Review: COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream

Finding the perfect sunscreen is an endless struggle. I’m really picky about the products I put on my face because my skin doesn’t tend to like things that are heavily scented or contain alcohol. Unfortunately, most sunscreens fall into both of these categories so irritation and dryness inevitably ensue. The COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream has been on my radar for a little while as I’d heard it was really moisturising and gentle. I finally got round to buying it and here are my thoughts…

What is it?

The COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream is a sun protectant that does more than just shielding us from dangerous UV rays, it hydrates our skin too! The star of the show, the aloe extract, is said to reduce skin sensitivity and aid moisture retention.

What are the standout ingredients?

Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine – An oil-soluble compound that provides broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. It’s considered one of the best performing sunscreen agents on the market.

Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid – An organic compound that offers strong protection against UVB rays, but not against long range UVA rays.

Titanium Dioxide – A natural mineral that serves as a broad-spectrum UV filter (though it’s thought to be slightly more effective against UVB rays).

Aloe Arborescens Leaf Extract – A natural extract derived from the aloe vera plant. It’s claimed to promote skin healing and reduce inflammation.

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate – A salt of glycyrrhetic acid which comes from the liquorice plant. It has proven anti-inflammatory properties.

Tocopheryl Acetate – A synthetic form of vitamin E. It protects the skin from free radicals and helps with wound healing.

Check out the full ingredients list below and visit Incidecoder to find out exactly what each one does.

How should you use this product?

I normally use this as the last step of my skincare routine. After my moisturiser has dried down a little, I’ll squeeze a bit of this sunscreen out onto my fingers and dot it around my face. It’s quite creamy so I find that it blends out really well. It also applies super nicely over makeup if you need to top up throughout the day.

NOTE: Don’t forget to cover your ears and neck with this too!

The scent

I actually quite like the scent of the COSRX sun cream. It doesn’t have an overwhelming alcohol smell like some other face sunscreens tend to have. I don’t know how to explain it but it also doesn’t have that traditional sunscreen scent. It just kind of smells fresh, like a moisturiser rather than a sun protectant.

The texture and finish

I looooove the texture of this. In fact, it might be my favourite thing about this sun cream. It’s creamy and thick so it doesn’t run off the skin. It also blends like a dream, giving your skin a really nice glow afterwards.

I haven’t noticed any white cast, but since I’m quite pale it would be difficult to spot this anyway!

The packaging

The packaging is quite plain. The product comes in a simple white tube with a black cap. A couple of the key ingredients are printed on the front too.

I know many argue that COSRX packaging can be a little clinical looking. For a sunscreen though, I think this is fine. It’s a functional necessity so it doesn’t need to be super fancy.

Find more COSRX reviews here:

COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence Review

COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream Review

Sustainability

Ethical: COSRX is a cruelty-free brand and none of its products are tested on animals anywhere in the world.

Environmental: In terms of packaging, the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream seems to be recyclable. Both the tube and cap are made from polypropylene which is widely accepted. However, you’ll have to check with your local authority whether black plastic can be recycled.

Overall thoughts

I do like this sunscreen but it pills too much for me to use it daily. While it initially blends out and sits well over other skincare products, I find that over time it does start to ball up and flake off. I don’t know whether this would be different if I change the toner, essence or moisturiser I put on underneath. But I am using the COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence at the moment, so it would be strange for the brand’s own products to work against each other.

Other than that, this sun cream is amazing. My skin can be pretty reactive and I didn’t notice any sensitivity or breakouts when wearing this. I also really did feel like my skin was softer and more hydrated when I had this on.

I’d probably buy it again but, because of the pilling, I think I’ll stick to wearing it at home on no-makeup days.

EDIT: I’ve tried out this sunscreen a bit more and I’ve noticed that the pilling is largely down to the moisturiser you use underneath. I decided to try it out with CeraVe’s Moisturising Cream and it pilled way less.

Where can I buy it?

You can pick this up at quite a few UK retailers. It sells for around £14 at PURESEOUL and Skinsider.

You can also order this sunscreen from international stockists Stylevana (£9.89) or YesStyle (£9.96).

More sunscreen reviews:

SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum

TIA’M My Signature Vita Red Sunscreen Review

FAQ

How much product does the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream contain?

Each tube contains 50ml of product.

Which skin types does the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream suit?

Formulated with aloe vera, this sunscreen is designed to be super soothing so it would be great for sensitive skin. I can also see this suiting dry skin types because it is rich and creamy.

Does the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream contain alcohol?

This does contain some alcohol, but it shouldn’t be enough to cause any irritation or dryness.

Does the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream leave a white cast?

This is a hybrid sunscreen (containing both physical and chemical UV filters) so there is the possibility of it leaving a white cast. Personally, I don’t find that it leaves a white cast on my skin.

Does the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream clog pores or cause breakouts?

Looking at the ingredients list, this sunscreen doesn’t appear to contain any ingredients that would cause congestion or breakouts.

Is the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream cruelty-free?

All COSRX products are cruelty-free 🙂

Have you tried the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream? What’s your current favourite sunscreen?

And, for more guidance on where you can pick up your favourite K-beauty goodies, check out my post Where To Buy K-Beauty In The UK.