The Ultimate SKIN1004 Sunscreen Comparison: Which is Best?

AD info | The Madagascar Centella Air-Fit Suncream was gifted to me by SKIN1004 to review. The Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum was sent by the brand without obligation to review and I have since repurchased this. All other sunscreens in this post were bought with my own money. As always, the opinions expressed in this post are honest and my own.

If you’re a long-time The Summer Study reader, you’ll know just how much love I have for the SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum. As someone who hates the feel of sunscreen on their skin, it’s a God tier skincare product for me – I couldn’t be without it in my morning routine.

I’m not alone though, the Hyalu-Cica sunscreen is probably one of SKIN1004’s bestselling products, and for sure their most popular sunscreen. It really is that good!

If you’re not that familiar with SKIN1004, this may be the only product of theirs you’ve come across. But there’s so much more to explore – especially when it comes to sun care!

The brand actually has a whole host of sunscreens, across different collections, which have been formulated to suit different skin types and target different skin concerns. From dullness to discolouration, acne to hypersensitivity, there’s a sun cream for everyone.

With so many options to choose from, though, how can you decide which SKIN1004 sunscreen is right for you?

That’s where I come in!

In this post, I’ll be reviewing the various SKIN1004 sunscreens on offer and helping you pick out the best sunscreen for your skin type. If you want to find your dream SKIN1004 sunscreen, just keep reading!

Let’s meet the SKIN1004 sunscreen family…

SKIN1004 currently has seven sunscreens; two in the original Madagascar Centella line, two in the Hyalu-Cica line, and then one in every other collection (except Poremizing).

I actually haven’t tried the Tone Brightening Tone-Up Sunscreen or the Hyalu-Cica Sun Stick so I won’t be giving a personal opinion on those today, but I will come back and update this post if I do get round to testing them. I’m generally not a fan of tone-up or stick sunscreens, but I could make an exception if the SKIN1004 ones have great reviews!

As of February 2025, we’ve got:

1. SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF50+ PA++++ – A serum-like chemical sunscreen with a dewy finish.
2. SKIN1004 Tea-Trica Soothing Sun Milk SPF50+ PA++++ – An ultra-lightweight hybrid sunscreen for acne-prone skin.
3. SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Air-Fit Suncream Plus SPF50+ PA++++ – A beige-coloured mineral sunscreen with calming properties.
4. SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Glow Sun Ampoule SPF50+ PA++++ – A moisturising chemical sunscreen for compromised skin.
5. SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Air-Fit Suncream Light SPF30 PA++++ – A mineral sunscreen with a matte finish.
6. SKIN1004 Tone Brightening Tone-Up Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ – A peach-tinted hybrid sunscreen with brightening benefits.
7. SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Silky-Fit Sun Stick SPF50+ PA++++ – A nourishing chemical sunscreen in stick form.

SKIN1004 Sunscreen Comparison & Reviews

1. SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF50+ PA++++

Sunscreen type: Chemical

Best for: Dry, sensitive skin

If you couldn’t already tell by my introduction to this SKIN1004 Sunscreen Comparison post, this is hands-down my favourite SKIN1004 SPF. Strike that, it’s my favourite sunscreen full stop.

If I could create my dream sun cream, it would be this.

It’s lightweight but still feels sufficiently moisturising. It’s got a dewy finish, but it doesn’t feel greasy. And it’s so gentle and non-irritating that even the most sensitive skin will get on with it. I’ve tried lots of sunscreens over the years and it’s so difficult to find a product that ticks all these boxes.

I usually have a really difficult time with chemical sunscreens because so many of them sting my eyes, but this one is so mild. I can rub it all over my eyelids and I get no irritation whatsoever. That’s what I love most about it!

Oh, and I can’t forget to mention that this has 0 white cast. It blends into the skin within seconds and literally feels like another layer of moisturiser. There’s no typical sunscreen scent, no stickiness, and no pilling. It’s a winner all round.

2. SKIN1004 Tea-Trica Soothing Sun Milk SPF50+ PA++++

Sunscreen type: Hybrid

Best for: Sensitive, acne-prone skin that leans dry

If it’s weightlessness you’re after, look no further than the SKIN1004 Tea-Trica Soothing Sun Milk. This has to be the lightest of the lot. I can totally understand why the brand describes this as a ‘milk’ – it’s VERY sheer.

