Type: Chemical | SPF: 50+ | Finish: Dewy | PA++++

What makes the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sunscreen such great K-beauty sun protection? In addition to having a high SPF and a high PA rating, the formula is lightweight and smooth, making it easy to wear all day long. It blends effortlessly into skin and has a dewy to glowy finish. We love that it contains an ample amount of rice extract, which offers additional UV protection and contains antioxidants that may help reduce hyperpigmentation. Overall, this is a great pick for all skin types and tones.

The downsides: As with most dewy sunscreens, this product may have a shiny finish depending on your skin type and skincare routine. It may also cause a slight stinging sensation if you have a damaged skin barrier because it contains niacinamide (vitamin B3).

Type: Mineral | SPF: 50+ | Finish: Natural to Dewy | PA++++

If you’re on the hunt for a mineral-only Korean sunscreen, we recommend the HaruHaru Wonder Black Rice Sunscreen. We like that the lightweight formula blends easily into the skin and contains antioxidant-rich ingredients like rice bran oil, houttuynia cordata extract and daisy flower extract. The formula is also vegan and fragrance free.

While the non-nano zinc makes this sunscreen reef safe, it is also likely to leave a white cast on medium and dark skin tones. The pump is also not environmentally friendly, and makes it difficult to get every last drop of sunscreen out of the bottle when you’re nearing the end.

SPF 50+
PA++++
Reef safe mineral size, but means it’s more likely to leave white cast

Type: Chemical | SPF: 50+ | Finish: Satin | PA++++

In terms of best Korean chemical sunscreens, the ISNtree’s Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel is a close contender with the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sunscreen. It has a slightly more watery texture, though it just as easily blends into the skin. We love that it contains soothing antioxidant-rich ingredients like fig fruit extract and centella asiatica extract. Niacinamide also helps brighten skin. Overall, this product is an excellent choice for all skin types and skin tones.

On the other hand, the finish may become shiny depending on your skin type and skincare routine. The runny consistency may also make this a bit tricky to apply, and the niacinamide may cause slight stinging depending on the health of your skin barrier.

Type: Chemical | SPF: 50 | Finish: Natural to Glowy | PA+++

What we like about the Neogen Dermalogy Day Light Protection Airy Sunscreen: This lightweight and non-sticky sunscreen blends easily into skin and leaves a natural to glowy finish. Moisturizing ingredients help provide needed hydration while sebum-absorbing ingredients prevent oily skin.

However, this formula has several essential oils, including orange peel, bergamot, lavender and clove that can cause irritation. This product also contains octocrylene as the main sun protectant. While octocrylene is deemed safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it can naturally degrade into benzophenone, a suspected carcinogen.

Type: Chemical | SPF: 50+ | Finish: Dewy | PA++++

While chemical sunscreens don’t typically leave a white cast on dark skin because the skin absorbs them, they sometimes still leave a white tinge or take a while to sink in. The Blithe Cosmetics Honest Sunscreen does an excellent job of sinking quickly into the skin, even when you apply a generous amount. Extracts from banana, melon, pear, plum and rice bran also give the product a nice scent while controlling sebum production. Overall, this is a great pick for all skin tones and skin types.

What could be improved: The dewy finish can look shiny depending on your skin and skincare routine. This product is also on the pricey side, and it isn’t sold at many online retailers.

Type: Chemical and Mineral | SPF: 50+ Finish: Dewy | PA+++

What the Thank You Farmer Sun Cream does well: We love that this product has a smooth application and leaves the skin dewy with no white cast. It also contains hydrating and anti-inflammatory ingredients like aloe and common purslane (a succulent).

However, we wish this formula didn’t contain fragrance, though most buyers report that they didn’t experience skin sensitivity from the product. It also isn’t ideal for oily skin.

Type: Mineral and Chemical | SPF: 50+ | Finish: Natural to Dewy | PA++++

A sunscreen with good ingredients can do more than just protect you from the sun — it can also brighten hyperpigmentation and even out skin tone. The Skin1004 Tone Brightening Sunscreen is an excellent example, because it contains three key ingredients that may help fade hyperpigmentation and reduce redness: iron oxides, tranexamic acid and niacinamide. Centella compounds may also soothe skin. Overall, this is a gentle sunscreen that works well for sensitive skin.

Note that this formula has a peachy tint, which might not blend well with olive, medium or dark skin tones. It also isn’t available at many online retailers.

Type: Chemical | SPF: 50+ | Finish: Dewy | PA++++

If you struggle with dry skin but don’t want your skin to feel weighed down, try the Skin1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum. The formula contains lightweight hydrators like propanediol, which helps the skin retain moisture, glycerin and multiple hyaluronic acids. It also has soothing Centella Asiatica extract and a variety of other plant extracts to increase the product’s antioxidants.

However, this sunscreen may look shiny depending on your skin type and skincare routine. It can also leave a white finish on dark skin tones, even though it’s a chemical sunscreen, and it isn’t available at many retailers.

Type: Mineral | SPF: 50+ | Finish: Natural to Dewy | PA++++

Mineral sunscreen is sometimes difficult for dry skin to tolerate, as minerals like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide have drying effects. However, the Blithe Cosmetics Airy Sunscreen is an exception to the rule. This hydrating, gentle formula has a lightweight, smooth application and a dewy finish. This makes it great for mature and sensitive skin types as well.

