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Sunscreens are an essential part of your daytime skincare routine. They protect your skin from harmful UVA, UVB, and blue light that can accelerate aging, deepen wrinkles, and cause sunburns. Make sure you wear your sun cream daily, even when you are indoors or it is not sunny outside, as the rays still penetrate through clouds and windows!
The simple answer: 2 to 3 hours of active protection, then you need to reapply.
SPF filters break down as they protect your skin. Chemical filters convert UV into heat, which gradually exhausts them. Physical filters get rubbed, washed, or sweated off over the course of the day. Either way, after 2 to 3 hours of being out in daylight, the protection drops significantly.
Reapply more often if you're swimming, sweating, towel-drying your face, or wearing sunscreen under makeup that's wearing off. SPF sticks, mists, or cushion compacts are easier to reapply over makeup than thick creams.
If you're indoors most of the day with limited window light, one morning application is usually enough, but reapply if you head outside in the afternoon.
Cult favourites in our community for easy reapplication: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF50+ (still the viral hero), SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Sun Stick, and Round Lab Birch Juice Sun Cushion.
The factor on sunscreen is the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) number, and it tells you how much UVB protection the formula offers. UVB rays are the ones that cause sunburn and contribute to skin cancer.
Here's roughly what the numbers mean:
Importantly, SPF only measures UVB protection. For full sun protection, you also need UVA protection (the rays that cause ageing and long-term damage). Look for the words 'broad-spectrum' on Western SPF labels, or the PA rating (PA+ to PA++++) on Korean SPF. PA++++ is the highest UVA protection.
We recommend SPF 30 or higher daily, going up to SPF 50+ PA++++ for sunny days or if you're outside for extended periods.
Cult favourites in our community: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF50+ PA++++, SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF50+ PA++++, and Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++.
Chemical sunscreens (also called organic sunscreens) use active ingredients that absorb UV rays into the skin and convert them into heat, which is then released. Common chemical filters include avobenzone, octinoxate, oxybenzone, and the newer-generation Korean and European filters like Uvinul A Plus and Tinosorb S.
Korean chemical sunscreens are particularly loved because they tend to be much more cosmetically elegant than Western ones: lightweight, no white cast, often with skincare benefits baked in, and at half the price of luxury Western SPF.
Cult favourites in our community: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF50+ (the viral hero product), Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen, and SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Sun Serum.
Chemical versus physical sunscreen comes down to preference. If you have very sensitive skin or are pregnant, you may prefer physical (mineral) sunscreens instead.
Physical sunscreens (also called mineral or inorganic sunscreens) sit on top of the skin and block UV rays by reflecting and scattering them, rather than absorbing them. They contain two main active ingredients: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
The big advantages: physical sunscreens are less likely to irritate sensitive skin or trigger reactive conditions like rosacea, and they're often recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding because the ingredients sit on the skin rather than being absorbed. They also start protecting immediately after application.
The downsides: traditional physical sunscreens can leave a white cast (especially on darker skin tones) and feel thicker. Modern Korean formulas have made huge improvements on both fronts.
Cult favourites in our community: SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Air-Fit Suncream Mild, Aestura Aestasun Mild Airy Sun Cream, and Mixsoon Bean Sun Cream.
Neither is universally 'better'. They both protect your skin, just through different mechanisms. The right choice depends on your skin and lifestyle.
Choose a chemical sunscreen if you want lightweight texture, no white cast, and a more cosmetically elegant feel. Korean chemical sunscreens (such as Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun) are particularly good at being invisible on the skin while delivering high protection.
Choose a physical (mineral) sunscreen if you have very sensitive skin, are prone to reactivity or rosacea, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or prefer ingredients that sit on top of the skin rather than being absorbed. The downside historically has been white cast and thick texture, though modern Korean physical SPFs (like SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Air-Fit Suncream Mild) have largely solved this.
Many people use both, depending on the day. Chemical for daily everyday wear, physical for sensitive moments or post-treatment skin.
Cult favourites in our community: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun (chemical), Round Lab Birch Juice Sun Cream (chemical), SKIN1004 Air-Fit Suncream Mild (mineral), and Aestura Aestasun Mild Airy Sun Cream (mineral).
Yes! UV rays can penetrate through clouds, rain, and even glass, so it is crucial to apply suncream every day to ensure protection against skin cancer and premature ageing.
