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There has been so much buzz around this Beauty of Joseon sunscreen on social media – I tried to resist buying it but I recently caved. I’ve tried a few Beauty of Joseon products in the past (check out my review of their Apricot Blossom Peeling Gel too) but none have caught my attention quite as much as this one!
I’m always on the hunt to find new suncreams to try, not only because they’re the most important step in your skincare routine, but also because I think they’re the hardest product for a skincare brand to nail. My skin is acne-prone so I’m really picky with the formulas I use, and since I’d heard that this one was lightweight, hydrating and really comfortable on the skin, I was thinking this could be a new fave!
Let’s see if it really did live up to the hype…
What is it?
The Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics is a lightweight chemical sun cream that’s designed to sit comfortably on the skin, no matter how many layers you apply.
What are the standout ingredients?
The Beauty of Joseon sun cream contains four UV filters which each provide different levels of protection:
- Uvinal T 150 – Protects against UVB rays.
- Uvinal A Plus – Protects against UVA rays.
- Tinosorb M – Protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
- Iscotrizinol – Protects against UVB and some UVA rays.
It also contains the following beneficial ingredients:
- Rice bran water – Rich in vitamins B, C and E, this reduces irritation and calms the skin.
- Glycerin – A popular humectant that draws moisture into the skin. It’s found in many hydrating skincare products.
- Niacinamide – A form of vitamin B3 that has anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties.
- Pumpkin ferment extract – A natural exfoliant that improves skin tone, reduces the appearance of fine lines and helps brighten dark spots.
- Green tea leaf extract – A plant extract that has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
- Tocopherol – Pure form of vitamin E. It aids cellular restoration and protects skin from free radicals.
How should you use this product?
This should be the last step of your skincare routine, so only apply it once you’ve cleansed, toned and moisturised. I know some people like to use an SPF in place of a moisturiser but I prefer to moisturise before using this sun cream.
When it comes to applying, squeeze two finger lengths of product out of the tube, then gently rub it into your face, ears and neck.
More sunscreen reviews:
The packaging
Beauty of Joseon packaging is always pretty minimal and understated, and this sunscreen is no exception. It comes in a cream box that has the directions and ingredients printed on each side in both Korean and English. The product itself is housed in a 50ml squeezable plastic tube with a plastic screw cap.
The scent
This doesn’t contain any added fragrance, nor does it have that classic sunscreen scent. Because it also doesn’t contain denatured alcohol, it doesn’t have an overpowering, eye-stinging alcohol smell either.
The texture
The Beauty of Joseon sunscreen is creamy and lightweight which means it spreads into the skin really nicely. As with the SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Sun Serum, this has an almost lotion-like consistency so it doesn’t feel heavy or greasy. It does have an immediate dewiness which does take a little while to dry down (more so than other sunscreens I’ve tried) but the overall finish is soft and velvety.
This isn’t the most moisturising sunscreen I own. But this isn’t really a deal breaker for me as I usually expect my moisturiser to do the heavy lifting when it comes to hydrating my skin. If a sunscreen does provide extra moisture then this is a bonus 🙂 Still, it would be nice to feel that my skin is extra hydrated at the end of the day, which I do get with some other Korean sunscreens.
Overall thoughts
I’m pretty impressed by the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen, especially given the price – this is one of the most budget friendly Korean sunscreens I’ve come across. It ticks practically all the right boxes for me, though if I had to give one criticism I’d like this sunscreen to be a little more moisturising. My skin can sometimes feel a little dry by the end of the day when I wear this (not because of the sunscreen, that’s just how my skin is!) so I do tend to reach for more hydrating formulas. If your skin is in the middle of the range, not overly dry and not overly oily, then I can see this working really well! Overall, I’d say that this isn’t necessarily THE BEST sunscreen I’ve tried, but it’s definitely up there!
In other exciting news, it looks like Beauty of Joseon has just this week come out with a matte sun stick too! It’s been developed in collaboration with @glowbyramon and it’s specifically designed to control sebum and reduce shine. If your skin is on the oilier side and you’re not sure the Relief Sun formula would work for you, it might be worth giving the new stick sunscreen a go!
Where can I buy the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen?
This is stocked by both UK-based and international retailers so it should be fairly easy to find, though it has been selling out really fast! You can get this from Stylevana, YesStyle and Sephora.
FAQ
Does the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen pill?
I don’t find that this pills or disturbs any makeup that apply on top.
Which skin types does the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen suit?
I think this is best suited to combination / normal skin types. Under makeup I do find that this looks very dewy, which oily skin types might want to avoid. For dry skin types, I think there are other sunscreens that would provide more long-lasting hydration than this one does.
Does the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen cause eye stinging?
I don’t find that this causes my eyes to sting at all.
Does the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen leave a white cast?
I don’t notice a white cast, and because this is a chemical sunscreen it shouldn’t really cause one (though Tinosorb M is a hybrid filter which some people find leaves a white layer on the skin).
Does the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen clog pores or cause breakouts?
I haven’t noticed any new breakouts since using this suncream. However, the BIBA Pore-Clogger Checker flags kelp extract as a potentially comedogenic ingredient. Having said this, it’s pretty low down on the ingredients list so I don’t imagine it would be enough to cause significant irritation.
Is the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen cruelty-free?
Beauty of Joseon is completely cruelty-free, they don’t test on animals, nor do their suppliers.
Which sunscreen is your favorite if not this one? 😁
My current favourite is the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum, it just works really well for my combination skin 😊