The Beauty of Joseon Dayscreen SPF 30 Moisturizer Sits So Well Under My Makeup—and It's Only $20
A new K-Beauty staple has arrived.
I take pride in the fact that I'm very diligent about wearing sunscreen. As my dermatologist recommends, I apply it every morning after cleansing and toning (yes, even when it's overcast), and if I'm ever vacationing somewhere sunny, I don't show up without at least two bottles of SPF (you've gotta have variety). That being said, I've tested an ungodly amount of sunscreens, some of which have been too heavy and greasy for my skin and some not doing anything at all to mitigate dryness.
For a while, it was tough to find a happy medium, though I recently put a new Beauty of Joseon launch to the test with the hope that it might change my current routine for the better. The beloved K-beauty brand—who also happens to be the creator of my favorite sunscreens from last year, the Day Dew Sunscreen Lightweight SPF 50—just released its new Dayscreen 2-in-1 SPF 30 Moisturizer with Green Tea-HA + Ceramides, and after just a few days of trying it out, I'm already hooked.
To learn about the product and my honest thoughts, read ahead.
The Formula
Leaning into that fact that not all sunscreens can properly moisturize the skin, Beauty of Joseon's new SPF is a 2-in-1 formula that does just that while protecting your complexion from harsh UV rays and pollution—that latter part is essential if you live in a city with not-so-great air quality like me.
If you're at least somewhat familiar with skincare terms, then it's likely you've heard the term "barrier support" being thrown around, and when you see it as a claim in a product description, there's a good chance that said product includes ceramides. These are fatty acids that make up most of the outer layer of your skin, and their job is to trap moisture in. They're typically recommended when your skin is feeling dry or sensitive as a result of a damaged barrier, and they're one of two major ingredients in this SPF moisturizer.
The second hero ingredient (the star of the show, if you will), and is the brand's own special, antioxidant-rich green tea blend, which can brighten the skin and prevent it from appearing dull and lifeless.
The Application and Wear
I applied this sunscreen much like I do any other. I cleansed and toned my skin before applying a small amount of serum. I followed that with the SPF, and the first thing I noticed was how milky the product felt as I squeezed it out of the bottle. It's soft without feeling too watery.
I was also impressed by how quickly it absorbed once I began rubbing it in. Sometimes when I apply a serum before moisturizing, I run into the issue of the product pilling and leaving a gross, gritty texture on my skin, but thankfully, that didn’t happen when I used this. It applies pretty seamlessly and doesn’t make my skin look ghostly or purple (it’s a chemical formula, so I didn’t expect it to do that anyway, for what it’s worth). My skin felt really soft and hydrated, and my face didn't feel heavy or greasy directly afterwards either.
Since I wear makeup nearly every day and often end up with a slightly-oily T-zone by mid-afternoon, I wanted to test out how well this sunscreen sat underneath a layer of skin tint. Surprisingly, it still delivered. The moisturizer got rid of the dry, tight feeling that I often get after cleansing, yet after a full day of wearing it under complexion makeup (which happened to be one of the first 80 degree days of the season), I didn't feel like a greasy mess.
My skin felt great after a full day of wearing the Dayscreen 2-in-1 SPF 30 Moisturizer under makeup.
The Takeaway
After a brutal winter spent dealing with an unusual amount of dryness, I've been searching for a decent SPF moisturizer that can deliver long-lasting moisture to my skin without making me feel uncomfortably oily early on in the day. I think this sunscreen does a great job of taking care of that; not to mention, it doesn't include any ingredients that are especially harsh or irritating (green tea and ceramides are quite literally the opposite of that), so if moisture and barrier repair are what you're focused on, the Beauty of Joseon Dayscreen SPF 30 Moisturizer might be the perfect formula for you, too.
Other Sunscreens I Love
This is another hydrating formula that absorbs quickly and sits well underneath foundation and concealer.
I love stick formulas because they're easy to travel with, and at one point, I was carrying this Shiseido stick with me everywhere. It glides across my skin like butter and is small enough to reach even the trickiest areas of the face.
Reapplying sunscreen throughout the day can be tricky if you wear makeup. That's where mists like this one come in handy.
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