Can you fully trust your sunscreen?
If you’ve already heard of the recent Korean sunscreen controversy, choosing your latest sun protection pick this summer has you going on double & triple takes.
The controversy opened the pandora’s box on a whole lot of sunscreen issues. It casted doubts on the actual level of protection that you can have with the aesthetically elegant sunscreens, a quality that these Asian sunscreens are popular for.
Do I have to sacrifice my nourishing, hydrating, no white cast sunscreens in favor of the tacky thick creams in the market to be sun safe?
Thankfully, the answer is no!
The Korea Institute of Dermatological Sciences headed by Ahn In Suk, Ph.D. has tested & provided the public with reliable information on which sunscreens have passed their SPF claims.
We’ve gathered the approved list for you, including their actual results and which ones suit your skin type/skin issues. We also thrown in a bonus Japanese item for those looking for Japanese sunscreen.
Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links! When you purchase something from our website, we earn affiliate commissions [at no extra cost to you]. This will help keep the website going.
1. Make P:rem UV Defense Me Calming Tone Up Sun Cream
- Claimed SPF: SPF50+
- Actual SPF Test Result: 53.7
- UVA Protection: PA++++
- Type: Physical/mineral sunscreen
- Manufacturer / Distributor – Kolmar Korea Co., Ltd. / Magnif Co., Ltd.
Short Description: Make P:rem Defense Me Calming Tone Up Suncream is a non-nano physical sunscreen that protects your skin from the sun while giving you that pinkish foundation-like glow. Non-nano physical sunscreens are known to be safe for the body. The particles work by creating a physical barrier to block damaging rays. To give you that soothing and calming effect, it’s infused with Bamboo water and Fructan. And thanks to calamine, what you’ll have is a tone up, pinkish glow effect instead of the typical ghostly white cast that mineral sunscreens are known for .
Who is it best for?: Works exceptionally well for those with sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin. Skin irritation test has confirmed this product to be hypoallergenic.
- Claimed SPF: SPF50+
- Actual SPF Test Result: 57.5
- PA: PA++++
- Type: Combination sunscreen (Has both physical/chemical filters)
- Brand/Manufacturer: Iope/Amorepacific
Short Description: Protect your skin from the sun, shield it from fine dust & strengthen your skin barrier with IOPE UV Shield Sun Protector. This sunscreen is formulated Micro-Filter System™ that shields the skin from environmental stressors, V.D. Booster to help strengthen your skin barrier.
Who is it best for?: Great for those looking for a lightweight matte finish without that sticky feel. It leaves no white cast & has a clean smell.
- Claimed SPF: SPF50+
- Actual SPF Test Result: 55.2
- PA: PA+++
- Type: Combination sunscreen
- Brand/Manufacturer: Bioré/Kao Corporation
Short Description: Ensure complete & even coverage of protection with Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel. This water-resistant sunscreen features micro capsules filled with UV filters to guarantee that you’re protected down to your skin’s micro crevices. What you’ll have is a film of UV protection that adheres to your skin perfectly like a veil. Aside from heavy duty protection, it’s also hydrating and gives you a fresh and weightless finish thanks to its hyaluronic acid, royal jelly, and butylee glycol content. Lastly, its light correction powder also gives your skin a brightening effect, making it ideal as a makeup primer.
Who is it best for?: All skin types. Tests have confirmed that this hydrating sunscreen is both hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. It’s also water-resistant (for at least 80 minutes as per test results), making it suitable for water activities.
- Claimed SPF: SPF50+
- Actual SPF Test Result: 55
- PA: PA++++
- Type: Chemical sunscreen
- Manufacturer / Distributor: Kolmar Korea Co., Ltd. | Seorin Company Co., Ltd.
Short description: Round Lab has recently renewed its formulation with another manufacturer following the recent SPF controversy. They are back with the same hydrating & lightweight sun cream but this time around, with an increased number of UV filters to ensure you are fully protected under the sun.
Who is it best for?: This skin-friendly sunscreen is infused with birch sap & hyaluronic acid making it ideal for those with dry and oily skin.
5. Dr. Orga Premium Sun Protection Creme SPF 50
- Claimed SPF: SPF50+
- Actual SPF Test Result: 58.7
- PA: PA+++
- Type: Physical/mineral sunscreen
- Manufacturer/Distributor: Innocosma Laboratory/ Gamsung Global Co., Ltd
Short description: Looking for a hypoallergenic sunscreen that works well for your dry and sensitive skin? Then Dr. Orga Premium Sun Protection Creme SPF 50 is the sunscreen that you need. Formulated with Centella Asiatica, aloe vera, and jojoba oil, this moisturizing sunscreen hydrates your skin while giving you that much-needed sun protection. What’s even better is that this sunscreen is formulated with ingredients that are known to be eco-friendly and reef safe.
