If I could turn back time, one of the things I will change, will be wearing sunscreen when I was younger. Sunscreen must be worn everyday, cloudy or sunny, indoors or outdoors and yet mostly it is associated with bright sunny days on beach during summer. Maybe it is because most brands start pushing out their spf products as summer approaches. There are just too many to choose from that sometimes it gets overwhelming. Today’s article will however focus only on Korean Sunscreens.
Today sunscreens are available in all possible finishes and formulas so you can pick what ever works for your skin tone and type. A few rules however stay the same.
- Minimum spf30 is needed for protection when you are out in the sun
- sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours
- 1/4 ts for face or 1/2 ts for face and neck is what you must apply to get the protection level labeled on the product.
We are all too well aware of the dialogue about physical Vs Chemical sunscreens so I will not go deep into that. If I have a choice, I always pick physical/mineral sunscreen given the white cast is not too much for my skin tone. If the white cast is not too aggressive, I find applying in 2-3 layers instead of putting on entire quarter tea spoon at once usually helps me avoid the white cast. Also if the mineral sunscreen is too thick, warming it up a little between the fingers and then applying in layers is great way to avoid white cast.
There are tinted sunscreens out there now with spf as high as 50 and I love them as much as next girl but hear me out. unless you are applying a 1/4 ts of CC cream on your face (which honestly I can’t because it will be too much and will probably make me look cake-y and I do not like thick layer of makeup on my face specially when it is warm) you may want to supplement it with a spf primer or wear it on top of another sunscreen. Just use your common sense to determine if you have enough spf product on.
There are also sunscreens for body and lips which are as important if your body skin is exposed to sun. I’ll do a separate article on those options. This article however is first instalment of the sunscreens for face. With the K-Beauty’s rise of popularity in North America, it has become easier for us to buy and try Korean sunscreens. I for ones, love Korean sunscreens for most part. Not all the ones I tried were good fits for me but that was mostly due to my brown skin tone. More over most of them are priced very reasonably which matters specially for the sunscreens. If you actually re-apply every two hours in proper amount, you must know how fast a tube runs out.
SKIN 1004: Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF50+
As the name suggests, It is an spf serum that is loaded with skin loving ingredients and gives us benefits of a serum and protection of a sunscreen. I love it for it’s lightweight fast absorbing texture. The fact that it completely disappears in the skin without making it greasy and has zero white cast , makes it a wonderful option for all skin types and complexions, including oily skin and deeper skin tones.
It is very hydrating so I don’t feel the need of applying a separate moisturizer with it. I have tried it with a few different foundations and tinted moisturizers and none of them presented any issues. It is a solid contender and very easy to buy from Amazon
SKIN 1004: Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Silky Fit Sunstick SPF50+
Sunsticks are making a splash for last couple of years. These are considered easiest to reapply on the go. Last year I decided to give them a shot and tried a few from non Korean brands. Both times I encountered the same problems. For once the formulas were very sticky for my oily skin and both of them (even though one was lightly tinted) left horrible horrible white cast on me that wouldn’t dissipate over time. They formed thick film on my face and it just felt too gross to touch. I was certain at that time that unsticks are most definitely not for me until of course I tried this Korean sunstick that changed it all.
This unstick feels like nothing on face if that makes sense. It has a silky feel to it so it glides on skin effortlessly without tugging on it or disturbing any makeup. It is completely invisible on skin which means no film or white cast. Since with the stick formula, it is a little hard to determine if enough amount has been applied, so I do two full swipes all over the face to make sure I have covered it all.
This has become my go to sunscreen for re-application and to toss in my bag. I can reapply it with ease even when I am walking around and don’t have to worry about it sticking on a place or disturbing my makeup. I received it in PR along with the Skim1004 Sun Serum but have already purchased a back up stick from Amazon.
HEIMISH: TONE-UP SUNSCREEN Bulgarian Rose Tinted Tone-Up UVA/UVB Protection SPF50+
Tone-up products are a big thing in Asian beauty and I have seen a lot of them all over social media so I was naturally curious about how they work. When Heimish offered to send me their very famous Bulgarian Rose Tinted Tone-up spf, I was thrilled to see what the hype was and I did understand what it was. As name suggests, it tones up the complexion a few shades but(and that is a big but) IMO these are not designed for brown skin unless you don’t mind to look like you have painted your face white. There is still a way to use it but then it will not be considered a proper spf but more like finishing product.
This tone up cream has a soft pink tint to it. Consistency is thin and formula is fast absorbing with a comfort matte finish. I tried to use it with the layering method where I divide my quarter tea spoon sunscreen in three parts and apply one at a time to let first layer absorb before adding next, but I still didn’t like how white it made my face look. I ended up using just a drop of it at the end on top of my regular sunscreen. This way it gave my face a nice matte finish and a little brightness without changing my skin tone and making me look ghostly.
Does that mean it is a bad product, of course not. though it sure means this is not suitable for medium to deep skin tones. I think people with fair, light, or even light medium complexion may enjoy it.
ฤAlba:UV Essence Waterfull+ Sun Cream SPF50+
One name and two sunscreens what is that? Let me explain. ฤAlba another Korean brand that is famous for its truffle powered products, Offers two different sunscreen formulas of their UV Essence Waterfull+
- Whitening & Anti-wrinkle Sun Cream
A super lightweight fast absorbing sun cream that not only provides spf50+ protection against Uv rays but also has anti aging and brightening benefits. Texture is hydrating but very lightweight that makes it a great choices for all skin types. I tried it last year and liked it a lot. It doesn’t require a separate moisturizer and works well with other skincare products and makeup. I will happily buy it again once I use up my stash of million other sunscreens. It is conveniently available at Amazon.
- MILD 100% Mineral Filter Sun Cream
As it is obvious from the name, this is mineral version of ฤAlba Sun Cream. Compared to it’s sister, this one has a slightly thick texture and some white cast. However the texture is not too thick to make my skin look greasy and when applied warmed up between fingers and applied in thin layers, white cast is not too bad either and dissipates after a while. For these reasons, I mostly wore it only when I had time to apply in layers and wait for the white cast to go away. this also means that it is not a good choice for me for re-applying. Again if you are a POC like me, you may not like it as much as the chemical version but anyone with lighter skin tones can enjoy it well. You can buy this one from Amazon.
รUNIK: Centella Calming Daily Sunscreen SPF50+
Another wonderful choice that checks all boxes. Light weight formula , thin consistency, fast absorbing, loaded with skin loving ingredients and no white cast at all. From formula to finish and look, it is very similar to the Skin1004 Sun serum that we talked about in the beginning of this article.
A solid choice for all skin types and skin tones and also easily available at Amazon at a very affordable price.
TRUECARE: Non-Nano Sunscreen SPF48
This sunscreen was a complete let down for me. Ironically this was my first Korean sunscreen so my expectations were high but it couldn’t meet even the low expectations. It is a mineral sunscreen so understandable that it could be a little thick and will have some white cast but this was very over the top. This has the worst white cast I have experienced in a sun screen. No matter how small of an amount I applied the white cast was too much for me to risk applying a second layer.
Again someone with lighter skin tone may have a different opinion of it but it definitely is not a brown person friendly product.
I will keep updating this article over the time as I come across more Korean sunscreens and manage to try them or if anything changes about the ones I have listed above.
All of you have a lovely summer, remember to stay hydrated and don’t forget to apply and reapply your sunscreen in right amount and strength for optimal sun protection.
I have some other famous Asian sunscreen options listed in my Amazon Favourites if you want to explore more choices including some famous Japanese brands.
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