11 Best Korean Sunscreens for a Glass Skin Finish, Reviewed and Tested

Neogen has rightfully earned its place as a staple in the Korean sunscreen scene, and it’s easy to see why when you try this formula. If you’re looking for SPF that feels like nothing on the skin, leaves zero white cast, and delivers broad-spectrum coverage (both UVA and UVB rays) plus antioxidant defense, this is your new go-to. The “airy” in its name isn't an exaggeration in the least—this sunscreen is ultra-lightweight and melts into your skin in seconds flat.

Key Ingredients: Octocrylene, homosalate, and avobenzone (chemical filters), hyaluronic acid (hydrating), aloe leaf extract (soothing), vitamin E (antioxidant)

Texture: Lotion

Type (chemical vs mineral): Chemical

SPF protection: 50

Benefits: Hydrates, soothes, provides antioxidant protection

What We Love: No white cast; wears well under makeup; imparts a subtle glow without greasiness

What We Don’t: Contains essential oils and added fragrance, which may be irritating to some

Review for MC: "As a beauty editor with perpetually dry, sometimes-dull skin, I'm always testing products that bring the hydration. Enter the Neogen Day-Light Protection Airy Sunscreen, which recently made its way into my regimen—and I’m mad it didn’t happen sooner. It feels more like a moisturizer than your typical sunscreen and absorbs instantly with the lightest touch. As for the finish, it leaves a natural, skin-like glow with just a hint of tackiness right after application that quickly dries down and makes for the perfect base for makeup." — Marisa Petrarca, Contributing Beauty Writer

What sets Innisfree Daily UV Defense Invisible Broad Spectrum SPF 36 Sunscreen from the pack—besides the obvious (fast-absorbing, lightweight, white cast-free, and comfortable texture, which every sunscreen on this list offers)—is its glowy finish. It delivers just the right amount of SPF protection and is packed with soothing and hydrating ingredients that have won over fans across all skin types on social media and our very-picky-yet-discerning beauty editor, Samantha Holender.

Key Ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisolate (chemical filters), green tea extract (soothing), sunflower seed oil (hydrating), vitamin E (antioxidant)

Texture: Lotion

Type (chemical vs mineral): Chemical

SPF Protection: 36

Benefits: Hydrates, soothes, provides antioxidant protection

What We Love: Leaves a glowy finish; free of oxybenzone and octinoxate (which are harmful to marine life); most affordable option on our list

What We Don’t: Its glowy finish might not play well with oily skin types

Review for MC: "I have one skin goal: look as glowy as humanly possible. With that in mind, I have super sensitive skin, so switching up my sunscreen is risky business. That said, I've been using this SPF for quite some time now and haven't experienced any irritation or breakouts. The gentle formula takes a beat to rub in, but it feels silky on my skin, gives a gorgeous shine to my skin, and doubles as a makeup primer. I never experience any pilling either—it's my go-to for under makeup." — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor

This Korean skincare brand is known for its intriguing (and super effective) snail essence, but its sunscreen (and other products in the line) are just as covetable. As you’ll spot on the front of this sunscreen's packaging, the standout ingredient—besides the usual lineup of chemical filters—is vitamin E. This ingredient powerhouse offers a slew of benefits, from shielding the skin against damage caused by free radicals to moisturizing and calming inflamed skin. Fans love how it feels weightless, leaves a semi-matte finish, and hydrates while providing serious protection.

Key Ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate octocrylene, octisalate (chemical filters), vitamin E (antioxidant)

Texture: Lotion

Type (chemical vs mineral): Chemical

SPF Protection: 50+

Benefits: Antioxidant protection, hydrates, soothes

What We Love: Broad-spectrum protection; reef-friendly most affordable option on our list

What We Don’t: It smells the tiniest bit like men's cologne

Review for MC: "I'm so deep on the COSRX snail mucin bandwagon that it's practically a religion at this point. That devotion has led me to try (and fall for) so many more of the K-beauty brand's gems—including, you guessed it, the CORSRX Daily SPF 50 Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen. This white cast-free, fast-absorbing formula checks all the boxes that even some of the most famous sunscreens miss: broad-spectrum and antioxidant protection (basically all you need to step out the door knowing your skin is safe), a semi-matte finish that makes your skin look like yours, just better, and it's reef-friendly for all your tropical getaways." — Marisa Petrarca, Contributing Beauty Writer

Mineral sunscreens (also known as physical sunscreens) work by creating a protective barrier on your skin’s surface that reflects UV rays, unlike chemical filters that absorb UV rays and convert them to heat. While mineral sunscreens are known to be harder to rub in, this one is different. It may take a tiny bit more effort to blend than a chemical sunscreen, but once it’s on, it’s completely undetectable and leaves a matte finish. And because it’s a physical sunscreen, it’s gentler on the skin, making it a great option for those with sensitive skin.

Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (mineral filters), vitamin E (antioxidant)

Texture: Lotion

Type (chemical vs mineral): Mineral

SPF Protection: 50+

Benefits: Soothes and calms thanks to mineral filters, applies smoothly over makeup, leaves a matte finish

What We Love: More comfortable than your average mineral sunscreen; sensitive-skin-friendly; non-greasy texture

What We Don’t: Thick texture (though it does blend)

Review for MC: "Mineral sunscreens get a bad rap—they're thought to be goopy, greasy, and heavy. If I'm being honest, many mineral formulas deserve a negative connotation. Not this Dr. Jart+ formula though. It rubs into my skin with ease and, within 30 seconds, is completely invisible. It has a more natural finish on the skin (as opposed to glowy or matte) and leaves a tacky texture that grips onto makeup. Plus, there's a nice citrus scent that always reminds me of days at the beach." — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor

Found: a chemical sunscreen that won't leave your eyes stinging or streaming with tears when you apply it to your eyelids (which, by the way, you absolutely should be doing). Even though it’s a chemical formula, it has the soothing, creamy, lotion-like texture you might expect from a physical sunscreen. It leaves skin with a glowing finish and even helps brighten over time, thanks to niacinamide and sodium ascorbyl phosphate (the salt form of vitamin C that brightens just like the pure version of the ingredient).

Key Ingredients: Homosalate, octocrylene, octisalate, and avobenzone (chemical filters), niacinamide (anti-acne, brightening, and firming), hyaluronic acid (hydrating), vitamin C (brightening)

Texture: Cream

Type (chemical vs mineral): Chemical

SPF Protection: 50

Benefits: Hydrates, brightens, soothes

What We Love: Doesn't irritate eyes, leaves a glowy finish, packed with skin-loving vitamins

What We Don’t: May not be ideal for ultra-sensitive skin types due to added fragrance

Review for MC: "For the record, my skin isn’t always sensitive, but occasionally, I notice it flares up—sometimes after a professional skin-care treatment or during a breakout. This sunscreen is my go-to during those moments when my skin could use some TLC. It uses soothing ingredients like panthenol and cica extract, hydrating ones like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, and niacinamide for its anti-inflammatory, anti-acne, and brightening benefits; the perfect combo when my skin needs a little extra love. Plus, I love that it feels as nourishing and rich as a physical sunscreen but, true to its chemical formula, absorbs like a dream." — Marisa Petrarca, Contributing Beauty Writer

Dr. Collins gives the Beauty of Joseon (pronounced "JOH-sun") Relief Sun Sunscreen her stamp of approval. She describes it as "really popular" for its TikTok virality and microbiome-friendly formula but loves it for dry and sensitive skin (though all skin types will crave it). If you've spent time on the beauty side of TikTok, you've likely seen content creators rave about it before, comparing its texture to more of a luxurious moisturizer than a sunscreen. But beyond the way it looks and feels, it's formulated with advanced chemical filters that aren't yet FDA-approved in the United States. That said, you'll have to look internationally to get your hands on it, but that's part of its appeal; it’s a little elusive, and everyone’s obsessed.

Key Ingredients: Uvinul A Plus, ethylhexyl triazone, Tinosorb M, and Uvasorb HEB (chemical filters), niacinamide (anti-acne, brightening, and firming), rice extract (supports the skin's microbiome)

Texture: Lotion

Type (chemical vs mineral): Chemical

SPF Protection: 50+

Benefits: Hydrates, soothes, brightens

What We Love: TikTok-viral; leaves a glowy finish; has the highest SPF rating offered in Korea (SPF 50+)

What We Don’t: Not available at major U.S. retailers (yet) due to its non-FDA-approved filters

Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen is as hydrating as it is aesthetically pleasing. The front of the packaging shows a woman standing by a white birch tree—a nod to one of the brand's hero ingredients, birch juice. The ingredient is known (and loved) for its hydrating, soothing, and antioxidant-rich benefits, and—surprise, surprise—it takes center stage in this formula, backed by moisture-boosting hyaluronic acid and brightening niacinamide. The silky-smooth, lightweight texture is the cherry on top of this cult-favorite sunscreen, which has earned thousands of five-star ratings on Amazon.