Who is it best for?: Works well for those with dry and highly sensitive skin. Those with combination to normal skin types can opt to skip moisturizer while using this sunscreen as it’s already moisturizing on its own.
6. Round Lab 365 Derma Relief Sun Cream
- Claimed SPF: SPF50+
- Actual SPF Test Result: SPF 60
- PA: PA++++
- Actual PA result: Passed (PFA 18.48 equivalent to PA++++)
- Type: Non-nano Physical sunscreen
- Awards: 2018 & 2019 Winner of the Hwahae Beauty Award (Sunscreen/Lotion Category)
- Manufacturer / Distributor: COSON Co., Ltd. / Seorin Company Co., Ltd.
- Certified NO Benzene content
Short Description: Having problems with raw, sensitive skin? Afraid that your sunscreen is further irritating your skin problems? Then the Round Lab 365 Derma Relief Sun Cream is for you. Formulated to help soothe sensitive & sun-damaged skin, this sunscreen helps heal as it protects. It’s formulated with a wealth of hydrating, soothing, & wound healing ingredients such as Panthenol, Centella Asiatica, & Houttuynia Cordata extract. Lastly, its aqua ceramide content helps supply & lock in moisture on the skin.
Who is it best for?: This watery cream-type sunscreen has been proven to protect the skin while still being gentle & hypoallergenic. It adheres well to the skin and reduces excessive oil production, making it ideal for oily, sensitive, & irritated skin. To those who are looking for sunscreens that are gentle for the eyes, a lot of reviewers confirmed this to be non-irritating to the eye.
7. Round Lab 365 Tone Up Sun Cream
- Claimed SPF: SPF50+
- Actual SPF Test Result: 51.4
- PA: PA+++
- Actual PA test result: PFA 9.99 (equivalent to PA+++)
- Type: Combination sunscreen (physical & chemical)
- Brand/Manufacturer: Cosmax Co., Ltd.
- Distributor: Seorin Company Co., Ltd.
- Certified NO Benzene content
Short Description: Go foundation-free with Round lab’s 365 tone up sun cream. It doesn’t only work as effective sun protection but as a base primer too. It has a smooth, pinkish texture that gently penetrates the skin, leaving zero white casts. Users also rave about how it blends under makeup with no cakey finish.
Worry not, the pinkish color is naturally produced from calamine (a soothing ingredient). Other soothing ingredient includes panthenol and allantoin. And on top of that, they added tocopherol – an antioxidant to protect your skin from free radicals.
Who is it best for?: Round lab’s 365 tone up sun cream is jam-packed with soothing ingredients to make it safe for all skin types, especially for sensitive skin users. This sunscreen also completed a skin irritation test through Korea Dermatology Research Institute.
However, some dry skin users commented the matte finish is too drying for their liking.
8. Nature Republic California Aloe Daily Sun Block
- Claimed SPF: SPF50+
- Actual SPF Test Result: 61.3
- PA: PA++++
- Actual PA test result: PFA 20.71 (equivalent to PA++++)
- Type: Combination sunscreen
- Brand/Manufacturer: Nature Republic
- Certified NO Benzene content
Short Description: A daily moisturizing sun cream that brightens complexion while providing protection against broad-spectrum UV exposure. It’s highly concentrated with 2.75ppm aloe vera extract to soothe the skin and boost moisture to prevent dry and irritated skin. Plus this has anti-aging content such as adenosine to prevent early signs of aging such as wrinkling.
Who is it best for?: It’s a mild and low irritant sunscreen that’s safe for all skin types, especially on sensitive and acne-prone skin.
9. Nature Republic California Aloe Waterproof Sun Block
Nature republic California aloe waterproof sunblock
- Claimed SPF: SPF50+
- Actual SPF Test Result: 59.3
- PA: PA++++
- Actual PA test result: PFA 19.09 (equivalent to PA++++)
- Type: physical sunscreen
- Brand/Manufacturer: Nature Republic
- Certified NO Benzene content
Short Description: A waterproof sunblock with long-lasting sun protection of SPF 50+ PA++++, making it perfect for outdoor activities. Enjoy the beach, extreme, sweaty activities with its water & sweat-resistant feature.
