Last Updated on April 6, 2026 by omgbart
At first glance, everything about Beauty of Joseon is textbook K-beauty. The name. The aesthetic. The formulas. And by now you have probably heard the one about how the brand is not actually that popular in Korea. Or wasn’t, until Olive Young, Korea’s dominant beauty retail chain, started carrying the range.
This reminds me of Tatcha somewhat. During our trip to Japan in 2017, I learned that exactly one place carried it in the entire country. A hotel spa in Kyoto. That was it. There is nothing wrong with a brand building its identity around heritage without being a household name at home. The beauty industry is oversaturated and brutally competitive. Beauty of Joseon is neither a poser nor an anomaly. It just found its audience elsewhere first.
Now let’s talk sunscreen. Two of them, actually.
The One That Started It All
At this point, the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF 50 is practically furniture. Everyone who has spent any time in the skincare space knows the cream-colored tube with the white cap. Muted, elevated, more presence than half the luxury SPFs on the market. I am here for it.
Outside the US, Beauty of Joseon currently offers two Relief Sun formulas: the original Rice + Probiotics and the newer Aqua-Fresh Rice + B5. Both are SPF 50 PA++++, both are unscented. Both are very good. Trust me on this one.
Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50
This is the one that converts people. Not because of clever marketing, but because of feel. It looks like a cream, behaves like a lotion, and absorbs like a serum. If you have spent your life avoiding sunscreen because of white cast, greasy finish, or that chemical smell, this formula sidesteps all of it.
One thing to be clear about: it is not a moisturiser. It hydrates, yes, and delivers real treatment through niacinamide for brightening and adenosine for firming. A stack of fermented ingredients, including multiple strains of lactobacillus and saccharomyces ferment filtrates, supports the microbiome angle the brand leans into. But UV protection is the primary job. Everything else is a bonus.
On application it goes on with a brief white cast that vanishes in seconds. No sheen, no purple tint, no residue. Layers seamlessly over moisturiser without pilling.
Relief Sun: Aqua-Fresh Rice + B5 SPF 50
Lighter on contact but with more grip on the skin. Where the original reads creamy, the Aqua-Fresh is more of a water-gel that sets to a dry-touch finish almost immediately. Not tight exactly, but there is a comfortable firmness after it absorbs that some people will love and others will notice.
The formula is more focused on barrier support. Ceramide NP, phytosphingosine, sodium hyaluronate, and rice bran oil form a genuinely nourishing base. Panthenol, the B5 in the name, helps the skin retain moisture and recover from daily environmental stress.
The ferulic acid and tocopherol pairing also actively supports the UV filters’ photoprotection rather than just sitting there decoratively. If your skin runs dry or needs more structural support from its morning routine, this is the more considered choice.
Which one is for you
Both formulas feel like creams rather than fluids, sink in fast, and leave nothing behind. The difference is in what they are doing underneath.
The Rice + Probiotics is your multitasking SPF. Treatment-forward, microbiome-friendly, and genuinely suited to every skin type, including those prone to redness. It does the UV job and then some.
The Aqua-Fresh is your barrier-first SPF. Soothing, ceramide-rich, loaded with antioxidants, and very focused on hydration. If your skin tends to tip oily by midday, this is the one.
The Bit About UV Filters
The UV filter systems also differ between the two, and it is worth understanding what is actually in each formula and why none of it is currently FDA approved for the US market.
In both formulas
Rice + Probiotics only
Aqua-Fresh only
| Filter (INCI) | Common name | Coverage | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate both |
Uvinul A Plus | UVA | Strong long-wave UVA absorber. Oil-soluble, excellent photostability. |
| Ethylhexyl triazone both |
Uvinul T 150 | UVB | Highly efficient UVB filter. Very photostable. |
| Methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol Rice + Probiotics |
Tinosorb M | UVA + UVB | Hybrid filter that works by both absorption and reflection. Broad spectrum. |
| Diethylhexyl butamido triazone Rice + Probiotics |
Uvasorb HEB | UVB | Additional UVB support. Adds to the original formula’s protection depth. |
| Drometrizole trisiloxane Aqua-Fresh |
Mexoryl XL | UVA + UVB | Silicone-based hybrid filter. Broad spectrum with an excellent skin feel contribution. |
| Terephthalidene dicamphor sulfonic acid Aqua-Fresh |
Mexoryl SX | UVA | UVA specialist, particularly strong on long-wave UVA. Water-soluble. |
| Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine Aqua-Fresh |
Tinosorb S | UVA + UVB | Broad spectrum absorptive filter. Complements Mexoryl SX’s UVA range. |
Both are worth trying. And each one overdelivers at its price point. And if you are new to either, know that whichever one you start with, the tube will be empty before you have made up your mind about the other.
Beauty of Joseon Sun Relief sunscreens run around $15-$20 per 50ml tube.
You can find them at lookfantastic.com, boots.com, oliveyoung.com, yesstyle.com, stylevana.com (code SHOPBART saves 10%), and beautybay.com.
Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I only recommend products I actually use and love. If you shop through these links, I may earn a small commission, which helps keep this site running.
