12 Best Korean & Japanese Sunscreens in 2026 — Tested & Reviewed
Last updated: August 2026 | Written by the COLORCITY editorial team
Australia has the highest UV levels of any inhabited continent — Sydney's UV index regularly hits 11+ in summer, a level most of Korea sees only a few days a year. So it's a strange irony that the sunscreens Australians love to wear least (thick, greasy, stinging) are still the default here, while Korea and Japan spent two decades perfecting SPF that feels like skincare.
That's what this guide is for. Korean and Japanese sunscreens solved the texture problem — invisible finishes, no white cast, formulas you actually want to reapply. Below: seven Korean sunscreens organised by skin type, three sun sticks for the re-application problem nobody talks about, and two Japanese icons for benchmark and beach duty. All rated SPF50+ PA++++ unless noted, all in stock, all one-click add to cart.
Korean Sunscreens · Sun Sticks · Japanese Icons
Chemical vs Mineral — 60 Seconds of Theory
- Chemical (organic) filters absorb UV and convert it to heat. Modern Korean filters are photostable, lightweight, and invisible on every skin tone. Most picks below are chemical. Rare downside: a small number of very sensitive eyes/skins sting.
- Mineral (physical) filters — zinc oxide, titanium dioxide — sit on top and reflect/absorb UV. No sting, pregnancy-preferred by many, but historically ghost-white. The Korean generation of mineral formulas (like the Beplain below) has mostly fixed the cast.
- PA++++ is the Asian rating for UVA protection (ageing rays) — four plus signs is the maximum. SPF measures UVB (burning rays). You want both maxed: SPF50+ PA++++.
How Much, How Often (Most People Get Both Wrong)
- A quarter teaspoon for the face. That's roughly two full finger-lengths of product. Half-dosing SPF50 gives you closer to SPF15 — dose is the whole game.
- Last step of your morning routine, after moisturiser, before makeup. Wait 2-3 minutes before foundation so it sets.
- Reapply every 2-3 hours of sun exposure. This is where sun sticks earn their keep — swipe over makeup, done (see Part 2).
- Yes, on cloudy days. UVA passes through cloud and glass — it's why the “driver's side” of Australian faces ages faster.
Part 1 · The 7 Best Korean Sunscreens
1. Best Overall — Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun
Beauty of joseon Relief Sun 50ml
The most-hyped sunscreen on the planet, and it earns it. SPF50+ PA++++ chemical filter in a creamy, moisturising base with 30% rice extract — zero white cast, sits perfectly under makeup, and feels like a light moisturiser rather than a sunscreen. The default answer to “which Korean sunscreen should I buy first?”
2. Best for Oily Skin — Relief Sun Aqua-fresh
Beauty of joseon Relief Sun Aqua-fresh 50ml
The lighter, fresher sibling of the original — a watery gel finish with niacinamide and B5 that oily and combination skin will prefer, especially once the weather warms up. Same SPF50+ PA++++ rating, faster absorption, matte-leaning finish.
3. Best Feel — Skin1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-fit Sun Serum
Skin1004 Madagascar centella Hyalu-cica water-fit sun serum 50ml
The “sun serum” format that took over K-beauty — lighter than any cream, layered hydration from hyaluronic acid and centella, invisible finish. If you hate the feeling of wearing sunscreen, this is the one that converts you.
4. Best for Dry Skin — Round Lab Birch Juice Sunscreen
Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ 50ml
Round Lab's birch sap hydration in SPF form. Cushiony, dewy finish that doubles as a morning moisturiser for dry and normal skin — one less layer in your routine. A long-running #1 seller in Korean pharmacies.
5. Best Hydrating — Torriden DIVE-IN Watery Sun Cream
Torriden DIVE-IN Watery Moisture Sun Cream 60ml
Torriden's five-molecule hyaluronic system inside an SPF50+ cream. The pick for dehydrated skin that flakes under matte sunscreens — and it pairs seamlessly with the DIVE-IN toner and serum if you're already in that routine.
6. Best Mineral / Sensitive — Beplain Sunmuse Mineral
Beplain Sunmuse Mineral Sunscreen 50ml
A 100% mineral (zinc-based) formula for skin that stings with chemical filters — pregnancy-safe, reef-friendlier, and remarkably low on white cast for a mineral sunscreen. Sensitive-skin tested by the brand.
7. Best Budget — Purito Daily Soft Touch
Purito Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen 60ml
The budget workhorse: 60ml (20% more than most tubes) of soft, no-fuss daily SPF at the lowest per-ml price on this list. No fragrance, no essential oils, no drama — just a very good everyday sunscreen.
