Korean skincare has transformed my skin, here's three SPFs I can't stop recommending
You can now shop them at Boots and two are currently on 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 (often called K-Beauty) that far surpass any of the traditional sun creams you're used to. This new generation of sun protection products leave skin glowing, plump and supple, with no stickiness in sight.
Tocobo Bio Watery Sun Cream SPF50
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50
Tocobo Cotton Soft Sun Stick SPF50
The popularity of K-Beauty speaks for itself. One Korean skincare product sells every 30 seconds at Boots, with K-Beauty representing over a tenth of everyday skin sales at the beauty retailer. Additionally, Boots has recently increased the variety of popular K-beauty brands it stocks, which now includes Laneige, Haruharu Wonder, Tocobo and Beauty of Joseon.
I've long been a convert to Korean sun creams, the formulas are miles ahead of anyone else, with impressive ingredient lists and often reasonable pricing. 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.
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
UV sunlight is the number one cause of visible skin damage, which is why sun cream is so important. In fact, a whopping 80% of premature skin ageing is caused by the sun, causing the appearance of fine lines, uneven skin tone and dryness. And, with spring now in full swing, you should be wearing SPF every single day.
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 recommend, whether you're on a budget, have money to splurge or want something convenient for on-the-go top-ups while on holiday.
☀️ Tocobo Bio Watery Sun Cream SPF50 ☀️
⏰ 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 £16 (it's currently on sale for £12.80), 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 a
- Isn't sticky or greasy
- Easy to reapply without feeling heavy
- Not the cheapest when full price
☀️ Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF ☀️
⏰ 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 £15.50 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.
My favourite aspect is how seamlessly it can be reapplied throughout the day without leaving layers of stickiness on my skin. It also 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.
- Super lightweight
- 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 ☀️
⏰ 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 it. 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
- Practical stick design that is non-sticky, non-greasy and lightweight finish
- Has a super easy application perfect for holiday
- Need to apply multiple layers to ensure adequate sun protection
