8 best Korean sunscreens, according to derms & aestheticians
Among the many innovations that K-beauty has brought us, SPF might be one of the most impressive. Adding one of the best Korean sunscreens to your skincare routine means you can forget about greasy texture, chalky finishes, and hard-to-apply formulas that cause makeup pilling.
Korean sunscreens have gained increasing popularity for their cosmetic elegance, innovative ingredients, broad-spectrum UV protection, and added skincare benefits, says Y. Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm. “As awareness of the importance of SPF protection grows, Korean sunscreens are becoming increasingly popular for daily use,” says Charlotte Cho, aesthetician and cofounder of Then I Met You and Soko Glam.
To help you find the best options, we spoke with beauty experts including dermatologists, aestheticians, and editors who use Korean sunscreens daily. Below, Glamour editors, Dr. Chang, Cho, and Erica Choi, aesthetician and founder of Superegg, share their top picks.
SKIP TO: What’s the difference between Korean sunscreens and UK & US sunscreens? | Are Korean sunscreens better?
Meet the experts:
| Y. Claire Chang, MD | Board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm |
| Charlotte Cho | Aesthetician and cofounder of Then I Met You and Soko Glam |
How we test:
When it comes to face and body sunscreen, we don’t mess around. Every product on this list has been slathered, patted, and re-applied (generously) by Glamour editors on real skin - no tiny swatches here. We’ve tested them under makeup, on makeup-free days and even durning sweaty commutes - so these reviews are the real deal.
We’re looking for formulas that feel good (think lightweight, no chalky cast), wear well with skincare and makeup, and of course, deliver on UV protection. Bonus points for added skincare benefits like hydration, calming ingredients, or a glass-skin glow. Because if we’re wearing SPF daily (and you should be), it better be a joy to use.
Scroll to find the best Korean sunscreens, tried & tested:
Beauty of Joseon’s famous Relief Sun might be TikTok’s most viral Korean sunscreen. It feels surprisingly lightweight and fast-absorbing for a mineral sunscreen, and comes in 12 sheer tints made to double as your daily tinted base. Wu loves the formula, which she says feels much lighter than her other mineral sunscreens. “Going off the texture alone, I would never guess that this is a zinc oxide formula,” she says. “It feels so fluid and weightless, and I’m obsessed with the natural finish it leaves. This tinted sunscreen is sheer and forgiving—more like a blurring filter for your skin than a full-on foundation. On days when I don’t feel like wearing makeup but still want to even out my skin tone and give it a beautiful glow, I always reach for this.”
- SPF rating: 40
- FDA-approved filters: Yes (zinc oxide)
- Key ingredients: Olive lipids, artemisia capillaris extract
- Highlights: Fast-absorbing texture, easy to blend, 12 sheer shades for a wide range of skin tones
Both Dr. Chang and Cho highly recommend Neogen’s lightweight sunscreen, which has rave reviews online for its comfortable, light-as-air texture. Dr. Chang likes the “fast-absorbing” formula and ingredients list, which contains 20 kinds of soothing, nourishing plant extracts (like aloe vera, avocado, hibiscus, and acai), paired with hyaluronic acid and beta-glucan to help calm and moisturise the skin. Cho ranks this as one of her top picks for the high SPF rating and “truly airy” feel, plus the inclusion of sebum-controlling plant extracts like tea tree oil help with the appearance of pores. If you tend to avoid SPF because it looks and feels oily, swap it with this formula and you’ll notice a difference. “It doesn’t look cakey or greasy,” says Cho, who also calls out that the formula doesn’t leave any white cast, even on deeper skin tones.
- SPF rating: 50 PA+++
- FDA-approved filters: Yes (octocrylene, homosalate, avobenzone)
- Key ingredients: 20 kinds of plant extracts including aloe, avocado, hibiscus, and acai
- Highlights: Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture, non-greasy finish, no white cast, calming plant extracts
This fast-absorbing sunscreen is a recent addition to my routine, but I’ve been obsessed with the way it instantly brightens my skin. Formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid and a blend of 10 vitamins (including vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid and vitamin B3, a.k.a. niacinamide), it has a lightweight cream texture that feels just like my favourite face moisturisers. The finish this sunscreen leaves is truly so glowy, I’d describe it as an illuminator-like gleam. It never crosses over into greasy territory, but it has prompted several friends to ask what highlighter I’m wearing. I especially love the inclusion of brightening vitamin C in my sunscreen because of its proven antioxidant properties, which help fight free radical damage from UV rays.
It's also a favourite of Jenifer Calle, Glamour’s senior commerce editor, who has combination, oily skin. “I didn’t expect to like this sunscreen because it’s on the thicker side, but it rubs in so well and gives me an amazing glow (just peep my picture). I tend to break out around my jawline and I can trust non-comedogenic sunscreen not to irritate that area,” says Calle. Overall it’s a great sunscreen for acne-prone skin that leaves skin fully moisturised.
- SPF rating: 50
- FDA-approved filters: Yes (homosalate, octocrylene, octisalate, avobenzone)
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid and 10 vitamins (including vitamin C and vitamin B3)
- Highlights: Leaves a very glowy (but not greasy) finish, lightweight, hydrating, brightening ingredients
You may know Tirtir for its TikTok-viral red cushion foundation, but the brand recently launched its first FDA-approved chemical sunscreen. After putting it to the test, we were impressed by the natural finish and fast-absorbing formula. The formula contains hydrating skincare ingredients including hyaluronic acid, collagen, panthenol, and aloe vera—but doesn’t feel heavy or sticky. It also doesn’t leave a white cast behind no matter how much you apply. “This sunscreen is especially great for combination or oily skin,” says Wu. “If you’re looking for something that leaves more of a natural finish and hydrates without being too dewy, I’d recommend this formula. It also layers great under any foundation formula, including the viral Tirtir cushion compact.”
