Korean SPF has transformed my skin, here's three I can't stop recommending
You can currently get two of them for less in the Tonic15 sale.
Gone are the days of sticky, gloopy SPFs that sting your eyes and take ages to rub in. Instead, a swathe of sophisticated formulas have emerged from Korea that far surpass any of the traditional sun creams we've been used to as children. This new generation of sun protection products are as fluid as water, leave skin glowing, plump and supple, with no stickiness in sight.
Best Luxury Korean SPF
Tocobo Bio Watery Sun Cream SPF50
Best Budget Korean SPF
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50
Best Stick Korean SPF
Tocobo Cotton Soft Sun Stick SPF50
But where to start? There's now hundreds of different formulas to shop and deciphering which one is best for you and your skin may seem like a daunting choice. Which is exactly why I wanted to share my top three recommendations to make things simple.
I've long been a convert to Korean sun creams, the formulas are miles ahead of anyone else, with playful packaging, impressive ingredient lists and often reasonable pricing to boot. I love how they don't just provide broad spectrum UV protection (meaning they protect from UVA and UVB rays), but they add an extra layer of hydration, radiance and improved texture, too.
There's a lot to consider before investing in a new SPF, so I've put together an in-depth guide to each one I would recommend to everyone, whether you're on a budget, have money to splurge or want something convenient for on-the-go top-ups, at home and when on holiday.
Best Korean SPFs at a glance, tried & tested by Yahoo UK
Best luxury Korean SPF: Tocobo Bio Watery Sun Cream SPF50
Best budget Korean SPF: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50
Best Korean stick SPF: Tocobo Cotton Soft Sun Stick SPF50
Whether you're after a new sun cream for an upcoming beach holiday or want an everyday SPF that doesn't disrupt your make-up, leave your skin feeling greasy, sticky or breaking out in spots, these are my most-loved Korean sun creams that I think are worth every penny.
Tocobo Bio Watery Sun Cream SPF50 | £13.13 (Was £18.75) from Tonic15
⏰ Tested for
Three months
💸 Reasons to buy
This is the most lightweight, fuss-free, beautiful SPF I've ever tried. It takes less than 10 seconds to rub into skin and leaves a smooth, supple, natural finish with a hint of a glow. Its texture is closer to water than a cream.
It creates a lovely base for make-up, without exacerbating my oily T-zone and when I'm going make-up free, it applies seamlessly without leaving my hands feeling sticky.
While when full price it's close to £20, which I know isn't cheap, but it far outperforms many other brands I've tested, such as Caudalie, Clinique and Supergoop! whose sun creams can be as much as double the price of Tocobo.
It describes itself as partly a hydrating serum, thanks to the formula that contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate, plump and moisturise skin, along with mung bean extract which is an antioxidant that can soothe redness, brighten and even skin tone.
The high UV protection and an SPF of 50 is the cherry on top, you'll be protected from even the strongest of sun rays when out and about.
Sun protection factor: 50 | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid and mung bean extract
This fluid suncream feels luxurious without the price tag. It's fast-absorbing, doesn't interfere with your make-up and leave skin feeling softer and smoother.
- Absorbs in seconds and leaves no trace
- Isn't sticky, greasy nor disrupts make-up
- Easy to reapply without feeling heavy
- Not the cheapest when full price
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50 | £17 from Tonic15
⏰ Tested for
Six months
💸 Reasons to buy
This was the first Korean SPF that I tried and immediately fell in love with. It's a creamier texture than Tocobo, but no less elegant.
I have combination skin, and find around my nostrils on my cheeks are where I tend to have patches of dryness, despite an oily T-zone, so one of the trickiest parts for me is finding a sun cream that caters to both contrasting areas of skin. This one ticks every box, it's rich enough to soothe and hydrate dryness, without leaving me so glowy it looks borderline greasy.
While £17 may seem like a big cost upfront, it's much better than luxurious competitors such as Shiseido and Supergoop! which charge upwards of £35 for their formulas. If this is the most expensive part of your beauty routine, you're on the right track.
My favourite aspect is how seamlessly it can be reapplied throughout the day without leaving layers of stickiness on my skin. It has a beautifully radiant finish and leaves my complexion feeling silky smooth.
Sun protection factor: 50 | Key ingredients: Rice and grain fermented extracts
This creamy SPF is hydrating and particularly good for dry skin.
- Lightweight and comfortable for sensitive skin
- Feels moisturising and smoothing
- Fast-absorbing and easy to layer when reapplying
- Might be a too glowy finish for very oily skin types
Tocobo Cotton Soft Sun Stick SPF50 | £12.42 (Was £17.75) from Tonic15
⏰ Tested for
One year
💸 Reasons to buy
Before this, I'd never tried a stick SPF before. I'm now a total convert and won't go on holiday without one. Not only does it provide the same high factor sun protection as the two liquid SPFs in this list, but it's much more convenient to apply, requires no rubbing in and has an invisible, matte finish on the skin. It's so weightless you'd never know you're wearing anything.
It has a twist-up applicator, a bit like a typical deodorant stick, and you apply it directly onto your face, making sure to get the tip of your nose, ears, eyelids etc.
Better yet, its compact size means it easily fits in a beach bag, carry on luggage and even a small handbag, so you can top-up on the go in seconds. There's a silky, powder-like finish which helps to reduce the appearance of an oily T-Zone, and the formulas contains an ingredient called Anti-Sebum P which regulates oil production.
Whether you're topping up on the go or don't have the time (or energy) to rub in a traditional cream, you cannot beat this.
Sun protection factor: 50 | Key ingredients: Cotton extract, Anti-Sebum P, AC Complex
This stick SPF glides across skin easily with no need to rub in. It can be used all over the face and body and leaves a smooth, matte texture behind.
- Slim packaging that fits easily in bags
- Leaves no white cast, or tacky texture on the skin
- Can be applied as often as necessary without leaving skin sticky
- Need to apply multiple layers to ensure adequate sun protection
