Hello there! If you’re interested in skincare, especially K-Beauty, you have definitely seen this name pop up everywhere. On TikTok, Instagram, and every beauty blog, people are talking about one product: the Beauty of Joseon Suncreen (Relief Sun) : Rice + Probiotics SPF50+.
It’s called a “cult favourite” for a reason. People don’t just like it; they absolutely love it. But with so many sunscreens on the market, what makes this one so special? And is it really worth the hype?
Well, put the kettle on and get comfortable. As a beauty blogger who has tried more sunscreens than I’ve had hot dinners, I’m here to give you the full, no-nonsense lowdown. We’ll talk about why it’s unique, who it’s for, and—most importantly for us in the UK—where you can actually get it without any fuss.
This is your ultimate guide to understanding the sunscreen that changed the game.
First Things First: Why is Sunscreen So Important?
Before we even talk about Beauty of Joseon, let’s have a quick chat about sunscreen itself. If you take away one thing from this article, let it be this: Sunscreen is the most important step in your skincare routine.
It’s not just for holidays. It’s for every single day, rain or shine. Why?
- It Prevents Skin Cancer: This is the most important reason. Sun exposure is the leading cause of skin cancer.
- It Fights Ageing: Up to 90% of visible skin ageing is caused by the sun’s UV rays. Wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots are all primarily caused by sun damage. Sunscreen is your best anti-ageing product.
- It Protects Your Skin Barrier: UV rays can damage your skin’s protective outer layer, leading to dryness, sensitivity, and redness.
Think of it as a shield. Every morning, you’re putting on an invisible shield that protects your skin from harm. And the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen is a shield that feels absolutely nothing like a typical sunscreen.
What is Beauty of Joseon? A Quick Brand Introduction
Beauty of Joseon is a modern Korean skincare brand with a beautiful philosophy. They look back at ancient Korean beauty secrets—known as Hanbang—and use modern science to make them effective for our skin today.
They focus on gentle, natural ingredients like rice, ginseng, and green tea. Their products are designed to be kind to your skin, effective, and a joy to use. They are also cruelty-free.
You can read more about their beautiful story on their official page, which is translated here: Beauty of Joseon ‘About’ Page (StyleKorean).
People Also Read: Beauty of Joseon: Centuries-Old Korean Beauty Secrets for Modern Skin
What Makes This Sunscreen So Different? Breaking Down the Hype
So, what is it about this particular sunscreen that has everyone obsessed? It all comes down to two things: what’s in it and how it feels.
1. The Incredible Texture & Feel
If you hate wearing sunscreen because it feels heavy, greasy, or leaves a white cast, this will change your mind.
- Lightweight & Milky: The texture is a light, milky lotion. It glides onto the skin effortlessly.
- Absorbs Instantly: It sinks into your skin within seconds. There is no greasy, sticky feeling afterwards. It feels like you’re wearing nothing at all.
- Zero White Cast: This is a huge one. Many mineral sunscreens can leave a white or greyish film on the skin, which is especially noticeable on deeper skin tones. This sunscreen is completely clear. It uses modern chemical filters that offer superior protection without any whitening effect.
- Perfect Under Makeup: Because it’s so light and absorbs so well, it creates a smooth, hydrated base for your makeup. Your foundation will glide right over it.
2. The Skin-Loving Ingredients
This isn’t just a sunscreen; it’s a skincare product too. While it’s protecting you, it’s also nourishing your skin.
- Rice Extract: A traditional Hanbang ingredient. Rice is packed with amino acids and minerals that help to brighten the skin and even out your skin tone. It gives you that famous Korean “glass skin” glow.
- Probiotics: These help to strengthen your skin’s natural barrier. A strong skin barrier means healthier, calmer, and more hydrated skin that is less likely to react to irritants.
- Modern Filters: It uses advanced chemical filters like Uvinul A Plus and Tinosorb S. These are known for their broad-spectrum protection (blocking both UVA and UVB rays) and their high stability, meaning they don’t break down easily in the sun.
Who is This Sunscreen For? (Spoiler: It’s Probably You!)
Let’s break down who will love this product the most.
The Beauty of Joseon sunscreen is perfect for you if:
- You hate the feeling of traditional, heavy sunscreens.
- You have dry or normal skin and love a dewy, hydrated finish.
- You have sensitive skin that reacts to alcohol or fragrance (this has neither!).
- You wear makeup and need a smooth base.
- You have a darker skin tone and need a sunscreen with absolutely no white cast.
- You want a sunscreen that does more than just protect—you want it to nourish your skin too.
You might want to think twice if:
- You have very oily skin. While many with oily skin still love it, you might find the dewy finish too much for your T-zone. You could use it everywhere else and a matte sunscreen just on your forehead and nose.