I was actually pretty surprised to find out that this is a hybrid sunscreen since, despite containing Zinc Oxide, this blends into the skin very easily and leaves no white cast behind. If you told me that this is a purely chemical formula I would absolutely believe it!

Taking a look at the other ingredients, we’ve obviously got Tea Tree in here, but you wouldn’t really be able to tell unless you went through the ingredients list. It doesn’t smell like Tea Tree, nor does it have that classic drying effect.

You might not think Tea Tree and sensitive skin would go hand in hand, but this sunscreen proves that Tea Tree products can be gentle and moisturising. It’s a really nice formula for reactive skin which also needs a boost of hydration.

Of all the other SKIN1004 sunscreens, this is the one that comes closest to the Hyalu-Cica Sun Serum. However, it’s not quite as undetectable on the skin. Don’t get me wrong, it is very lightweight, but I find that it’s a tad dewier and a little more oily-feeling. That’s why I think it’s probably most suited to those on the dry side of the skin type spectrum.

3. SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Air-Fit Suncream Plus SPF50 PA++++

Sunscreen type: Mineral

Best for: Oily and combination skin

The Air-Fit Suncream Plus was one of the first products from the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella collection I was introduced to, and I think it may actually be the brand’s very first sunscreen release.

This is a beige-coloured mineral sun cream designed to be pore-blurring and hard-wearing. You’ll see in the swatches below that it’s quite distinctive. Because of its colour, it looks very different to all the other SKIN1004 sunscreen formulas in this comparison post.

This isn’t explicitly marketed as a ‘tone-up’ sunscreen but the beige tint does seem to give it a sort of colour-correcting effect. With Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide as its main UV filters too, this leaves an additional white cast on the skin. All-in-all, it’s not one of those sunscreens that effortlessly disappears as you rub it in. That’s not to say it’s all bad, I do still think it has its place!

This sunscreen has a powdery, matte finish which is perfect for oily skin types. It prevents excess sebum production so you’re not having to blot throughout the day. It also really does even out the skin and reduce the appearance of pores. I’d wear it way more often if it didn’t wash me out so much!

4. SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Glow Sun Ampoule SPF50+ PA++++

Sunscreen type: Chemical

Best for: Sensitive, dry to normal skin

If you’re looking for pure nourishment, the SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Glow Sun Ampoule has your back. This is SKIN1004’s most moisturising sunscreen, containing ingredients like Panthenol, Betaine and Ceramide NP to battle dryness.

As this is part of SKIN1004’s Probio-Cica line, it also contains Lactobacillus/Centella Asiatica Extract Ferment Filtrate which helps strengthen and repair the skin barrier.

Texture-wise, this is another very lightweight formula. It’s got a lotion-like feel to it, sitting somewhere between the SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Sun Serum and the Tea-Trica Sun Milk.

I like how easy this is to blend into the skin. It feels just like a serum, leaving no white cast and no real trace that you’re wearing sunscreen behind.

The finish is very dewy, so it’s ideal for those with dry skin. It does take a little while to dry down though, so you may want to apply this well in advance of doing your makeup, just to make sure that it has enough time to set without pilling.

The other downside to this dewiness is that it has a tendency to feel a little bit oily on the skin. It’s not massively greasy, but just something to bear in mind if you have sensory issues with sunscreens.

5. SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Air-Fit Suncream Light SPF30 PA++++

Sunscreen type: Mineral

Best for: Oily, combination and normal skin

This is the formula that I would consider closest to a ‘traditional’ sunscreen. It’s the ‘light’ version of the Air-Fit Plus Suncream but, in all honesty, I wouldn’t say it feels any more lightweight on the skin than the original.

Perhaps the ‘light’ in the name refers to the lower sun protection level – this one is SPF30 compared to the Air-Fit Plus’s SPF50+. In fact, all other SKIN1004 sunscreens are SPF50+ which makes this one a bit of an outlier.

