Byoma Ultralight Face Fluid SPF50 Review

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I’ve become so immersed in the world of Korean skincare over the past few years that I can’t remember the last time I bought a sunscreen from a Western brand.

Once I realised just how light and comfortable sun creams could be (compared to the thick, heavy formulas I was previously using), it kind of felt like there was no going back!

Asian sunscreens tend to be more cosmetically elegant than their Western counterparts. Think quick dry down, lightweight texture, and a comfortable finish. That’s what makes them so popular!

So, when British beauty brand Byoma dropped their Ultralight Face Fluid, a barrier-boosting sunscreen that looked texturally pretty similar to some of my fave Korean SPFs, I knew I had to give it a try.

What is the Byoma Ultralight Face Fluid?

Byoma’s Ultralight Face Fluid is, as you might have guessed, a super lightweight sunscreen which is designed to not only protect the skin from UVA + UVB rays, but to hydrate and soothe it at the same time.

It’s formulated with Byoma’s proprietary Cera-Sun Technology, a combination of Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid and Asthaxanthin which collectively support and maintain the skin barrier.

This sunscreen is free from fragrance, essential oils and alcohol. It’s also vegan and cruelty free.

The Byoma Ultralight Face Fluid comes in two factors: SPF30 and SPF50. The ingredients list for each appears to be identical, I think the SPF is the only difference!

What are the key ingredients?

I briefly touched on some of the Byoma Ultralight Face Fluid ingredients a minute ago, but let’s break it down fully!

We’ve got a bunch of skin-identical ingredients in here:

• Sodium Hyaluronate – The salt form of Hyaluronic Acid. It helps the skin retain moisture.
• Phospholipids – Support hydration and strengthen the skin’s natural barrier.
• Ceramide NP – Prevents transepidermal water loss and also soothes irritation.
• Phytosphingosine – Reduces redness and helps maintain the skin barrier.

We’ve also got some classic skin-soothers, like Aloe Vera and Buta-Glucan, as well as our antioxidant powerhouse, Astaxanthin, which is apparently 6000x more powerful than Vitamin C. Interestingly, Astaxanthin is what gives this formula it’s natural pink tone too.

And, of course, this is a chemical sunscreen so the formula contains four organic, old generation UV filters:

• Octocrylene – Protects against UVB rays and also provides some UVA II protection.
• Homosalate – Protects the skin from UVB rays.
• Ethylhexyl Salicylate – Protects against UVB rays.
• Avobenzone – Protects against UVA rays.

First impressions

Packaging

The Byoma Ultralight Face Fluid comes in the brand’s signature bold, bright packaging. The bottle is flat, with rounded edges, so it sits quite comfortably in your hand. It would also fit really nicely in a wash bag or pocket of a handbag.

Scent

This sunscreen doesn’t contain any added fragrance so it doesn’t really smell like much!

Application & texture

As a ‘Face Fluid’, this Byoma sunscreen is lotion-like and very runny. This is quite handy since the bottle isn’t really that squeezable, so you have to turn the product upside down for the sunscreen to come out.

The sunscreen glides onto the skin pretty effortlessly and is very easy to spread. In my hands it does feel quite similar to the Korean SPFs I know and love!

Feel & finish

I can’t deny, the Byoma Ultralight Face Fluid does live up to its name. It’s VERY light on the skin and you can see the pinkness of the product fade as it absorbs. This leaves no white cast whatsoever.

It does feel a bit greasy though… at least when you first apply it.

Like the Beauty of Joseon Tinted Sunscreen, the oiliness does subside a bit throughout the day, but it doesn’t full set or mattify. It’s definitely a dewy formula, so it’s something to be aware of if your skin leans oily. I’d say dry skin types would benefit from this most.

While I do like the glowy finish, the sunscreen is let down by how much it pills. I’ve tried layering this in my skincare routine in a bunch of different ways and it flakes off each time!

Byoma Ultralight Face Fluid SPF50: Overall thoughts

I’ve loved pretty much all Byoma products I’ve tried so far, so I felt sure I was going to love their Ultralight Face Fluid too, but alas it wasn’t to be!

This does have so many pros to it. I love the consistency – it’s light and feels pretty weightless on the skin. It’s got no added fragrance and it leaves no white cast. If I was judging this on texture alone, it would definitely give my favourite Korean sunscreens a run for their money.

But there are just a couple of snags that have stopped it from becoming a go-to for me.

The pilling is a big factor. The SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Sun Serum is a favourite of mine because I can apply it with any skincare combination and it never flakes or separates. With the Byoma Ultralight Face Fluid though, I feel I have to be super careful with how I layer it, and even then it still pills a little.

Another reason I don’t reach for it as often as I’d like is because I don’t think it’s as gentle as other sunscreen formulas I own.

On occasions when my skin is already feeling a little sensitive, this sunscreen does sting a little when I apply it. Since this doesn’t contain any fragrance or alcohol, the only other thing I think could be causing the irritation is one of the UV filters (possibly Avobenzone?).

This certainly won’t be the case for everyone and if your skin isn’t usually sensitive to sunscreen formulas then you’ll likely be fine with this. I’d probably just avoid applying it if you’re already experiencing some irritation!

Pros and cons

Price & value

The Byoma Ultralight Face Fluid retails for £14.99 which I think is pretty good for a face sunscreen. We know Byoma’s all about affordable, accessible skincare and this sun cream is comparable in price to many of the other products the brand offers.

It’s also pretty similar in price to other popular sunscreens currently on the market. For reference, at Boots, Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun is £15.50, Tocobo’s Bio Watery Sun Cream is £16 and the SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum is £18.

Where can I buy the Byoma Ultralight Face Fluid?

You can order this directly from the Byoma website. Or you can grab it from Boots and Sephora.

If you’re in the US, I think you can also shop this at Target and Ulta.

Thanks for taking the time to read my Byoma Ultralight Face Fluid SPF50 Review. Is this a sunscreen that you’d like to try? Let me know in the comments!