Focus on hydration – East Asian skin generally has a more easily disturbed barrier, lots of air con My skin was super smooth and soft afterwards, more so than with a peeling gel. So I think it does have a more hydrating effect than a standard peeling gel, and more of a smoothing effect too.

The actives in this include birch juice which is meant to be purifying, baobab extract and hyaluronic acid which are hydrating, allantoin which is soothing, as well as the standard niacinamide and adenosine that you see in the other Kolmar sunscreens too. If you’ve been reading my posts, you’ll know this family of sunscreens has been top of my list for a while – they work really nicely on my skin. They feel like a cream-gel moisturiser going on, they’re hydrating, and they feel like they stay on your skin pretty well. I heard about Pyunkang Yul first from Gothamista, YouTube’s skincare godmother. Their products are really minimalist and focus on using plant extracts to make products suitable for sensitive skin. They can leave a bit of a shiny finish, so some people find them greasy. For me, the shiny film is super light and falls on the glowy side of the glowy/greasy dichotomy. I think part of this is also that they hydrate my skin really well, which means any oil feels lighter, and makes my skin look better rather than worse. While a peeling gel starts bunching up immediately, this takes a bit longer and there are less particles.Iscotrizinolor Uvasorb HEBprotects again UVB and some UVA rays. It’s excellent in water-resistant formulas, only losing 10% of its protection abilities after 25 hours!

The Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++ is an award-winning 2-in-1 moisturizer and sunscreen that's highly sought after in the K-beauty world. It contains 74 natural-derived minerals from the deep sea waters of Ulleungdo Island, ensuring your skin stays hydrated, nourished, and filled with moisture. I have a post on how to adjust to retinoids with minimal irritation – if this is your first retinoid product, I highly recommend using some of those strategies, especially if you’re going to use this all over your face.

I found this one very slightly heavier and richer than the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen, so I think this is more suitable if your skin is drier. I also found it more hydrating and slightly lighter than the Isntree one. We’ve already learned that the Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream had its SPF50+ PA++++ claims independently tested and confirmed, so we’re good on the “safe and reliable” front (at least at this point in time…). So, let’s have a look at that texture, shall we? Uvinul A Plusprotects against UVA rays. It’s stable and studies show that only minimal amount gets absorbed into the skin. Ginseng: Their star ingredient, which they say they included because it’s been shown to target wrinkles. It’s a hugely popular ingredient in Korean skincare. The main ingredient in this is snail mucin (or “snail secretion filtrate”) – it’s at 96%, which is what the 96 in the name means.

My skin type: combo/dehydrated/acne-prone/sensitive - it took me a long time to learn that keeping my skin hydrated and moisturized actually helps reduce breakouts. I also generally avoid any products that has fragrance. So I think this product could work if it fits into your routine. If you have really dehydrated skin and you want one hardcore hydrating product in your routine that keeps your skin plump all day – this isn’t it. But if you want something lightweight and soothing, if your skin isn’t super thirsty, if you want a hydrating toner for summer, or if you use lots of layers of hydration, if you’re doing the 7 skins method, this is great. Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream Uvinul T 150specifically protects against UVB rays. It’s extremely stable and just a small % is needed to provide high SPF protection. Okay, this Round lab birch juice moisturizing sun cream is easily another favourite to add to my sunscreen list. It is so hydrating yet lightweight and has absolutely no white cast. Christina Hello,dry skinSnail essence has a complex mix of long-chain sugary molecules (glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans), which is what gives it the stringy texture and that super hydrating effect.

Alcohol-free and artificial fragrance-free, making it a great choice for those with sensitive skin too! This is just a solid product that captures a lot of the reasons people gravitate towards Korean skincare: Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA++++ has been hyped up so much – it was in both Soo Beauty and EuniUnni‘s top lists of 2021, Bonnie Garner of Beauty Alley’s comprehensive sunscreen roundup, Sugar Peaches Loves, and Alice in the Rabbit Hole. The best known GAG in skincare is hyaluronic acid, and the sugary molecules in snail essence works along similar lines – they’re really good at holding onto water and acting as a humectant moisturiser. Aside from hyaluronic acid, you don’t really see these a lot in skincare. Březová míza vyživuje pokožku tím, že snižuje záněty, čistí ji a hydratuje díky velkému množství minerálů, enzymů, proteinů a antioxidantů.All skin types that want a moisturizer + sunscreen in one, though very dry skin types may still need a moisturizer underneath. Like most Korean sunscreens, this Round Lab one features only next generation filters that are known for their safety, stability, and efficacy: