These 8 Korean Sunscreens Are So Elite You'll Forget All Others Exist

Woman outside wearing sunscreen

(Image credit: @allisonho)

Sunscreen is a hot topic among skincare experts. Here in America, we fully champion mineral-based sunscreens, but over in Korea, I often feel like they're way ahead of the game. They have room to experiment with new and improved organic filters that really get the job done. Many of them make things like greasiness, white cast, and dryness a thing of the past—they even have fantastic options for sensitive, acne-prone skin.

What's not to love! I'm a huge fan of Korean sunscreens and apparently dermatologists are too. I asked double board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD, FAAD, for some of his recs and included a few of our beauty-team favorites below. Keep scrolling and find the best Korean sunscreen for you.

Our Top Picks:

Innisfree Daily UV Defense Invisible Broad Spectrum SPF 36 ($18)

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics (SPF 50 + Pa++++) ($18)

Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb SPF 45 Korean Moisturizer Sunscreen ($38)

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel ($18)

Iunik Centella Calming Moisture Daily Sunscreen SPF 50+ Pa++++ ($16)

Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen (SPF 50 + Pa++++) ($20)

Skin1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF 50+ Pa++++ ($9)

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Airyfit Daily Sunscreen ($17)

FAQs

How Is Korean Sunscreen Different From American Sunscreen?

"Filters" are used to describe the ingredients in sunscreen that are used to stop UVA and UVB rays. There are physical filters (inorganic particles), which sit on top of the skin to block the sun's rays (like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide), and organic chemical filters (like avobenzone or octinoxate), which work by absorbing the sun's rays.

Here in the United States, the FDA hasn't approved any new sunscreen filters for some time, because there is a much more rigorous testing and approval process to make sure filters put out here are considered safe. In Korea and other areas like Europe, sunscreen is considered a cosmetic product, and the standards aren't quite as strict as they are in the U.S. For that reason, there's room to experiment with newer types of chemical organic filters.

Are Korean Sunscreen Filters Safe?

While Korea often has access to new and improved organic chemical filters, the issue is that there are fewer studies done and safety data on these ingredients. Traditional filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are well-studied and have years of research to back up their efficacy and safety.

Don't worry, though. Korean sunscreens are still subject to testing by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. So even though they may have less data behind them, they are still being tested. It is, however, something to consider if you're concerned about long-term safety.

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Associate Beauty Editor

Shawna Hudson is a beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and travel writer with over 10 years of experience. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a degree in journalism and has written for other publications such as Bustle, The Zoe Report, Byrdie, Elite Daily, and more. She is currently a beauty writer atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing and hopes to continue feeding her (completely out-of-control) beauty obsession as long as she can. Stay up to date on her latest finds on Instagram @shawnasimonee.