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Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun SPF is already high up in my Korean sunscreen rankings, so imagine my excitement when I saw that the brand were releasing a sister sunscreen: their new Relief Sun Aqua-fresh Rice + B5 formula.
As you can probably tell from the picture above, the Aqua-fresh sunscreen looks strikingly similar to the original Relief Sun sunscreen (well, in terms of packaging at least!). So what is it that sets these two sun creams apart?
To be honest, the main reason I wanted to give this new Beauty of Joseon sunscreen a go was because I wanted to see how it compared to the original formula. While this will primarily be a review of the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-fresh sunscreen, I also thought it would be helpful to break down what makes this different from the OG Relief Sun that everyone already knows and loves.
Is Relief Sun Aqua-fresh Rice + B5 a worthy addition to the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen family? Let’s find out!
What is Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-fresh?
The Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-fresh Rice + B5 sunscreen is a chemical SPF that, like the original, is formulated with new generation UV filters. It’s designed to be slightly lighter and less greasy than the OG, but just as moisturising.
What are the key ingredients?
The new Beauty of Joseon sunscreen is powered by the following ingredients:
- Rice seed water – Brightens, hydrates and calms the skin.
- Panthenol – A provitamin of vitamin B5. It boosts hydration, attracts moisture and soothes irritated skin.
- Oat kernel extract – Also known as colloidal oatmeal. A rich source of antioxidants. It also soothes and reduces inflammation.
It also contains five chemical UV filters which, in combination, provide broad spectrum protection:
- Uvinal T 150 – Protects against UVB rays.
- Mexoryl XL – Protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
- Mexoryl SX – Protects against UVA rays.
- Uvinal A Plus – Protects against UVA rays.
- Tinosorb S – Protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
How’s it packaged?
You can tell this is some variation of Relief Sun just by the packaging alone. It comes in the classic creamy/beige squeezy tube, but this time with an ‘Aqua-fresh’ twist: a blue ombré effect that bleeds upwards from the lid.
The box follows the same pattern. It looks like the original Relief Sun, but with a hint of blue to it. The difference isn’t huge and if you weren’t paying attention it would be easy to pick up the wrong one by mistake!
There is one key difference between the new Aqua-fresh version and the original Relief Sun though: the nozzle. The nozzle of the Aqua-fresh Relief Sun is longer and more pointed, making it easier to control how much product you use and where you place it. I really like that they’ve made this change, it’s such an improvement on the original flat nozzle!
What does it smell like?
Like most of the other Beauty of Joseon sunscreens, Relief Sun Aqua-fresh is unscented, meaning it’s great for fragrance-sensitive skin types.
What’s the texture like?
The Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-fresh formula retains that lotion-like texture which was so popular with the original, but it’s not quite so thick. The lighter consistency means that it sinks into the skin really quickly, and feels dry to the touch in seconds.
While the OG formula has a moisturiser-like quality about it, the Aqua-fresh version doesn’t really give off the same feel. It’s not quite so nourishing and, for this reason, it also doesn’t feel as heavy on the skin.
In fact, this is so watery and weightless that it almost doesn’t feel like you’re wearing sunscreen at all. For those with sensory issues who hate the feel of sunscreen on the skin, I can see this being a game-changer.
How about the finish?
Beauty of Joseon created the Aqua-fresh sunscreen for SPF users who loved the original formula but wanted something less rich and less shiny. This undoubtedly achieves that. It dries down to a semi-matte finish which isn’t drying or chalky and still lets the natural glow of your skin peek through.
You can apply multiple layers of the Relief Sun Aqua-fresh sunscreen and it never feels greasy or sticky either.
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-fresh Review: Overall thoughts
This sunscreen is quickly becoming one of my favourites… dare I say that I like it better than the original!
Don’t get me wrong, the Relief Sun sunscreens aren’t like night and day, they’re more similar than they are different. But the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-fresh sunscreen somehow feels like an improvement on the original. It’s like Beauty of Joseon have taken all the bits I like about the original product and made them even better. Aqua-fresh sinks in more quickly, it’s less detectable on the skin, the applicator is more precise. It’s a really great SPF and you can tell that the brand put a lot of thought into making something new and different, without losing the essence of the original.
Given the lighter texture, the Aqua-fresh formula is slightly less moisturising than the original. But, since this new sunscreen is targeted at combination to oily skin types, I don’t think that’s a problem.
The original Relief Sun is supposed to be for all skin types, though I’d say it specifically suits dry skin. The new formula would work on dry skin but I think you may need a thick moisturiser underneath to bolster it. It’s so light that it doesn’t hold much moisturising power by itself.
That’s partly the beauty of it though. It doesn’t have that classic sunscreen feel. You can add it on top of your daily moisturiser and it won’t become that heavy final layer that makes your face look super shiny.
The formula is so sheer, and it absorbs into the skin so quickly, that it’s almost undetectable on the skin. And, with its thin consistency and chemical UV filters, it certainly produces no white cast.
I’m thoroughly impressed by this sunscreen and I really recommend trying it if you get the chance!
Where can I buy the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun sunscreen?
You can grab this sunscreen from major UK beauty retailers like Boots and Superdrug. You can also order it from global beauty marketplaces like YesStyle and Stylevana.
It typically retails for around £13 – £19, depending on where you shop.
Have you enjoyed my Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-fresh Rice + B5 Review? Be sure to leave a comment below if you’ve tried this sunscreen or want to try it out!
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