- You exclusively prefer 100% mineral (physical) sunscreens (with zinc oxide/titanium dioxide).
A Deep Dive into the Ingredients: What’s Actually In It?
For the ingredient nerds out there (like me!), let’s look a little closer. Here’s what makes this formula so special:
- Water: The first ingredient, meaning it’s very hydrating.
- Propanediol: A natural and very gentle solvent derived from corn sugar. It helps other ingredients penetrate the skin.
- Rice Extract (Oryza Sativa Extract): The star Hanbang ingredient for brightening and soothing.
- Probiotics (Lactobacillus Ferment & Bifida Ferment Lysate): To calm and strengthen the skin barrier.
- Uvinul A Plus: A modern filter that protects against UVA rays (the ageing rays).
- Tinosorb S: Another modern, photostable filter that protects against a wide range of UVA and UVB rays.
- Niacinamide: A superstar ingredient that helps with oil control, pore appearance, and brightening. (It’s in there too!)
What’s NOT in it: It is free from essential oils, artificial fragrance, and parabens. This makes it great for sensitive skin.
Also Read: Beginner’s Guide to Jones Road Beauty: Best Picks for Effortless, “No-Makeup” Makeup
How to Use It Properly in Your Routine
Using sunscreen correctly is key to making it work!
- When to Use: Every single morning, as the very last step of your skincare routine, but before you apply any makeup.
- How Much to Use: This is crucial. You need to use enough to get the protection stated on the bottle. The general rule is two finger lengths of product for your face and neck. Squeeze a line of sunscreen from the tip of your index finger to the tip of your middle finger. That’s the amount you need.
- How to Apply: Dot it all over your face and then gently pat and press it in. This helps it absorb better than rubbing.
- Reapplication: If you are outdoors for a long time, you need to reapply every two hours. You can do this over makeup with a sunscreen spray or a cushion puff.
Where to Buy Beauty of Joseon Sunscreen in the UK Legitimately
This is the most important section for UK readers! Since it’s a Korean brand, it’s not in Boots or Superdrug. You need to buy it online. Here are the safest, most reliable places:
- Stylevana (www.stylevana.com)
- Pros: Often has the best prices and frequent sales. Huge range of K-Beauty products.
- Cons: Shipping can be slow (often 2-3 weeks to the UK). Make sure the item is listed as “ships within 24 hours” to avoid longer delays.
- Link: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun on Stylevana
- YesStyle (www.yesstyle.com)
- Pros: Very reliable and trustworthy. Good customer service. Also has a massive range.
- Cons: Prices can be slightly higher than Stylevana, and you need to spend a certain amount for free shipping.
- Link: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun on YesStyle
- PureSeoul (www.pureseoul.co.uk)
- Pros: A UK-based online store! This means much faster shipping (usually a few days) and no worries about customs charges.
- Cons: Prices are a little higher to account for the convenience and UK overheads.
- Link: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun on PureSeoul (Check stock as they often sell out!)
A Warning About Amazon and eBay: Be very careful. While there are legitimate sellers, these platforms are also full of fakes. If you use them, only buy from highly rated sellers with lots of positive feedback specifically for this product.
Is It Really Worth the Hype? My Honest Review
Having used dozens of sunscreens, I can say yes, it absolutely is worth the hype for most people.
The reason is simple: it makes wearing sunscreen a pleasure, not a chore. For years, I knew I should wear SPF every day, but I often skipped it because I hated how my others felt. This sunscreen changed that. It feels like a lightweight moisturiser.
The finish is dewy and hydrated, my makeup sits perfectly on top, and I have the peace of mind that I’m protecting my skin with a high SPF50+ rating. The fact that it also brightens my skin is a wonderful bonus.
For the price (usually around £10-£15), it is outstanding value for money.
How Does It Compare? Beauty of Joseon vs. Other Popular Sunscreens
- vs. La Roche-Posay Anthelios: La Roche-Posay offers great protection but can feel heavier, shinier, and sometimes pills under makeup. Beauty of Joseon wins on texture and wearability.
- vs. Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen: Supergoop has a similar primer-like texture, but it’s much more expensive and doesn’t have the skin-nourishing Hanbang ingredients.
- vs. Korean Purito Sunscreen: After Purito’s SPF scandal a few years ago, many people switched to Beauty of Joseon for its verified high protection and similar lightweight feel.
Final Thoughts: Should You Try It?
If you have been curious about the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun, I wholeheartedly recommend giving it a try. It has genuinely revolutionized daily sun protection for millions of people around the world.
It is a product that perfectly represents the best of K-Beauty: effective, innovative, sensorial, and focused on skin health.
It might just become the only sunscreen you’ll ever want to wear.
Have you tried the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen? What did you think? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Beauty of Joseon Sunscreen
Q1: Is the Beauty of Joseon Sunscreen really worth all the hype?
