If you visited our site for sunscreen recommendations in 2023, you will notice the formulations have changed. Korean sunscreen chemistry moved faster than almost any other skincare category in the last two years. The white cast problem is mostly solved. The eye-sting problem is mostly solved. Hybrid formulas have become the default. New UV filters like Uvinul A Plus Granular and Tinosorb S have shown up in Korean MFDS-approved lists that were still running older filters in 2022.
This guide covers ten sunscreens we bought and wore through April 2025. Half are brand-new releases. Half are 2024-2025 reformulations of previous bestsellers. Every tube was purchased at Canadian retail, none were sent to us, and we stopped testing each one when we ran out of interest - so reviews vary in depth based on how much we actually liked them.
What we tested for
Five metrics, weighted roughly equally.
Texture. Does it spread without pilling? Does it feel weightless or tacky? Does it absorb in under two minutes?
White cast. Visible on Asian, Black, Brown, and light skin tones. We photographed each product on swatches across the team. No invisible-on-one-tone-only passes.
Water and sweat resistance. Tested after a 30-minute walk on a humid afternoon and after a gym session.
Makeup compatibility. Did foundation and concealer layer cleanly, or did the sunscreen reject them?
CAD value. Price per milliliter at our own store and two major Canadian competitors.
The top three
1. Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics (2025 reformulation)
The reformulation kept what worked (no white cast, watery spreadability) and improved the staying power. We wore this on a 12-degree Toronto day and again on a 22-degree Vancouver afternoon. No pilling, no re-emulsification when we got caught in rain.
Filters are hybrid. PA++++ rating. SPF 50+. Cost: around $24 CAD at full retail for 50 mL.
2. Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen (2025 release)
The first Round Lab SPF we have unreservedly recommended. Previous versions had a chalky mineral aftertone on deeper skin tones. This one does not. The birch juice ferment gives it a slight tack that some testers loved and others found unusual - it does disappear in five minutes.
PA++++. SPF 50+. Around $28 CAD for 50 mL.
3. Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Airyfit Sunscreen (2024 release, still worth the list)
Ultralight finish, no white cast across all skin tones we tested, and very makeup-friendly. The one caveat is staying power: we found it needed reapplication at the four-hour mark rather than six.
PA++++. SPF 50+. Around $22 CAD for 50 mL.
The solid middle (4 through 7)
4. Mixsoon Sunscreen
Mineral-only formulation with the usual mineral trade-off: excellent for reactive skin, more visible white cast than hybrids. If you need a zinc-only option for rosacea or pregnancy, this is the pick.
5. Anua Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream
The heartleaf line has a loyal following and this SPF lives up to the essence-level quality. Slightly thicker than the Beauty of Joseon but calms reactive skin during application.
Centella: an anti-inflammatory herb (also called cica or tiger grass) that reduces redness and supports barrier function. Pairs well with sun exposure. See full entry.
6. Abib Quick Sunstick: Protection Bar
The stick format has quietly become our favorite reapplication tool. Abib's 2025 version is larger and has better grip than the 2023 release. We leave one in each of our team's bags.
7. ETUDE Sunprise Tone-Up SPF
The tone-up SPF category can go wrong fast - too white, too purple, ghostly in selfies. Etude's version is the most natural of the tone-ups we tested. Not a daily pick but useful for no-makeup days.
The bottom three (8 through 10)
8. COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream (2024)
Reliable but dated. Heavier than its competitors at the same price point. We still recommend it for sensitive oily skin, but the 2025 releases have passed it by.
9. Dr.G Mild Up Sun Cream
Medium texture, medium performance, medium price. Nothing is wrong with it. Nothing distinguishes it either.
10. Innisfree Intensive Triple Shield Sunscreen (2025 release)
Disappointing. The texture is good but the residue at the three-hour mark became noticeable. We wanted this to be a budget-tier winner and it is not.
What changed in 2025 formulations
Three trends in the new releases worth noting.
First, more UV filters per product. Where 2022 Korean sunscreens often used three or four filters, 2025 releases commonly combine five to seven. The logic is that each filter has a slightly different UV absorption peak, and combining them gives broader and more stable protection per layer of product. This is also why the new formulations perform better on multi-hour wear.
Second, lower concentration of individual filters. Because there are more filters in the blend, no single one is doing heroic work. This reduces irritation risk and often reduces the greasy or tacky feel associated with high-concentration chemical filters.
Third, ferment extracts replacing ethanol. Ethanol remains a cheap and effective solvent for chemical UV filters, but it can trigger dryness and sensitivity. Several 2025 releases use rice ferment, birch juice, or fermented extracts as water-phase vehicles, which gives better skin feel at similar cost.
The Canadian buyer's note
Korean sunscreens are regulated through the MFDS system, which is well-aligned with Health Canada's cosmetic framework but not identical to it. A Korean sunscreen sold through an authorized Canadian retailer has been registered through Health Canada's Cosmetics Notification system and imported within stable-shelf-life windows.
Grey-market Korean sunscreens (from unofficial resellers on Amazon or Etsy) are often shipped via container vessel with long transit times and potentially uncontrolled temperature exposure. Chemical UV filters are heat-sensitive. A sunscreen that spent three weeks in a 40-degree container may not be providing the SPF on the label.
Buy from an authorized retailer. We carry most of the top seven on our site. Canada Post usually delivers within four business days to most provinces.
The reapplication reminder
Every sunscreen, no matter how good, needs reapplication every two to three hours of direct sun exposure. For Canadian commute-only days (walking to the subway, sitting at a desk), a morning application is enough. For patio lunches, walking meetings, or anything at a lake or beach, reapply with a stick or a cushion SPF.
For a more broad spring seasonal approach, see our spring transition guide.
Bottom line
Our top pick is Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun in its 2025 form. Number two is Round Lab Birch Juice. Number three is Haruharu Wonder. Any of the top seven will give you a Canadian year of reliable daily SPF. The bottom three are not bad, but they have been lapped by the new generation. For a comparison across price tiers, see our 2026 pre-summer SPF guide when it releases next April.