As with most untinted mineral sunscreens, this product may leave a white cast on medium and dark skin tones. The formula is also runny, which can make it difficult to apply, and the natural to dewy finish can sometimes look shiny.

Type: Chemical | SPF: 50+ | Finish: Natural | PA++++

Hoping to find a Korean sunscreen that won’t exacerbate oily skin? If so, we recommend SCINIC’s Enjoy Super Mild Sun Essence. This lightweight and gentle formula absorbs into the skin well and dries down to a natural finish after a few minutes. Light hydrators like soy protein hyaluronic acid mean you don’t have to apply a moisturizer under this sunscreen in warm, humid weather, and the product never feels greasy.

In very hot, humid weather however, this product can feel damp and heavy. It can also leave a stinging sensation around the eyes depending on the health of your skin barrier.

Type: Chemical and Mineral | SPF: 50+ | Finish: Dewy | PA++++

Purito came under fire in 2020 when lab results showed that its famous Centella Green Level Sunscreen was actually SPF 19 and not the marketed SPF 50+. However, the brand came back strong with a new, clinically tested product: the Purito Daily Go-To Sunscreen. This mineral and chemical hybrid is a win for oily skin (and most skin types, for that matter). Though it has a dewy finish, it doesn’t feel oily or sticky, and it doesn’t pill under or over makeup. It also absorbs well into all skin types and tones.

The downsides? In very hot, humid weather, this sunscreen can feel heavy and greasy, and depending on your skin type, it may leave a shiny finish. It may also sting around the eyes depending on the health of your skin barrier and your skin sensitivity.

Type: Chemical | SPF: 50 | Finish: Dewy | PA++++

If you struggle with excess sebum and dry, flaky skin, we recommend trying the Naturium Dew-Glow Moisturizer. This Korean-American sunscreen contains lightweight hydrators like glycerin and squalane to soothe and moisturize skin, as well as antioxidants and brighteners like niacinamide and tocopherol to help control sebum. Overall, this sunscreen glides across skin and leaves a dewy, non-greasy finish.

However, this product may irritate the skin around the eyes, and it may leave a shiny finish depending on your skincare routine and skin type. The formula also has a mild sunscreen scent, which some buyers may dislike.

Type: Mineral | SPF: 50 | Finish: Matte | PA++++

Unlike most Korean sunscreens, the Dewytree Urban Shade Anti-Pollution Sunscreen has a matte finish — a plus for combination and oily skin types. It also contains gentle, non comedogenic hydrators like propanediol and sunflower seed oil. We love that the formula feels lightweight despite its mineral content.

On the other hand, this product contains a host of essential oils, including bergamot, orange peel and lavender. Though many buyers haven’t experienced irritation from the formula, likely because the essential oil amount is low, those with sensitive skin which may still experience irritation. The product also leaves a white cast on olive, medium and dark skin tones, and it may irritate the skin around the eyes.

Type: Chemical | SPF: 50+ | Finish: Natural | PA++++

In search of a sunscreen that doesn’t exacerbate acne? If so, we recommend the Goodal Houttuynia Cordata Sun Cream. The formula is extremely lightweight and wears well under makeup. It also uses new-age UV filters that may be less likely to cause irritation, and it contains lightweight moisturizers. Another potential benefit: The product doesn’t contain alcohol, fragrance or niacinamide, which can cause irritation and stinging (even though it’s a highly beneficial ingredient).

What could be improved: The bottle is small, and the natural finish may be closer to dewy on certain skin types. In very hot or humid weather, the formula can also feel heavy.

Type: Chemical | SPF: 50 | Finish: Natural to Satin | PA++++ Sunscreen sticks make re-applications easy, but the ingredients usually aren’t ideal. Fortunately, the Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Sun Stick is an exception. It contains excellent ingredients to strengthen your skin barrier, including ceramides and hyaluronic acid, and the tapered end makes it easy to apply the product around the eyes, nose and mouth. The formula also softens when it comes in contact with skin, so you don’t have to worry about rubbing hard to release the product. Overall, we love that this product has no white cast and a natural to satin finish. The downsides: There isn’t a lot of product in the sun stick for the price. In addition, the official Isntree Amazon page does not sell the Hyaluronic Acid Sun Stick, so we don’t recommend purchasing this product off of Amazon (you may receive a copycat brand with different ingredients instead).

Type: Chemical | SPF: 50+ | Finish: Natural to Dewy | PA++++

Like Purito, RoundLab came under fire in 2020 because its sunscreen was not as protective as the brand claimed. However, RoundLab reformulated the product and had it independently tested. The new, 2021 formulation is an excellent choice for reef-conscious buyers because it doesn’t contain ingredients known to harm reefs, such as nano zinc oxide, oxybenzone and octinoxate. It’s also very lightweight and easy to blend into all skin types and tones. This is a particularly good pick for those with combination or oily skin.

On the other hand, birch juice may be irritating for certain users, especially if you have a birch allergy. It’s also pricey when not on sale, and people with dry skin may need to use a moisturizer underneath it, particularly in cold weather.