Korean sunscreens are known for very light textures and for leaving no white cast, but the technical difference that matters is another one: the PA rating next to the SPF, which tells you how much UVA protection you're getting.
SPF and PA: two different things
SPF measures protection from UVB rays, the ones responsible for sunburn. It is the number we're used to: SPF 30, SPF 50+.
PA measures protection from UVA rays, which go deeper and are associated with photoageing. It is written as plus signs, from PA+ to PA++++: four is the maximum.
In Europe UVA protection is usually shown as the letters "UVA" inside a circle, which means UVA protection is at least a third of the stated SPF. The Korean system, with its four plus signs, simply says the same thing more legibly.
Why they feel lighter
In Korean cosmetics sunscreen is treated as a daily skincare step, not as a beach product. Hence the serum or fluid textures, the fast absorption, and the compatibility with make-up applied on top.
It is a difference in formulation and in habit, not in effectiveness: the protection you get is the one on the label, in Korea as in Europe.
How much to use
This is the part that undoes everything else. The reference amount is about half a teaspoon for face and neck — considerably more than most people apply.
Half the dose does not give you half the protection: it gives you far less. An SPF 50 applied too thinly behaves like a much lower factor, and the light texture of Korean sunscreens helps precisely because it makes the right amount bearable.
Reapply every two hours when you're outdoors, and after swimming or sweating.
The three in stock
- Clear SPF50+ PA++++ by Planet Skin — €17.90, a serum-textured sunscreen based on centella asiatica. According to its product page it leaves no white cast and suits all skin types.
- Vegan Aqua Glow Sun Serum by Hamel — €21.90, also a serum.
- Matte Mugwort + Camellia stick by Beauty of Joseon — €17.90. The stick format is convenient for reapplying over make-up during the day, which is the moment almost everyone gives up.
The rest of the category is in sunscreens.
All year, not just in summer
UVA rays pass through clouds and glass, and they are there all year round. If you use chemical exfoliants, retinol or vitamin C, daily sunscreen is not an optional extra: it is the condition that makes using them worthwhile.
In the routine sequence it is always the last morning step, after your cream and before make-up.