Who is it best for? Infused with aloe vera extract, it soothes skin and replenishes moisture to keep it safe for all skin types especially the sensitive, dry, and acne-prone skin.
This waterproof version of Nature republic’s California aloe is whiter in color. It leaves a white cast that may not look good in all skin colors.
10. Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel
Instree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel
- Claimed SPF: SPF50+
- Actual SPF Test Result: 53.5
- PA: PA++++
- Actual PA test result: PFA 19.40 (equivalent to PA++++)
- Type: chemical sunscreen
- Brand/Manufacturer: ISNTREE Inc.
- Certified NO Benzene content
Short Description: A lotion-like sunscreen with SPF 50+ PA++++ to effectively protect your skin from harmful UV rays, daily. It’s very light on skin, quick-absorbing and well loved by its no-white-cast finish.
Sun can damaged skin in so many ways including aging. Instree Hyaluronic sun gel prevents it by adding adenosine and niacinamide – an anti-aging formula. Another great feature it contains are 8 types of hyaluronic acid to prevent dehydration and keeping the skin extra moisturized.
Who is it best for? With its moisturizing power, this is highly recommended or dry skin users. For the sensitive skin, this may not always work as chemical filters go deep into the skin and some may cause reaction like breakouts.
11. Dr. Jart Everyday Sun Day Waterproof Sun Milk (lait solaire wateproof)
Dr. Jart Everyday sun day waterproof sun milk
- Claimed SPF: SPF50+
- Actual SPF Test Result: 55.3
- PA: PA++++
- Actual PA test result: PFA 19.5 (equivalent to PA++++)
- Type: chemical sunscreen
- Brand/Manufacturer: HAVE & BE
- Certified NO Benzene content
Short Description: If you’re looking for a smooth, lotion-like consistency sun cream formulated with SPF 50+ PA++++ to keep you protected from extreme activities and water experience, then this is for you.
Dr. Jart Everyday sun day waterproof sun milk contains a lot of skin-benefiting ingredients. There’s ceramide NP which is essential to keep the skin barrier healthy. There’s adenosine – an anti-aging ingredient to prevent photoaging from sun exposure and niacinamide which offers moisturization, skin brightening, and protection from other environmental stressors.
Who is it best for? It leaves no white cast and non-brightening. Instead, it blends well on your skin making it perfect for all skin colors.
12. SCINIC Enjoy Super Mild Sun Essence
Scinic enjoy super mild sun essence
- Claimed SPF: SPF50+
- Actual SPF Test Result: 57.6
- PA: PA++++
- Actual PA test result: PFA 23.51 (equivalent to PA++++)
- Type: chemical sunscreen
- Brand/Manufacturer: Cosmax Co., Ltd. / 11Street Co., Ltd.
- Certified NO Benzene content
Short Description: A moisturizing sun cream to keep your skin sun-protected and moisturized all day long. It has an essence-like consistency for easier application. It’s fast-absorbing, non-greasy, and leaves no white cast.
You can feel its soothing effect during application as this contains green tea extract, Bambusa vulgaris water (bamboo extract), and Centella Asiatica extract which are a natural antioxidant with soothing properties to calm the irritated, upset, and compromised skin.
This is also advertised as waterproof and sweatproof sunscreen.
Who is it best for? Scinic enjoy super mild sun essence is highly recommended to oily to extremely oily skin users. If you check the label, you’ll see a bunch of moisturizing ingredients mixed together to keep your skin smooth and moisturized. However, if you have dry skin, you may want to look for more hydrating sunscreen that has occlusive ingredients to stop Transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
Having trouble removing your sunscreen or makeup? Try double cleansing. Read more about it in our article: Double Cleansing and the Best K-beauty Cleansers to Use.
References:
- Liah Yoo’s Kravebeauty: The Newest Sunscreen Line To Fail SPF Test
- Will you still trust Purito?: A consumer survey
- Sunscreen vs Sunblock: 10 FAQs About Sun Protection
- Make P:rem Defense Me Calming Tone Up Sun Cream
- Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel
- Dr. Orga Premium Sun Protection Creme SPF 50
- Nature Republic California Aloe Daily Sun Block
- Nature Republic California Aloe Waterproof SunBlock
- Controversial Results of Sun Screen BeautyVS, I’ll show what really happened
- Sunscreen Special Ep 2 – The long awaited sunscreen special
From usage to the SPF revealing of sun creams. The sequel to the sun cream fact check!
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