Top Sunscreens 2024, Part 3: Korean Sunscreens

September 21, 2024

How to cite:
Wong M. Top Sunscreens 2024, Part 3: Korean Sunscreens. Lab Muffin Beauty Science. September 18, 2024. Accessed September 17, 2024.
https://labmuffin.com/top-sunscreens-2024-part-3-korean-sunscreens/

Here’s Part 3 of my updated sunscreen recommendations – these are the new Korean sunscreens I’m adding to my list.

The video is here – keep scrolling for the text version.

See Part 1 for the full background information – here’s a very summarised version:

This list contains daily face sunscreens, for light wear
It’s best to layer multiple forms of protection (hats, clothing, sunglasses, shade)
This list is subjective
My skin is oily to normal, easily dehydrated, prone to clogged pores, hyperpigmentation
I generally like lightweight sunscreens that sit nicely under makeup, and don’t sting my eyes
This list doesn’t include my 2022 recommendations, which I still recommend

The sunscreens listed here aren’t approved for sale in Australia.

Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen

SPF 50+
PA++++
No WR
Filters: Octyl Triazone, DHHB, Iscotrizinol (DEBT), Bisoctrizole (MBBT)

My full review of the Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream is in this sponsored StyleKorean video (the article version is here).

There’s a “family” of Korean sunscreens with the same core formula, containing the same filters. They’re all made by Kolmar, a big Korean sunscreen manufacturer, but they have slightly different finishes and different bonus skincare ingredients.

Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream is the version that’s super popular in Korea. It’s very similar to the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun:Rice + Probiotics that’s been my long-time favourite (I wore that at my wedding, and gave them out as wedding favours). They feel almost the same on my skin.

This is 0.8 grams of the Round Lab sunscreen on my face, after drying (0.8 grams is the amount I need for my face + 1 finger).

The formula is glidey and moisturising, without being sticky or greasy. I find this a touch more moisturising than the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen.

If I apply this unevenly and let it dry, I sometimes get a white streak on my face, but it blends out easily. On some people with darker skin there is a slight white cast though, like my friend Esther (@themelaninchemist) whose foundation shade is NW45. It likely comes from the MBBT, a particulate organic (chemical) sunscreen filter.

There’s no fragrance or alcohol in this sunscreen.

Ingredients: Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Niacinamide, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylyl Methicone, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glyceryl Glucoside, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ascorbic Acid, Adenosine, Pentylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Decyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, T-Butyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Carbomer

Skin1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum

SPF 50+
PA++++
No WR
Filters: Octyl Triazone, DHHB, Iscotrizinol (DEBT), Bisoctrizole (MBBT)

Skin1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum is another sunscreen from the same family, but this is probably the lightest version that exists. It’s very popular with people in more humid countries. My full review is in this Skin1004 sponsored video (the article version is here).

This sunscreen dries down to feel like almost nothing, but it’s still hydrating. It’s great if you hate the feeling of sunscreen on your face.

I really like the flat pump tube – it’s good for tucking into your handbag, and the pump makes it easy to measure out the right amount of product.

Ingredients: Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Niacinamide, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylyl Methicone, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract (9,800 ppm), Betula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Sprout Extract, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Sprout Extract, Eruca Sativa Leaf Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate (10 ppm), Behenyl Alcohol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Decyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Acrylates /C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, T-Butyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid(Ppm), Inositol, Hyaluronic Acid(0.01Ppm), Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Airyfit Sunscreen

SPF 50+
PA++++
No WR
Filters: Ecamsule (TDSA), Octyl Triazone (EHT), DHHB, Polysilicone-15, Bemotrizinol (BEMT)

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Airyfit Sunscreen is one of the few Korean chemical sunscreens so far that has a different formula from all the Kolmar ones, but still gets top marks from me.

The full review is in this Haruharu sponsored video – the article version is here.

The biggest upside – it has no white cast if you have darker skin.

To me, this feels slightly more moisturising than BoJ and Round Lab, but the finish is more matte.

Ingredients: Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Methicone, Polysilicone-15, Stellaria Media (Chickweed) Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Flower Extract, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Bellis Perennis (Daisy) Flower Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Palmitic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Methylpropanediol, Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Polyether-1, Myristic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Tocopherol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Phosphate

These products were originally provided as part of sponsorships as described above, which did not affect my opinion. I was not obligated to include them in any future content. This post also contains affiliate links – if you decide to click through and support Lab Muffin financially (at no extra cost to you), thank you! For more information, see Disclosure Policy.

Source link