10 Best Korean Sunscreens of 2024

Wizemann says Innisfree's Daily UV Defense Sunscreen feels "lightweight and hydrating" on the skin. More importantly, it provides broad-spectrum SPF 36 that protects against UVA and UVB rays. The water-based formula leaves a glowy finish instead of a white cast, making it a great first step in your everyday makeup routine. Ingredients like green tea extract, cica and sunflower seed oil help skin get the vitamins and fatty acids for all-day moisturization.

"I have very sensitive, acne-prone skin, and sunscreens can very easily make me break out or leave me with oily skin all day," ," one Amazon reviewer wrote. "This sunscreen did not make my skin react at all! It does not leave a white cast at all and blends into the skin easily. I put this on as the last step of my skin routine and it reacts well with my other products. I have also found that even though the container is small, my tube has lasted several months."

Priced under $15, Etude's Sunprise SPF 50 is one of the more affordable Korean sunscreens available in the U.S. — but don't let that fool you into thinking it's any less effective than higher-priced products. The lightweight face lotion relies on zinc oxide to reflect UV rays, so inherently, it's more prone to leaving a white cast than chemical-based formulas. Thankfully, reviewers say the milky consistency makes it easy to spread a thin, even layer that's invisible under makeup.

"It's my favorite SPF I’ve ever tried — my 'Goldilocks' SPF," one reviewer wrote. "It leaves a silky, natural matte finish ... It wears flawlessly under makeup and doesn't irritate my eyes if I happen to rub them shortly after applying. I wear other SPFs for different purposes (waterproof for swimming, something more glowy sometimes in the summer, etc.), but I always come back to this Etude House SPF for everyday wear."

This lightweight, everyday face sunscreen from Neogen Dermalogy features mineral and chemical actives, offering optimal UV protection with less chance of leaving a white cast. It's also formulated with more than 20 types of plant extracts that help soothe irritation, balance sebum production and provide long-lasting hydration. Formulated without alcohols, synthetic fragrances and artificial dyes, it's gentle enough for sensitive skin, too.

"It melts into your skin, leaving zero white cast, and doesn’t pill," an Amazon reviewer wrote. All to say, it works well under makeup and other skincare products.

A Korean face sunscreen and moisturizer in one, belif's True Cream Aqua Bomb SPF 50 is great for streamlining your morning routine and ensuring daily sun protection. The formulation is a variation of the brand's top-rated Aqua Bomb face cream with antioxidant-packed additions like marigold extract and woodbine to help minimize fine lines and uneven skin texture caused by UV exposure.

"Belif sunscreen is next level as far as texture, thickness and scent," one Amazon reviewer wrote. "It doesn't have that sunscreen scent. It's not globby or greasy, leaves no residue, no pilling [and] has zero white cast." Layer the K-beauty brand's True Cream products together for more intense hydration.

GH Institute Beauty Lab testing found this Dr. Jart face sunscreen to be an excellent choice for oily, acne-prone skin. It received top marks for its breakout-free formula and shine-free finish, though some testers with darker skin tones found the mineral SPF ingredients did leave a slight white cast.

"My skin can sometimes be temperamental, and I had zero problems with this product," one tester shared. Others noted that they loved the light citrus scent and how it left their skin looking "smooth and matte."

Abib's Sunstick Protection Bar makes it easy to keep sun protection on you at all times, whether traveling or topping off before a sunny lunchtime stroll. Keep one tucked in your bag as a quick, convenient way to re-apply your sunscreen on the go. The gentle formula features soothing aloe vera and green tea extracts, moisturizing ceramides and UV-absorbing chemicals that offer broad-spectrum protection.

"This is my favorite sun stick of all time. I've only tried one other with zinc oxide before, and it was so chalky, crumbly and uneven — this one is a smooth dream and is perfect on top of makeup for reapplying," one Amazon reviewer wrote. "It blends in quickly and has no white cast or weird oily bits. I was apprehensive about the curve, but it actually hugs the face really well, especially around the nose and mouth area, which gets burned the most often."

Though the K-beauty brand COSRX is best known in the States for its celeb-loved snail mucin serum, we'll also be reaching for this affordable face sunscreen this summer. Formulated with vitamin E and broad-spectrum SPF 50, it boasts protection from UV damage and other environmental stressors that lead to premature signs of aging. Plus, it contains cotton extract and silica to control sebum production and potentially minimize breakouts.

Because it relies on chemical actives instead of minerals, it won't leave behind a white cast, even on melanin-rich skin. "I have dark tan skin and after applying, it feels just like [a] moisturizer," one Amazon reviewer said. "It feels hydrating and smooth on the skin with zero white cast and a nice smell. [It] hasn’t irritated my skin at all and sits great under makeup."

Your face isn't the only body part where sun exposure can cause early signs of aging, which is why this SPF 50 Derma B Everyday Sun Block is designed to be slathered from head to toe. The consistency is thinner than other Korean sunscreens, making it easier to spread over your chest, arms and legs. Though it doesn't have the water resistance required for a day at the beach, it'll help minimize everyday UV damage without leaving behind a streaky white cast.

"It's thinner than most normal sunscreens and feels more like moisturizer. It goes on super easy because of that and doesn't feel thick on your face," one Amazon reviewer said. "It smells amazing, [unlike] most American sunscreen, so you can actually wear it every day and not smell like 'the beach'."

Searching for a face sunscreen that doubles as a makeup primer? Thank You Farmer's Shimmer Sun Essence is exactly what you want. The lightweight SPF 30 face sunscreen features a light pink, shimmery finish that gives you a natural-looking glow instead of a streaky white cast.

"It provides great protection, and even when worn under a foundation-type product, you can still see the glow it provides," one reviewer wrote. Hydrating and brightening ingredients like niacinamide, aloe vera and bamboo extract help maintain glowy looking-skin long after you wash the product off.

If reef-safe ingredients are a requirement for you, reach for Cocokind's Daily SPF 32, which relies on zinc oxide instead of chemical sunscreen ingredients that can negatively impact the environment. The Asian beauty brand also formulated the sunscreen with blue phytoplankton and microalgae extract, which the brand claims to help decrease inflammation caused by environmental stressors like UV rays, blue light exposure and pollution.

Equally as importantly, Cocokind's Daily SPF feels lightweight and breathable. "[It] glides on so easy and blends well into the skin. There is no pilling even after re-applying throughout the day. Also super easy to pat on top of makeup without smudging what’s below," an online shopper said.