Korean Sunscreen Is The Superior Choice This Summer - Here's Why
No skincare routine is complete without sunscreen; whether you're going out or staying in, wearing your sunscreen is a must. And having fun in the sun is impossible if you don't have a good-quality sunscreen. So for this summer to be perfect, get yourself a Korean sunscreen.
Saying Koreans know their stuff when it comes to skincare is an understatement — between rice toner and coconut oil cleansing pads, K-Beauty has time and time again proven to be a benchmark of quality skincare. So, trusting K-Beauty to lead you to your next SPF choice is a natural step, especially when you're going to be wearing it every day.
The carefully engineered sunscreen formula that comes in spray bottles, sticks, squeeze tubes, and pump bottles offers all the right ingredients and the best protection for your skin. It's also a versatile product that can be used for different purposes and is easy to wear.
Natural ingredients
A cosmetic product, at the end of the day, is really just its ingredients, and sunscreen is no exception.
Your Korean sunscreen will give your skin nourishing benefits thanks to the use of natural ingredients your skin will love. "Korean sunscreens use advanced formulas that leave a clear finish and often contain natural and beneficial ingredients, such as green tea, aloe vera, and vitamin E, to soothe and protect the skin," assistant director and head of marketing and training at AmorePacific Group Mini Sood Banerjee told Vogue India.
Koreans use their latest technology and innovations to put together the best possible combinations of these ingredients, and it's is all overseen by regulatory officials. "The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) is the regulatory authority in Korea — similar to the FDA — responsible for creating and overseeing the sunscreen approval process," director of product development for Soko Glam Teresa Carper told InStyle.
More than just a sunscreen
Sunscreen does a lot of damage control when it comes to your skin. In addition to preventing sunburns, it helps prevent premature aging, skin cancers, and body hyperpigmentation. But what if we told you that Korean sunscreen can do all of this and more?
The Korean formulas are built to uplift your skin health while protecting it. So, while you're wearing your sunscreen, you're also giving your skin the best time ever. If you wear Korean sunscreen, you may notice that your skin feels smooth and soft. This is because the product has the potential to deeply moisturize the skin and restore the skin barrier. The inclusion of ingredients such as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid adds moisture and hydration to your skin, per Lifestyle Asia.
There are also different Korean sunscreens that target specific skin concerns, such as acne or dry skin, in addition to providing protection from the sun's rays.
Fights all of sun's rays
Korean sunscreens take care of all the harmful rays the sun throws at us, and this includes both UVB rays and UVA rays, per Oshen Skin. Most Western sunscreens, by comparison, only cover protection against UVB rays. UVB rays are the super, high-energy sun rays that can lead to cell damage and cancer (via MD Anderson Cancer Center). UVA rays are not as strong as UVB rays, but they still damage your skin, causing wrinkles, and are known to help form free radicals, so it's still a good idea to use a sunscreen that defends against them.
Korean sunscreens also have a grading system that allows you to measure how much protection you're receiving against UVA rays. The system is based on PPD, which stands for Persistent Pigmentation Darkening.
"PA is a [sic] based on the PPD test, or the persistent pigmentation darkening test," Toronto-based cosmetic chemist Stephen Ko told Allure. "It measures the multiple increase of UVA a person can theoretically be exposed to without tanning or darkening of the skin." So, with Korean products, you're not in the dark about how it affects your skin. The PA system ranges from PA+, which provides the least protection, to PA++++, which has the highest level of protection.
Protection for long hours
How long your sunscreen is going to be effective for is determined by the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) level of your sunscreen, Britannica explains. And with Korean sunscreens, the SPF levels tend to be higher. So, to spend those long hours on the beach this summer, make sure you're buying the right sunscreen for your skin type.
Having a higher SPF value helps you go about your day without having you stop in your tracks to reapply sunscreen. In addition to this benefit, a higher SPF also guarantees less sunburn, so reach for a formula that says SPF 50+. Since Korean sunscreens offer higher SPFs while Western sunscreens often stop at SPF 40, your best choice for a sunscreen that can work those long hours is a Korean one.
Another thing to remember about SPFs is that they are not additive, which means if you're layering your sunscreen with a foundation that has an SPF value, the two different SPF values do not get added up to collectively protect you from sun damage. So, play it safe and buy a Korean sunscreen that'll hold down the fort for a comparatively longer time.
A barely-there formula
Most of us get icky about wearing sunscreen when we've had entire faces of makeup ruined because of it. But, the answer to this can never be not wearing it; sunscreen is a must for skin health. So, if you are looking for a sunscreen that blends right in with your makeup without leaving any residue, look no further than a good Korean sunscreen.
The lightweight formula of Korean sunscreens differs from your regular old pore-clogging sunscreen. While other sunscreens tend to sit heavily on your skin, making your face look greasy and oily, the Korean ones will look non-existent. And in place of a white cast, this sunscreen leaves a glowy, naturally dewy look that can even work as a primer or foundation. If you don't want to ruin a good face of makeup but still want that SPF, Korean sunscreen should be in your routine.
Reapplying has never been easier
It is a universally accepted skincare rule that one must reapply their sunscreen throughout the day. But then again, that is such a pain. It takes time and planning and can also make a mess of your makeup. This will not be the case if your choice of sunscreen is Korean. Korean sunscreens come in innovative shapes and forms that make reapplying a piece of cake.
By going for the sunscreen stick or the sunscreen cushion instead of the squeeze tube or the pump bottle, you're saving your time and effort. Plus, the sunscreen being lightweight makes reapplying not an issue; in other sunscreens, reapplying tends to lead to pilling, or your makeup sliding into strange places. It can also leave you feeling sticky or like the products have been caked onto your skin. So, to not mess up your makeup, this barely-there formula is a must-have.
Something for everyone
Korean sunscreens will not leave you hanging; it would be too cruel to make the perfect formula and not share it with everyone. That is why there is a variety of different Korean sunscreens that are built to pair beautifully with different skin types. Instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all policy, the sunscreen industry in Korea has a range of sunscreens, and these have been created to fit dry skin, oily skin, and sensitive skin. Once you have determined what your skin type really is, you can go ahead and look for your perfect Korean sunscreen product.
Not only do they accommodate different skin types, but Korean sunscreens are also more inclusive by catering to different skin tones. The white cast that's ever-present in many Western sunscreens is never-present in Korean ones. It doesn't matter what color skin you have — Korean sunscreen will blend right in.
Getting sunburned and looking like a cooked shrimp is on nobody's agenda for the summer holidays. So to have your summer fun, invest in Korean sunscreen.