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The Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics is going viral on TikTok at the moment. But, despite all the attention it’s been receiving, I’ve seen lots of content creators say that the current ‘it’ SPF in Korea is actually the ROUND LAB Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream. So, obviously I had to give it a go and see what all the hype is about!
I’d actually never heard of the brand Round Lab before I came across this sunscreen. From the sounds of it, Korean skincare brands that tend to do well internationally aren’t necessarily the ones that are most popular in Korea… and vice versa, some of Korea’s best-selling beauty brands don’t always reach international audiences.
I did do some digging into their other products and they all had really positive reviews, especially the 1025 Dokdo Toner. So, that filled me with hope for the sunscreen! Did it live up to my expectations? Keep reading to find out!
What is it?
The ROUND LAB Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream is a chemical sunscreen that’s packed with minerals, plant extracts and many other skin-nourishing ingredients. It’s so hydrating, in fact, that the brand describes it as a sunscreen and moisturiser in one.
Since its launch in 2020, this sun cream has won first place in the ‘Sunscreen / Lotion category’ at the Olive Young, Unpa, Glowpick and Hwahae Beauty Awards. So, it should come as no surprise that it’s one of the most popular (and well-loved) Korean sunscreens at the minute!
What are the standout ingredients?
As you can tell by the size of the list below, the Round Lab Birch Juice Sun Cream contains so many ingredients that are good for your skin. We’ve got:
- Niacinamide – A form of vitamin B3 that has anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties.
- Birch juice – Sap from the birch tree. It reduces inflammation, calms redness and provides hydration.
- Hyaluronic acid – A naturally occurring substance that helps the skin retain moisture.
- Sodium hyaluronate – The salt form of hyaluronic acid. It helps water permeate into the skin and helps smooth out fine lines.
- Liquorice root extract – A humectant that provides moisture and reduces flaking.
- Allantoin – A plant-derived ingredient that soothes and softens the skin.
- Purslane extract – A plant extract that’s high in antioxidants. It also has wound healing and anti-ageing benefits.
- Ascorbic acid – A bioactive form of vitamin C. High concentrations have been shown to reduce discolouration, improve skin firmness and neutralise free radicals.
- Tocopherol – Pure form of vitamin E. It aids cellular restoration and protects skin from free radicals.
- Roman Chamomile flower oil – An essential oil that has anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties.
In terms of UV filters, this sunscreen contains:
- 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.
How should you use this product?
Once you’ve cleansed, toned and (if your skin needs it) moisturised, squeeze out two fingers worth of product and gently massage it into your face. Make sure to cover your hairline, ears and neck too!
More sunscreen reviews:
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics
The packaging
The ROUND LAB Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream comes in a 50ml squeezable plastic tube with a white screw cap. It has a cute birch tree design on the front of the tube, which matches the artwork that’s printed on the outer cardboard box.
The scent
Though this sunscreen contains chamomile oil, which you might expect to give it some fragrance, it doesn’t really have a discernible scent.
The texture
This feels just like a lightweight lotion! Honestly, I sometimes struggle to use the recommended amount of sunscreen because (depending on the formula) a full teaspoon of product can sit quite heavy on the skin. But this rubs in really nicely and doesn’t feel sticky or greasy.
What’s also nice about this sunscreen is that it retains that initial moisturising quality. It does lose some of its dewiness as it settles into your skin, but it doesn’t ever dry fully matte. This suits my dry-combination skin perfectly, however, if your skin leans more oily I recommend wearing it in place of moisturiser.
Overall thoughts
I can see why so many people love this sunscreen. For me, it’s pretty much perfect! If you’re looking for a formula that leaves no white cast, contains no alcohol and really hydrates the skin, this is it!
I’m always cautious when trying new sunscreens (especially moisturising ones) since my skin is quite acne-prone. But this is so lightweight and comfortable that it doesn’t ever clog my pores or make me breakout. I love that ROUND LAB markets this as a sunscreen that you’re going to want to put on your face because that’s exactly how I feel. This actually leaves my face feeling way more hydrated than it usually is and looking so much fresher too.
The only real downside to this sun cream is the price. It’s probably one of the most expensive Korean sunscreens out there (for international shoppers at least). It’s pretty much double the price of the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun, so I can see why many people might opt for the BoJ sunscreen instead. I personally prefer the ROUND LAB one, but I’ll definitely be incorporating both into my morning skincare routine.
Where can I buy the ROUND LAB Birch Juice sunscreen?
You can buy this from Likeskin and Stylevana. Round Lab also has a tone-up sunscreen which has really similar packaging, so make sure you put the right one in your basket!
FAQ
Does the ROUND LAB Birch Juice Sun Cream pill?
This sits really nicely under makeup and doesn’t pill at all.
Which skin types does the ROUND LAB Birch Juice Sun Cream suit?
Because this is a moisturising sun cream, and since it is pretty dewy, I would say it’s best suited to dry skin types. I do still think oily skin could get away with this with some powder over the top.
Does the ROUND LAB Birch Juice Sun Cream cause eye stinging?
This doesn’t contain alcohol and doesn’t sting my eyes 🙂
Does the ROUND LAB Birch Juice Sun Cream leave a white cast?
In general, no. Tinosorb M (one of the UV filters) can sometimes cause an initial white cast, but this should disappear after a couple of minutes of wear.
Does the ROUND LAB Birch Juice Sun Cream clog pores or cause breakouts?
The only comedogenic ingredient this sunscreen contains is Sorbitan Oleate which is prefer far down the ingredients list, so it shouldn’t really clog pores. My skin is fairly acne-prone and I don’t find that this breaks me out.
Is the ROUND LAB Birch Juice Sun Cream cruelty-free?
ROUND LAB’s website states that all its products are vegan and cruelty-free, but they don’t have third-party certification.
Very Impressive. I was very confused about this sunscreen. But your article saved my life so thank you so much. 🙂