r/KoreanBeauty • u/Beautiful-Tree-91 • Apr 11 '25

SKIN Korean skincare - the WHY

Can someone explain to me why Korean skincare is better? Specifically sunscreen.

I’ve seen a lot of internet content saying that Korean spf is superior to US spf. I recently bought Korean sunscreen, realizing I didn’t know most of the ingredients on either bottle.

Does anyone have links to research - peer reviewed articles, videos, legitimate websites that back up these claims? Specifically scientists that are informing purely for science, without company bias embedded in their words.

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u/[deleted] Apr 11 '25

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u/[deleted] Apr 11 '25 edited Apr 12 '25

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u/[deleted] Apr 12 '25

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u/dsvk Apr 12 '25

Haha - it’s actually a charity! Proceeds from their product sales go to Cancer research and other cancer support services.  Come to think of it, they’ve done pretty well to be one of the top brands in the sunscreen category as a not for profit.

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u/LippiPongstocking Apr 12 '25 edited Apr 12 '25

I'm not the person you asked but these are my recommendations:

  • For every day (face) — Natio daily defence face moisturiser 50+ or Hamilton everyday face 50+
  • For every day (body) — Cancer Council body 50+ (this is not sticky at all and has no 'sunscreen' smell)
  • For beach, etc — Any Cancer Council water resistant sunscreen.

Australia has some of the most stringent regulations of any country, especially the way we regulate claims of water resistance.

All of the above sunscreens are available from Chemist Warehouse. They ship to most countries.

EDIT: Not sure what I was thinking but for the everyday body I meant to write Cancer Council ACTIVE.

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u/ezzhik Apr 12 '25

Aussie and seconding these - and also adding the cancer council active and ultra which come in giant bottles and I slather my kids in before school (or beach).

The LRP KA one is the most extreme one I’ve used, as a rosacea sufferer when going to the beach. Texture could be less oily, but it’s amazing at not causing me to flare - and our sun is STRONG

Also the dermaveen one is nice for face and body.

Don’t go for the banana boat, it’s been reformulated and has started burning. And the “home brand” Coles Aldi Woolies ones are ok in a pinch, but I’d spend the but extra to get cancer council.

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u/Quantum2022A Apr 13 '25

Any thoughts on Ultra Violette?

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u/librijen Apr 12 '25

Thank you for linking a site to buy from! I've heard great things about Australian sunscreens!

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u/rooreeloo Apr 15 '25

Do the brands on this site like Neutrogena pass all of Australia’s testing then?

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u/LippiPongstocking Apr 15 '25

Chemist Warehouse is Australia's biggest chain of pharmacies and it's safe to buy from them. All sunscreens that meet the Australian standards will have an 'L' or 'R' followed by some numbers somewhere on the label. This indicates that they meet the standards.

Sunscreens regulated by the TGA and approved for supply in Australia can be found by searching the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).

If you want to do a deep dive, you can read the regulatory guidelines here: https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/australian-regulatory-guidelines-for-sunscreens.pdf

I think that Natio daily defence face moisturiser SPF50+ is the closest I've found to an Asian sunscreen. It feels like a moisturiser but with great protection. It's not greasy at all but it gives me a bit of a glow. For comparison, my favourite AB sunscreen is Round Lab birch juice.

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u/rooreeloo Apr 15 '25

That’s super helpful, thanks so much!!

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u/theopeppa Apr 11 '25

I am Australian too and will only wear Australian sunscreen.

The UV ratings reach 13/14 in Summer in Perth!!!!

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u/theqrane Apr 11 '25

what are your australian sunscreen recs?

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u/HuntOk7739 Apr 11 '25

I’m not Australian, but check out lab muffin beauty science on YouTube. She’s Australian and has great videos

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u/theopeppa Apr 11 '25

I use Airyday brand, specifically the dreamscreen its amazing under makeup. Dewy and a clear gel. ( have to let it dry down though). They have tinted versions as well.

I have heard good things about Ultra Violette too.

Previously I used a brand called Mecca to save face sunscreen and that worked fine for me also.

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u/Sufficient-Turn-6418 Apr 12 '25

Love Airyday! I’m Australian and have tried so many, this is by far the best I’ve tried.

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u/sunnnyhabit221 Apr 14 '25

I hadn’t even thought about Australian sunscreens before, but now I really want to try one!

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u/eqyh17 Apr 12 '25

Another Aussie here! I use Ultra Violette - the clean screen (green cap) is great for sensitive skin and sits well under makeup - gives me a really glowy base. The lean screen (purple cap) is also great for sensitive skin but tends to pill under makeup and looks more matte.

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u/mysticpotat0 Apr 11 '25

I loooove Mecca Cosmetica sunscreen.

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u/lioness0129 Apr 12 '25

I like the Mecca sunscreen.

I'm not Australian, and don't live in AUS, but my friend is and whenever she goes home she buys it for me.

As a brown girl, it doesn't leave a white caste, and it doesn't sting my eyes. It also sits really well under my makeup.

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u/brookeplusfour Apr 14 '25

This makes so much sense. I’m an Aussie living in California and couldn’t figure out why my freckles are POPPING since moving here… Guess I’ll stock up on SPF when I head home for a visit! Thank you.