I Tried *That* Viral K-Beauty Sunscreen: Has it Been Over-Hyped, or Am I Converted?
Main image – Courtesy of writer
You might think that Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ (£15.50 from Boots UK /$18 from Stylevana US) looks like an ordinary product that- hopefully- does the job of protecting your skin from UV and keeping it hydrated. Meh. But as any beauty insider knows, this unassuming sunscreen has actually gone viral multiple times, for lots of impressive reasons.
The first is its affordable price. The second is that it’s a Korean beauty brand, inspired by ‘Hanbang’- traditional Korean medicine- but with a twist. The third is that it’s meant to layer well with makeup, without any disruptions. And the fourth is that it’s being touted as having the most elegant and wearable of textures. Intriguing…
Having also been included in the V&A’s 2022 ‘Korean Wave’ cultural exhibition about Korea, it’s safe to say this brand is clearly influential. But here at Live That Glow, whether a product is viewed as ‘iconic’ on TikTok or not, we like to see for ourselves.
So, does Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ live up to the hype? Did it make my oily skin worse, like some SPFs? Or did it just about hit the spot? Keep scrolling to read my honest review.
The product details
Not only is it SPF 50+ but it is also rated PA++++, the highest level of UVA protection available under the highly respected Japanese PA SPF ranking system. A great start.
Its formula is a chemical SPF, rather than mineral, so promises to help dodge clumpy makeup and, according to the brand’s claims, you shouldn’t be left with a white residue either.
Image – Courtesy of writer
It contains 30% rice extract and grain ferment lysate to help keep the skin healthy and clear and it is made without oxybenzone and octinoxate in a bid to support and protect coral reefs. The cream formula claims to keep the skin hydrated, feel comfortable and non-sticky.
This was the brand’s first sunscreen and is still their most popular however there is now a sister product available – Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh (not to be confused with the toothpaste) – which promises to be ultra-lightweight, with oily and combination skin in mind.
How I tested Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+
For five consecutive days, I cleansed my face in the morning, applied my usual serum then used this instead of my usual day time moisturiser. I did nothing out of the ordinary and wore my usual makeup on top.
First impressions
Call me simple, but the first thing I look for when I open up a new product is its smell. I am not against skincare scents, in fact, I actually quite like them. But equally, it’s not a deal breaker if it doesn’t have one. This product has absolutely nothing in the fragrance department. It doesn’t even smell clinical. So, if you hate a scented cream, you’ve made a good start.
Texture before rubbing in. Image – Courtesy of writer
The texture is silky smooth – much more luxurious than most sunscreens I’ve tried and it reminded me more of a creamy moisturiser than an SPF, which the brand itself claims. Not too thick, but also not too light that I was worried it wouldn’t touch the sides when it came to hydrating my skin.
Texture after rubbing in. Image – Courtesy of writer
I have an oily skin type, so I don’t want to be slathered in grease, but I still need ample moisture at the age of 42. Yup, it’s pretty hard for me to find that balance, especially when paired with makeup, so this product would be a good test.
I used a pea sized blob and massaged it around my face. It felt super smooth and gave me a gorgeous glow – not greasy, just illuminated – and it didn’t feel sticky or tricky to work in. There was zero evidence of any white cast too. Promising…
My results
The gleam on my skin after applying this sunscreen is incredible, and for an oily-skinned girl to say the word ‘incredible’ instead of ‘scary’ is quite the accolade. I was worried though that adding my usual liquid foundation and liquid highlighter on top would be too much.
Ideally, you would wait for a moisturiser or sunscreen to dry down before applying anymore products on top but I’m a mum of two with a school run to do and no time to waste so…drying down just simply isn’t an option.
This hasn’t always gone well for me and in the past my face has felt – honestly – wet for hours thanks to not giving my skincare enough time to sink in before applying makeup. This is a recipe for disaster as you can imagine because by lunchtime it’s all fallen off.
Image – Courtesy of writer
But this? I am actually blown away. I layered my (albeit oil-free) liquid foundation straight over the sunscreen, without giving it any absorption time and my makeup just took to it like the two were meant to be together. Soulmates.
The gleam from the sunscreen was still there but it wasn’t greasy, slippery or wet. Just glowy. Also, please can we add ‘primer’ to its list of jobs? Because my makeup doesn’t budge when wearing it either.
Over the course of the day I see very minimal oiliness. Some sunscreens can do really well on my skin until around midday when they let out a sign of relief and release all the oil they’ve been holding in all morning. This one just stays consistent for the duration of the day and my skin still somehow stays balanced and feels super hydrated.
I feel like it’s just a bonus that it’s a sunscreen because honestly? It feels more like a really, really excellent, luxurious day cream for all skin types, oily skin included. The SPF benefit (and the top tier kind too) is just a happy extra.
What other users are saying
There are some disappointed users out there who think the product is overhyped. On reddit, an anonymous poster writes, “has a small grey cast especially on darker complexes, irritated my very sensitive skin and seemed to cause more breakouts, was way too oily and greasy on my skin when I layered up and I don’t have oily skin. Even though I’m very white I still noticed the grey cast.”
I definitely didn’t notice the grey cast on my pale skin– darker skin tones may disagree, although I haven’t seen other complaints- and my skin is prone to breakouts which I didn’t notice an increase in either. If you have sensitive skin though, I always recommend doing a patch test first anyway.
Some think this version is better for dry skin than oily. “It’s pretty thick and better for dry skin,” writes Jcaseykcsee whilst luzwort6776 says, “It’s a lighter consistency and yes, a little shiny, but this suits my dry skin and gives me an ever-so slight dewy finish without feeling heavy.” I completely agree, except it works for my oily skin too.
Overall value for money
After writing a glowing review like this, you’d think there’d be a huge catch, like the price. But no, Beauty of Joseon clearly loves its customers because the Sun Relief Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ is £15 and I would spend this on a top up in a heartbeat, particularly because it performs as a brilliant hydrator too.
Sunscreen is vitally important to wear all year round, so sometimes it feels like brands take advantage of that and therefore pump up their prices. But this price on the other hand is reasonable and doable for most.
The takeaway
It sounds strange but sometimes I really want to dislike such a hyped product like this so I can be virtuous and beg readers not to waste their money. But I am well and truly in the Beauty of Joseon Sun Relief Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ hype camp – hook, line and sinker. Iconic? Absolutely!
And the fact that it won’t break the bank when I run out is just the icing on my very contented cake.
Get Glowing!
