Table of Contents
I received many many requests to try Beauty of Joseon products, in particular the sunscreen, and while it isn’t my habit to give in to such requests (hey! It’s my money and I want to be sure that I’m getting something I like, not just for the sake of the blog), I eventually did for this brand.
The primary reason I did is because it is sunscreen, and I’m always running out of sunscreen! The other reason was curiosity. Beauty of Joseon products are incredibly affordable, which makes it very tempting to try to see if they are any good, from a skincare snob point of view 😀 It was also a good time to see if they were a decent enough budget skincare range, because a good quality budget priced skincare is always welcome.
I happened to get a few items during an online promotion a month or so ago, and immediately put most of them into my skincare rotation. What this means is that you’ll be seeing more reviews of this brand in the coming posts 😀
Beauty of Joseon – Hanbang Korean Skincare
I had to look up what ‘hanbang’ meant, because I haven’t been swept by the Korean wave and taken up the language like many haha! But apparently what it means is ‘herbal’ and this is because Beauty of Joseon uses traditional and herbal ingredients in their skincare.
They don’t have an ‘About Us’ page on their website, which irritated me somewhat as someone new to the brand. I was only made aware of the brand because some friends and readers had asked me what I thought about the sunscreen, since they know my penchant for sunscreen.
From what I can gather elsewhere online, they tap into traditional and herbal ingredients, and make skincare inspired by women of the Joseon dynasty. They claim to marry the traditional and modern in their skincare products, and I have to admit that I found some of their products quite intriguing.
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun : Rice + Probiotics (SPF50+ PA++++)
The most requested product that I try from Beauty of Joseon was the sunscreen. Instead of being just called ‘sunscreen’ or something similar, it’s called a Relief Sun.
The Rice in the name refers to the 30% rice extract and fermented grain extract that provides moisture. This is used because they say that in the Joseon Dynasty, rice bran water was used like the toner of today, and was called Beauty Water, used for beautiful skin. Rice bran is rich in amino acids and minerals, helping to moisturize dry skin.
Incidentally, while growing up, I remember some older folks telling me I could wash my face with the water used for soaking rice. This, they said, will give you clearer skin. Well, I had bad skin as a late teen and young adult, but I did quite like using the rice water to rinse my face 😀
It also contains some probiotics in the formula. This sunscreen boasts an SPF50+ PA++++ rating, which is very high. It is apparently tested in various labs, and the rating is well proven, and according to some tests, one of the best in the market.
Naturally, I was very intrigued. I am outside a lot and am exposed to the sun and UV rays a lot. It follows therefore that I use A. LOT. of sunscreen, and if I could save on this, it would be perfect because a full sized tube of Beauty of Joseon Sun Relief sunscreen comes in at under RM50!
Lightweight creamy texture
I can understand the love for Beauty of Joseon Sun Relief sunscreen, because the texture is absolutely lovely. It feels just like a moisturiser going on the skin, and I think would be perfect for those who dislike the usual heavier texture of most sunscreens in the market.
The lightweight creamy texture just glides on the skin, and does not feel heavy nor greasy. It absorbs into the skin without leaving any residue, and for my dry skin, it felt very nice. Not moisturising in the true sense of the word, but certainly not drying.
The thing about the texture is because it is so similar to that of a moisturiser, and because I have read so many people saying that they don’t need to use so much (thereby stretching the use of their sunscreen) there is a danger that people just aren’t using enough sunscreen to properly avail of the protection it gives.
So, even if this is a good sunscreen, if people aren’t using enough of it each time, they aren’t getting the protection they need, and that would be a pity. It is therefore worth reminding at this juncture, that the recommended amount of sunscreen to use each time is approximately 2 finger-lengths.
RELATED READING: How much sunscreen should you use for maximum protection? READ HERE
Chemical UV Filters – no white cast
Beauty of Joseon boasts that their Sun Relief sunscreen leaves no white cast on the skin. It isn’t surprising because they use chemical UV filters in their sunscreen and no physical mineral filters. Usually the white cast is due to the white powders of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in the cream, that sit on the surface of the skin.
They also say that they are an ‘organic sunscreen’ which translates into turning UV rays into heat in the skin. This is usually how chemical UV filters operate.
The UV filters used are Ethylhexyl Triazone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Methylene Bis-benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol.
I used to use sunscreens with primarily chemical filters, but I’ve since switched over to sunscreens that have a mixture of chemical and physical filters. It isn’t to say that one is better than the other, as recent science has proven that they both are effective at protecting our skin from UV rays.
I used to find that sunscreen with chemical filters had a tendency to irritate my eyes if I sweat and they get into my eyes. Happily, this one does not seem to do so.
A good indoor sunscreen
Just speaking for myself, I can understand why there is much love for the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen. It is lightweight, moisturising, leaves no white cast, and easy on the wallet. It is also quite highly ranked as far as sunscreen efficacy goes.
Having used it for over a month, I can safely say that if I were spending most of my time indoors, away from the sun e.g. in an office job, I’d be happy to use this one, because it feels very comfortable, and my skin does feel protected.
However, because I’m outside a lot, I found that it was not quite enough for my skin. When I’m exposed to the sun (and I am, a lot), my skin warms up significantly and sometimes turns red. I did notice that my hyperpigmentation was a little out of control during this time as well.
Granted, this is anecdotal, so take what I say with a pinch of salt 😛
My personal sunscreen of choice so far for outside use is still the Avene Very High Protection Mineral Cream, which I feel, has protected my skin better. When I’m inside however, I don’t feel like there’s a lot of difference in the different sunscreens I use, so it makes sense to use this one from Beauty of Joseon, as it is highly rated and because of its attractive price.
IN A NUTSHELL
The Beauty of Joseon Sun Relief sunscreen is a very affordable sunscreen that comes quite highly rated and also quite highly ranked with the beauty community. It uses chemical filters to protect skin from the UV rays which means that the formula does not leave a white cast. The texture is a lightweight cream that sits comfortably on the skin without feeling heavy or greasy. I would recommend that you use at least 2 fingers length even if it feels that it’s a little more moisturising than you like. I personally prefer this one for use indoors as I don’t find it enough for me when exposed to the sun e.g. walking outdoors. But preferences and tolerances vary from person to person. While I’ve found many sellers on Shopee and Lazada, I’d only ever buy from the official store even if it may be a little more expensive. This is because I’ve found that there is a proliferation of fake products when it comes to Korean skincare, and I’d not want to take the risk.
PROS:
Affordable
Nice lightweight texture
Moisturising
No white cast
Protects skin very well indoors
No scentCONS:
Nothing majorWHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who wants a lightweight creamy sunscreen that is not greasy and heavy and does not leave a white cast
PRICE: RM69.90 (often on sale under RM50) | US$18 for 50ml
WHERE TO BUY: Beauty of Joseon Shopee store, iHerb
For those interested, this is the ingredients list for the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun sunscreen.
Water, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract (30%), Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Niacinamide, Methylene Bis-benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Coco-caprylate/Caprate, Caprylyl Methicone, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera (Kelp) Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Monascus/Rice Ferment, Pentylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Decyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol,Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Aspergillus Ferment, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Have you tried the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen?
I don’t use stick type sunscreens (and if you follow the scientists they don’t recommend it either as you won’t get sufficient protection) so I won’t be trying that one. However, I did see that they have a Ginseng Moist Sun Serum that I might try some time down the road.
Paris B