The SKIN1004 Air-Fit Suncream Light is a mineral sunscreen, containing only one UV filter: Zinc Oxide. Zinc Oxide is known for leaving a white cast on the skin, so it’s not surprising that this sunscreen does just that.

The white cast does fade a little as the product sinks into the skin, but not enough to make this wearable for darker skin tones. Even on my skin tone (Fitzpatrick Type 2), I find it takes a lot of rubbing to get this sunscreen to a point where I could wear it by itself.

That said, I actually do quite like the feel and finish of this on the skin. It’s not exactly moisturising but it’s not drying either. It’s one of those sunscreens that complements the skincare prep you’ve done. So, while it does have a velvety, matte finish, it doesn’t undo all the effort you might have gone through to create a healthy and hydrated base underneath!

6. SKIN1004 Tone Brightening Tone-Up Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++

Sunscreen type: Hybrid

Best for: Sensitive, combination and normal skin

Tone-up sunscreens aren’t generally my cup of tea so, as I mentioned above, I haven’t purchased this one and therefore can’t give a full opinion on it. But I’ll still go through the positives and negatives of the sunscreen, just to give a helping hand if this is a product you’re considering buying.

This is a hybrid sunscreen which counts Uvinul A Plus, Uvinul T 150 and Iscotrizinol as its chemical UV filters, and Titanium Dioxide as its singular mineral UV blocker.

It’s got a peachy tone to it which helps brighten the complexion and gives it that ‘tone-up’ effect. Tone-up sunscreens tend to leave quite a distinct white cast, so I generally wouldn’t recommend them if you’re any higher than Type 3 on the Fitzpatrick Skin Chart.

This sunscreen also contains Madewhite™, Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid which fade dark spots and improve discolouration.

This isn’t designed to be super moisturising, and many of the reviews on the SKIN1004 claim this sunscreen feels a little drying and clings to flaky areas on the skin. Because of this, I’d probably avoid this one if your skin is naturally dry.

7. SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Silky-Fit Sun Stick SPF50+ PA++++

Sunscreen type: Chemical

Best for: Sensitive, dry to normal skin

Again, I haven’t yet tried the SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Silky-Fit Sun Stick so I won’t be giving a personal review of this sunscreen, but I will breakdown the pros and cons.

Since this is part of the Hyalu-Cica line, the Silky-Fit Sun Stick has been formulated with moisture in mind. It contains two forms of Hyaluronic Acid to keep the skin hydrated, as well as various plant extracts (like Turmeric Root, Grape Fruit and Green Tea) to soothe and reduce inflammation.

The sun stick is meant to glide smoothly across the skin, leaving a soft, matte finish behind. Most people agree that the sunscreen feels very lightweight on the skin, though some say that it feels a little waxy.

The stick itself is small and portable so it can be thrown into a bag for reapplication throughout the day. It’s meant to apply well over makeup, causing very little transfer or smudging.

SKIN1004 Sunscreen Comparison: Texture & Swatches

Being mineral sunscreens, the SKIN1004 Air-Fit Suncreams – both Plus and Light – are the thickest in texture. However, they still feel fairly light on the skin… just not as light as the Tea-Trica, Hyalu-Cica and Probio-Cica sunscreens.

You can also tell from the swatches that the Air-Fit Suncreams are the most opaque, which is a good indication that they’ll leave a white cast. The other three are very sheer and you can see that they’ve started to skin into the skin.

SKIN1004 Sunscreen Comparison: Final Thoughts

Overall, I think finding the SKIN1004 sunscreen that suits you best will depend on your skin type.

Those with dry, sensitive skin will likely get on with the Hyalu-Cica and Probio-Cica sunscreens. Those with acne-prone skin will probably like the Tea-Trica Sun Milk. And if you have oily skin, you might find that the Air-Fit suncreams work well for you.

If you’re looking for a sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white cast, though, I would avoid both Air-Fit suncreams and the Tone-Up sunscreen. They aren’t bad formulas but the mineral UV filters will mean that a white layer is left on the skin.

Thanks for reading my SKIN1004 Sunscreen Comparison! Which of these sunscreens do you think looks best? Let me know in the comments!