- SPF rating: 50+
- FDA-approved filters: Yes (homosalate, octocrylene, octisalate, avobenzone)
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, phyto-collagen, aloe vera, panthenol
- Highlights: Lightweight feel, non-greasy natural finish, no white cast, layers well under makeup
Original photo from Jenifer Calle testing Innisfree Daily UV Defense Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 45Here’s a tinted sunscreen in a shade you might not expect: green. Innisfree’s colour-correcting formula uses a super-sheer green base to help immediately neutralise any visible redness. “I have combination skin and sometimes get red around my nose and cheeks. The green (though it’s more like jade colour) diminishes any redness. But, you do have to rub it in pretty well to avoid any white cast since it’s a thick consistency,” says Glamour’s Calle. She ranks this among her favourite sunscreens because of its “glowy finish.”
- SPF rating: 45
- FDA-approved filters: Yes (zinc oxide)
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalane, cica
- Highlights: Soothing and hydrating ingredients, tinted to instantly neutralise redness
One of the most impressive new Korean sunscreens we’ve tried this month is The Face Shop’s Hydro Sun Barrier. This chemical formula has a lightweight, fluid texture that’s easy to blend and apply—and doesn’t leave any white cast behind. The formula is made with brightening, hydrating ingredients like calendula and niacinamide that subtly boost radiance on application. In testing, we loved how refreshing this formula felt. “This sunscreen feels light and intensely hydrating at the same time,” says Wu. “It’s not greasy or sticky in the slightest, and I love how dewy and naturally radiant it makes my skin look.”
- SPF rating: 45
- FDA-approved filters: Yes (avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene)
- Key ingredients: Calendula, niacinamide, panthenol
- Highlights: Lightweight feel, fluid fast-absorbing texture, dewy finish, subtle brightening effect
Sun sticks pack your favourite sunscreen formulas into portable, swipe-on SPF sticks you can easily toss in your bag for touch-ups. “Not all sunsticks are created equal, and this one is so thoughtfully created,” says Cho, who loves Abib’s thoughtfully designed details. “The ‘c’ shape of the bar makes reapplication easy,” she says of the curved, contoured surface that effortlessly navigates around hard-to-reach spots like the areas around your nose. It’s also formulated to be water-resistant and contains ectoine, which studies have shown to have a quick soothing effect. Cho also loves how the bar layers over makeup without disturbing it. “The formula glides on effortlessly,” she says. Wu says this sunscreen stick is easily the best she’s tried. “The shape isn’t just a gimmick; it truly makes it easier to reapply when I’m on the go,” she says. “And the radiant finish is so flattering on bare skin or over makeup.”
- SPF rating: 50+
- FDA-approved filters: Yes (homosalate, octocrylene, avobenzone, octisalate)
- Key ingredients: Ectoine, allantoin, sunflower seed oil unsaponifiables
- Highlights: Easy-to-use sun stick, travel-friendly, glides on smooth
If you tend to experience irritation and flare-ups from sunscreen (or just in general), try this best-selling formula designed to protect your skin from heat and irritants. Dr. Chang recommends this sunscreen for sensitive skin and highlights the inclusion of soothing plant extracts like “centella asiatica and houttuynia cordata (also known as chameleon plant) to calm skin.” One caveat: “It leaves a temporary mild white cast upon application,” she says. Amazon reviewers agree, noting that it does mostly fade away as you work it in, but isn’t suitable for darker skin tones.
- SPF rating: 50+ PA++++
- FDA-approved filters: Yes (zinc oxide)
- Key ingredients: Centella asiatica, houttuynia cordata
- Highlights: Calming plant extracts, gentle formula, recommended for sensitive skin
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FAQs:
What’s the difference between Korean sunscreens and UK & US sunscreens?
Some of the most popular K-beauty sunscreens have the advantage of using filters we don’t have access to in the UK or US. “Korean sunscreen filters are remarkably advanced, offering a weightless, hydrating, and natural finish that sets them apart from traditional sunscreens,” says Cho.“Sunscreen testing and approval processes vary globally,” explains Dr. Chang. “In the US, sunscreens are considered a drug that undergoes strict FDA testing and regulation.
The FDA has a famously short, unchanging list of approved sunscreen filters that excludes many of the options used in other countries. You’re likely already familiar with filters like titanium dioxide or octinoxate, since they originate from a list that hasn’t been updated with new options since 1999. Recently, these regulations have tightened, leading K-beauty brands to pull popular Korean sunscreens off retailers like Amazon. In response, many Korean skin-care brands have begun releasing OTC-compliant formulas that use FDA-compliant filters with formulas that still feel like your favourite moisturiser. So even if you can’t shop your former favourite Korean sunscreen, we recommend checking out the list above for the best new FDA-approved Korean sunscreens.
Are Korean sunscreens better?
While Dr. Chang and Cho recognise the appeal of Korean sunscreen filters, they still have plenty of picks that stick to the list of FDA-approved filters more easily accessible in the US. Dr. Chang says that these formulas offer the “multifunctional” benefits K-beauty is known for, “combining UV-blocking ingredients with active ingredients that have other skin benefits, like moisturising, brightening, free radical fighting, and anti-ageing properties.” They also feature broad-spectrum protection, meaning they protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Rest assured, this list still features formulas that feel light and easy to wear, no matter your skin type.
**After something else? Shop the best Korean eye creams, best Korean moisturisers and best Korean face masks. **