Key Ingredients: Diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate (chemical filters), hyaluronic acid (hydrating), birch juice (hydrating and soothing), niacinamide (anti-acne, brightening, and firming)

Texture: Cream

Type (chemical vs mineral): Chemical

SPF Protection: 50+ PA++++

Benefits: Hydrates, brightens, soothes

What We Love: Doubles as a moisturizer—no need for an extra step; lightens dark spots; aesthetically pleasing packaging

What We Don’t: There are many counterfeits floating around online since it's not yet sold at major U.S. retailers

If traditional cream or lotion sunscreens aren't your thing, the SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF 50+ PA++++ could be your new favorite. It has a lightweight, watery texture that feels more like a hydrating serum than a sunscreen, applies completely clear, and is packed with soothing and hydrating ingredients to help counteract any sensitivities to chemical filters. Countless reviewers have dubbed it their "holy grail," and they praise how well it works on all skin types, even oily, combination, and acne-prone skin.

Key Ingredients: Diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate, ethylhexyl triazone, methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol, diethylhexyl butamido triazone (chemical filters), niacinamide (anti-acne, brightening, and firming), centella asiatica extract (soothing), hyaluronic acid (hydrating)

Texture: Serum-like cream

Type (chemical vs mineral): Chemical

SPF Protection: 50+ PA++++

Benefits: Hydrates, soothes, protects from free radicals with antioxidants

What We Love: Lightweight serum-y texture; fast-absorbing; oily skin-approved

What We Don’t: Some reviewers mentioned that it made their eyes sting

Sunscreen sticks might not sound all that appealing (are you picturing those greasy ones from years ago, too?), but the Abib Quick Sunstick Protection Bar is here to change your mind. Think of it as the anti-sunscreen stick: it applies completely clear—so a white cast isn’t even an option—feels weightless and non-sticky, and is perfect for touch-ups on your face and body. One Amazon reviewer compared its texture to Chapstick for how smoothly and comfortably it glides on.

As for its ingredients, standouts include a handful of soothers like aloe vera, cucumber extract, and green tea extract, plus hydrators such as glycerin and ceramides.

Key Ingredients: Octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, Uvinul A Plus, Tinosorb S (chemical filters), aloe vera, cucumber extract, green tea extract (soothing), glycerin and ceramides (hydrating)

Texture: Balm

Type (chemical vs mineral): Chemical

SPF Protection: 50+ PA++++

Benefits: Soothes; applies clear; hydrates

What We Love: Travel-friendly-and portable; easy to reapply; unscented (no added fragrance or essential oils); curved shape that's ideal for applying to facial contours

What We Don’t: Could potentially disrupt your makeup when reapplied over it

This sunscreen packs in as many skin-calming ingredients as it does SPF filters, proving it's as soothing as it is protective. Its lightweight, water-based texture feels more like a bonus layer of moisturizer that just so happens to offer SPF 50 protection—forget feeling like daily sunscreen's a chore; this one’s a treat to apply.

Key Ingredients: Octinoxate, homosalate, Uvinul A Plus, octocrylene (chemical filters), titanium dioxide (mineral filter), cica, aloe, and bamboo water (soothing), hyaluronic acid (hydrating)

Texture: Cream

Type (chemical vs mineral): Hybrid

SPF Protection: 50+

Benefits: Soothes; comprehensive sun protection thanks to hybrid formula; moisturizes

What We Love: Lightweight, water-based texture; packed with skin-calming ingredients

What We Don’t: Not reef-safe

Dr. Collins recommends this fragrance-free sunscreen for its ingredient list, and we love it for that and how beautifully it sits under makeup (no pilling!). "This one has lots of active skincare ingredients including a powerful punch of hyaluronic acid, resulting in wrinkle reduction and dry skin relief," Dr. Collins explains. Just a reminder: hyaluronic acid works by temporarily plumping the skin and softening the look of fine lines and wrinkles—essentially making it a firming skin treatment before you even reach for your foundation. Bonus: this sunscreen has three types of hyaluronic acid for extra plumping power.

Key Ingredients: Uvinul A Plus, Tinosorb S, Polysilicone-15, Tinosorb M, Octisalate, Homosalate (chemical filters), hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides (hydrating), centella asiatica extract (soothing)

Texture: Gel-like lotion

Type (chemical vs mineral): Chemical

SPF Protection: 50+ PA++++

Benefits: Hydrates, plumps, soothes

What We Love: Fragrance and essential-oil-free, wears well under makeup; contains multiple forms of hyaluronic acid

What We Don’t: Not waterproof