, Dr.G’s Inexperienced Gentle Up Solar+ SPF 50+ PA++++ is an Attract Korea Better of Magnificence winner that is 100% zinc oxide-based and wealthy in soothing cica and heartleaf. “It does not odor or really feel like a standard facial sunscreen, which is nice for my delicate pores and skin,” Kinonen, who helped choose the winner, stated. “The lotion blends into pores and skin simply and does not go away any type of white forged.”
- Obtained zits? Some by Mi’s v10 Hyal Air Match Sunscreen SPF 50 touts niacinamide, which “has been proven to scale back sebum manufacturing,” NYC-based board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, defined. Some research additionally level to its capability to curb the expansion of bacteria-causing zits. Like many different superb formulation on this record, it goes on as a moist, white cream however leaves behind zero forged.
- On the lookout for a sunscreen that is hydrating and does not capsule below make-up? Jenny Liu, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based mostly in Minneapolis, recommends Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Each day Solar Gel SPF 30 PA+++, which she says is “tremendous light-weight, elegant, and nice below make-up.” Inside the method lie 10 (!) sorts of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, cica, and heartleaf, and adenosine, which may help chill out the looks of wrinkles over time.
- Want one thing handy for on-the-go reapplication, or have squirmy youngsters? Choose up the Abib Ethereal Sunstick Smoothing Bar SPF 50+ PA++++, a chemical sunscreen stick to a curved applicator that glides onto each nook and cranny of pores and skin with utter ease. It is also filled with skin-soothing components like ectoin, camellia japonica seed oil, and allantoin, and water resistant for as much as 80 minutes.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
How are Korean sunscreens totally different from Western sunscreens?
One of many key variations between Western sunscreens and Korean sunscreens is their position in our notion of skincare, as Zion Ko Lamm, MD, a board-certified inside medication physician based mostly in Charlotte, North Carolina, factors out. Korean sunscreens are a part of a skin-care life-style, defending in opposition to a broader vary of long-term results of the solar and selling basic pores and skin well being. Alternatively, Western sunscreens are formulated with necessity in thoughts, starting and ending with solar safety.