A: In short, yes, for the vast majority of people, it lives up to the hype. However, it’s important to understand why. The hype isn’t just about marketing; it’s about a fundamental shift in what a sunscreen can be. For decades, many people associated sunscreen with a heavy, greasy, white, and unpleasant product. The Beauty of Joseon sunscreen changed that perception. It proved that a high-protection SPF50+ product could feel like a lightweight, nourishing skincare serum. The hype is justified because it successfully removes the main barrier that stopped people from wearing sunscreen daily: the unpleasant texture. It makes protection a pleasure.
Q2: Does it leave a white cast on darker skin tones?
A: This is one of its biggest selling points: No, it leaves absolutely zero white cast. This is because it uses modern chemical filters (Uvinul A Plus and Tinosorb S) instead of traditional mineral filters like zinc oxide. These chemical filters are completely transparent upon application, making it an exceptional choice for deep skin tones that often struggle with ashy, purple, or grey casts from mineral sunscreens. It melts into the skin invisibly.
Q3: Is it suitable for sensitive skin?
A: Generally, yes, it is considered very suitable for sensitive skin. Its formula is thoughtfully crafted to be gentle:
- Fragrance-Free: It contains no artificial fragrance or essential oils, which are common irritants.
- Alcohol-Free: It does not contain drying or potentially irritating alcohols.
- Nourishing Ingredients: It contains calming ingredients like probiotics and rice extract, which can actually help strengthen the skin barrier.
However, “sensitive skin” is highly individual. If you have specific known sensitivities to chemical filters, it’s always wise to patch test first. But for most, it is a non-irritating, gentle formula.
Q4: Where is the best place to buy it in the UK to avoid fakes?
A: This is crucial for UK buyers. The safest, most reliable retailers are:
- Stylevana: Often has the best prices but slower shipping (2-3 weeks). Ensure items are marked “ships within 24 hours.”
- YesStyle: Highly reliable with a good rewards program. Shipping can also take a few weeks.
- PureSeoul: A UK-based retailer meaning faster shipping (a few days) and no customs worries. Prices are slightly higher but you pay for convenience and speed.
- Warning: Be extremely cautious on Amazon and eBay. While some sellers are legitimate, these platforms are rife with counterfeits. Only purchase from them if you can verify the seller’s authenticity.
Q5: Is it a chemical or mineral sunscreen?
A: It is a chemical (organic) sunscreen. It uses advanced chemical filters like Uvinul A Plus and Tinosorb S. These filters are known for their high level of protection, photostability (they don’t break down quickly in the sun), and excellent cosmetic elegance. It does not contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (the mineral filters).
Q6: Will it make my oily skin look greasy?
A: This depends on your skin type and preferences. The sunscreen has a dewy, hydrating finish. For those with dry or normal skin, this is a beloved feature. For those with very oily skin, this dewiness might translate to unwanted shine in the T-zone throughout the day.
- Recommendation: If you have oily skin, you can still use it but may want to:
- Use a mattifying moisturiser underneath.
- Set it with a light dusting of translucent powder.
- Use a more matte sunscreen specifically for oily skin (e.g., Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel) on your forehead and nose, and use Beauty of Joseon on the drier parts of your face.
Q7: How much should I use for proper protection?
A: This is the most important step! To achieve the SPF50+ protection on the label, you must use the correct amount. The golden rule is the two-finger rule:
- Squeeze a continuous line of sunscreen along the length of both your index and middle fingers. This is the amount considered sufficient for your face and neck. Applying less significantly reduces the level of protection.
Q8: Can I use it under makeup?
A: Absolutely. In fact, it is exceptional under makeup. Its lightweight, serum-like texture absorbs completely, leaving no pilling or residue. It creates a smooth, hydrated canvas that helps makeup apply evenly and last longer. Many users find it performs like a primer and a sunscreen in one.
Q9: What does “PA++++” mean?
A: The SPF rating (SPF50) only tells you how well the sunscreen protects against UVB rays (the burning rays). The PA rating tells you how well it protects against UVA rays (the ageing rays that cause wrinkles and pigmentation). PA++++ is the highest possible rating in this system, meaning it offers extremely superior UVA protection. So, you are protected from both burning and ageing.
Q10: How does it compare to Western drugstore sunscreens?
A: The difference is night and day in terms of user experience.
- Western Drugstore Sunscreens: Often prioritize cost-effectiveness and water resistance. They can frequently be thicker, greasier, and leave a white cast due to older filter systems. They feel like “sunscreen.”
- Beauty of Joseon: Prioritizes cosmetic elegance and skin feel. It uses newer generation chemical filters (not yet fully approved in the US) that are lighter and clear. It feels like a luxury skincare product that happens to have SPF50. The focus is on making it something you want to wear every day.
