The 15 Best Korean Sunscreens (Plus, What Sets Them Apart from the Rest of the Pack)

K-beauty is a leader within the skincare space and has been for many years now, thanks to its use of advanced ingredients and innovative textures. (Gel creams, cushion compacts and jelly cleansers? You can thank our friends in Seoul for that.)

That said, if I had to choose just one category where they absolutely excel, it would be sunscreen. If you have an aversion to sunscreen from past childhood memories of being slathered in thick white paste or are wary that the stuff might break you out, a Korean sunscreen can be an absolute game-changer for you.

Depending on your skin type and preferences, there are plenty of options. I streamlined it down to 15 of the best Korean sunscreens for you to shop ahead.

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To select the following Korean sunscreens, I started with a few I've personally tested and loved throughout the years. Additionally, I combed through data and reviews on platforms like Google Trends and Reddit to ascertain the most popular and best-performing products. Ultimately, I considered dozens of Korean sunscreens before narrowing it down to the 15 you see below, based on the following criteria: efficacy, price, ease of application and wear.

As implied, Korean sunscreen is sunscreen made in Korea, but there's more to it than that. For starters, there are a lot more sunscreen options available in Korea. That’s mainly due to the difference in regulations there (and in Europe), as compared to here in the United States.

In the U.S., sunscreens are considered a drug under the FDA, so any chemicals that are used in a sunscreen need to go through a formal approval process. As such, the list of approved SPF ingredients is limited and hasn’t been updated much in the last two decades.

In Korea, sunscreens are categorized as “functional cosmetics,” which consist of any cosmetic product that helps to brighten or firm your skin, reduce wrinkles or protect against UV radiation. Though the approval process for functional cosmetics is rigorous, it’s streamlined so it takes less time for brands to test and bring new formulas to market.

Another key difference is how they’re rated. Korean sunscreens often use the PA (Protection Grade of UVA rays) system, which measures UVA exposure, as well as SPF, which measures UVB exposure.

As you see in the shopping guide above, some Korean sunscreens will say “PA” with a number of “+” signs following it. The PA number is based on the PPD or “persistent pigment darkening” test, which measures how long it takes for skin to tan or darken when exposed to UVA rays, as compared to unprotected skin. For reference, a sunscreen can have anywhere between one to four plus signs, and theoretically, the more plus signs, the higher the protection from UVA rays.

The takeaway: For the most comprehensive protection, always look for the words “broad-spectrum,” or SPF and PA on a label, so you’re accounting for both UVA and UVB exposure.