Part 2 · The 3 Best Sun Sticks (Solve Re-application)
The dirty secret of sunscreen: almost nobody reapplies, because nobody wants to rub cream over makeup at their desk. Sticks fix the compliance problem — and in Australian UV, the sunscreen you actually reapply beats the “better” one you don't.
1. Best Overall Stick — Abib Airy Sunstick
Abib Airy Sunstick Smoothing Bar 23g
The re-application problem, solved. A weightless bar you swipe over makeup at lunch — no rubbing, no mess, no excuse. Smoothing prime-like finish; lives in your bag from September to March.
2. Best Value Stick — Skin1004 Silky-Fit
Skin1004 madagascar centella hyalu-cica silky-fit sun stick 20g
Skin1004's centella stick at a price that makes owning two (bag + car) reasonable. Silky matte glide that doesn't drag on skin — great over makeup and for the back of your hands on the drive home.
3. Best for Oily Skin — Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick
Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick: Mugwort + Camelia 18g
Beauty of Joseon's mattifying stick with mugwort and camellia — the pick for oily skin whose T-zone is shiny by 2pm. Swipe, done, matte again. SPF50+ PA++++.
Part 3 · The 2 Japanese Icons
1. The Global Benchmark — Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence
Kao Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen 70g
Japan's national sunscreen and a global top-seller for a decade. The Aqua Rich Watery Essence disappears into skin like a gel-toner — many people literally forget they're wearing it. The J-beauty benchmark every K-brand chases.
2. Best for Beach & Sport — Anessa Perfect UV Milk
Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF 50+ PA++++ 60ml
The gold standard for sweat, water, and long outdoor days — Anessa's milk formula famously gets STRONGER with heat and friction. Beach days, sports, Australian summer: this is the one that holds. Shiseido's flagship sun line.
Quick Picks by Skin Type & Scenario
| You are… | Daily SPF | Reapply / Special |
|---|---|---|
| New to K-beauty SPF | BoJ Relief Sun | Abib Airy Sunstick |
| Oily / shiny by noon | Relief Sun Aqua-fresh | BoJ Matte Sun Stick |
| Dry / SPF flakes on you | Round Lab Birch or Torriden DIVE-IN | Skin1004 Silky-Fit stick |
| Sensitive / SPF stings | Beplain Sunmuse Mineral | Skin1004 Silky-Fit stick |
| Hate wearing sunscreen | Skin1004 Water-fit Serum or Biore Watery Essence | Any stick |
| Beach / sport / sweat | Anessa Perfect UV Milk | Anessa (reapply after towel) |
| On a budget | Purito Daily Soft Touch | Skin1004 Silky-Fit stick |
Common Sunscreen Mistakes
- Under-dosing. The single biggest one. A pea-sized amount is a third of the protective dose. Two finger-lengths, every morning.
- Relying on makeup SPF. You'd need 7x the amount of foundation anyone actually wears to reach its labelled SPF.
- Skipping ears, neck, and hands. The three places dermatologists spot sun damage first — and the sun stick in your bag fixes all three in ten seconds.
- “It's winter, I'm inside.” UVA barely drops in winter and comes straight through windows. Daily SPF is a 365-day habit in Australia.
- Storing it in a hot car. Heat degrades filters. The glovebox sunscreen from last summer is decoration, not protection.
FAQ
Do Korean sunscreens leave a white cast on darker skin?
The chemical formulas here — Relief Sun, Water-fit Serum, Biore — are genuinely invisible on deep skin tones. The mineral pick (Beplain) has a minimal cast by mineral standards, but test it if you're deeper than tan.
Can I use these under makeup?
Yes — that's half the appeal. Give any of them 2-3 minutes to set, then apply base as normal. The Aqua-fresh and Matte Stick work best under long-wear foundation.
Which are pregnancy-safe?
Mineral formulas are the standard conservative recommendation — that's the Beplain Sunmuse here. Many chemical filters are considered fine, but if you want zero debate, go mineral and check with your GP.
Are these okay for kids?
Round Lab makes a dedicated Baby Mild Sunscreen (we stock it) — for children, dedicated kids' formulas beat adult ones. The sticks are great for wriggly kids regardless.
Chemical sunscreen stings my eyes at the gym — what do I do?
Switch to mineral (Beplain) for workout days, or use a stick around the eye area — sticks don't migrate with sweat the way lotions do.
The Bottom Line
If you take one product from this page, make it Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun for every morning, and add Abib's Airy Sunstick to your bag for the 2pm top-up. That two-product system — a texture you love in the morning, a format you'll actually use at lunch — beats any single “perfect” sunscreen ever made.
Read next: The K-Beauty Glass Skin Routine · 12 Best Korean Cleansers · Best Korean Face Creams & Moisturizers
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