- Formulas that emphasize sun protection and glow-boosting ingredients.

By Sarah Y. Wu
August 22, 2025

Among the many innovations that K-beauty has brought us, SPF might be one of the most impressive. Adding one of the best Korean sunscreens to your skin care routine means you can forget about greasy texture, chalky finishes, and hard-to-apply formulas that cause makeup pilling.

Korean SPFs have gained increasing popularity for their cosmetic elegance, innovative ingredients, broad-spectrum UV protection, and added skin care benefits, says Y. Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York. “As awareness of the importance of SPF protection grows, Korean sunscreens are becoming increasingly popular for daily use,” says Charlotte Cho, esthetician and cofounder of skin care maker Then I Met You and e-retailer Soko Glam.

After testing the best products on the market, our favorite Korean sunscreen was the Goodal Green Tangerine Vita-C Dark Spot UV Defense, which combines FDA-approved SPF filters (more on that later) with green tangerine extract (a potent source of vitamin C), niacinamide to even skin tone, and Centella asiatica extract to calm irritation.

To help you find the best options for all skin types, we spoke with beauty experts including dermatologists, estheticians, and editors who use Korean sunscreens daily.

The best Korean sunscreens, at a glance

Best Sunscreen Stick: MDP+ Peptide 9 Bio Sunstick Pro



Sun sticks pack your favorite formulas into portable swipe-ons you can easily toss in your bag for touch-ups. We’ve tested plenty, but it’s rare to find one that contains this many skin care ingredients, particularly peptides. “Peptides enhance collagen production and skin elasticity,” says Dr. Hwang. “I’ve used this personally during travel, and it’s convenient for reapplication while also delivering a light firming and calming effect.” He recommends this for mature and sensitive skin types, or for anyone who wants a firming boost from their sun stick. The formula also contains panthenol to “soothe and support the skin barrier,” as well as madecassoside, a calming ingredient found in the Centella asiatica plant.

Wu is similarly impressed by this solid sunscreen. “The application was so smooth and light, I emailed the brand to double-check that it contains FDA-approved filters,” she says. “It does—so I can freely recommend this to all US shoppers. I love the way the bar is cut so it hugs harder-to-reach areas like my nose and ears. It glides without dragging and doesn’t disturb my makeup. This is an absolute essential in my everyday bag.”

• SPF rating: 50+
• FDA-approved filters: Yes (homosalate, octocrylene, avobenzone, octisalate)
• Key ingredients: Peptides, panthenol, madecassoside
• Highlights: Easy-to-use sun stick; travel-friendly; glides on smooth without disturbing makeup