Comparison
Beauty of Joseon vs Round Lab sunscreen: which suits you?
Both are popular Korean sunscreens with a light, moisturizing feel, but they are not the same product everywhere. Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun uses newer UV filters that are not on the US approved list, while the Round Lab Birch Juice sunscreen sold in US stores is a US-formula SPF 45 built on avobenzone. Here is how to choose.
In the Beauty of Joseon vs Round Lab sunscreen debate, the honest answer is that both are well-made, comfortable daily sunscreens and the right pick depends on where you buy and how your skin feels. Choose Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun if you want a creamy, dewy finish and newer-generation UV filters, accepting that this formula is not made to US sunscreen rules. Choose the US Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing UVLock Sunscreen SPF 45 if you want a product sold on US shelves under FDA sunscreen rules with a lighter, hydrating feel. If your skin is reactive, note that the Korean Round Lab version contains plant essential oils.
- Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun relies on four modern filters, including bisoctrizole, which is not on the FDA permitted list; it reaches US buyers mainly through online and import channels.
- The Round Lab sunscreen in US stores is a separate US formula (avobenzone 2.7%, homosalate 13.5%, octisalate 4.5%), while the Korean Round Lab shares Beauty of Joseon’s filter family.
- Neither claims water resistance, so both are everyday sunscreens, not beach or workout sunscreens.
At a glance
Beauty of Joseon vs Round Lab sunscreen: side by side
Both brands sell several sunscreens. This page compares the two best-known ones: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50+ PA++++ and Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing sunscreen, which exists as a Korean SPF50+ PA++++ version and a separate US SPF 45 version. All details come from the brand pages and the US drug label listed in the sources.
| Feature | Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun | Round Lab Birch Juice (US, SPF 45) | Round Lab Birch Juice (Korea, SPF50+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Chemical sunscreen in a light cream base | US over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreen drug | Chemical sunscreen with a lotion-like feel |
| UV filters | Ethylhexyl triazone, DHHB, diethylhexyl butamido triazone, bisoctrizole | Avobenzone 2.7%, homosalate 13.5%, octisalate 4.5% | Same four filters as Beauty of Joseon |
| Rating | SPF50+ PA++++ | SPF 45 broad spectrum | SPF50+ PA++++ |
| Skin-care extras | 30% rice extract, niacinamide, fermented extracts, glycerin | Birch juice and humectants | Birch juice, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid |
| Fragrance | No added fragrance listed | No fragrance listed | No fragrance listed, but contains pine and chamomile oils |
| Water resistant? | No claim | No claim | No claim |
| Best for | Normal, dry and combination skin that likes a dewy finish | Anyone who wants a US-regulated, hydrating daily SPF | Dehydrated or combination skin, not very reactive skin |
| Pregnancy | Our pregnancy skincare guide favors a mineral (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) sunscreen; all three of these are chemical sunscreens, so ask your prenatal clinician. | ||
Filters and protection
What is the difference between the UV filters?
A sunscreen’s filters are its active ingredients: the molecules that absorb ultraviolet (UV) light before it damages skin. UVB rays mainly cause sunburn; UVA rays go deeper and drive tanning, aging and dark spots. You want strong protection against both, which the US calls “broad spectrum” and Korea and Japan show with a PA rating (PA++++ is the top grade).
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun combines four filters widely used in Europe and Asia. DHHB (diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate) covers UVA; ethylhexyl triazone and diethylhexyl butamido triazone cover UVB; bisoctrizole (methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol, sold as Tinosorb M) covers both. The brand reports lab SPF results of about 52.5 in Korea and 63.1 in Spain, and PA++++ UVA results in both labs.
Round Lab’s US version uses avobenzone, the main UVA filter allowed in US chemical sunscreens (see our avobenzone guide), paired with homosalate and octisalate for UVB. It is labeled SPF 45 broad spectrum, which in the US means it passed the FDA’s UVA test.
Round Lab’s Korean version uses the same four modern filters as Beauty of Joseon, so on protection chemistry those two are close cousins.
Is one filter set “better”? The newer filters are known for being stable in sunlight, and the US formula relies on long-standing ingredients. In everyday use, the difference that matters most is how much you apply and whether you reapply. SPF 45 and SPF 50+ are close in real life, as our SPF 30 vs SPF 50 comparison explains.
Chemical vs mineral: all three products here are chemical (organic) sunscreens. If you want zinc oxide or titanium dioxide instead, read mineral vs chemical sunscreen.
Feel and skin type
Which one is better for oily, dry or sensitive skin?
Because the protection levels are close, most people end up choosing on feel. Use this as a starting point and remember that a patch test tells you more than any review.
Lean Beauty of Joseon
The brand describes a light cream that feels like a moisturizer and dries to a dewy finish. Rice extract, glycerin and niacinamide add comfort. Very dry skin may still want a moisturizer underneath; see our dry skin guide.
Try either, test first
A dewy finish can look shiny on oily skin by midday. Neither is marketed as matte. If breakouts are your main worry, compare options in our sunscreens for acne-prone skin list and our oily skin guide.
Read the version you buy
Neither lists added fragrance, but the Korean Round Lab contains pine leaf and chamomile flower oils, which can bother reactive skin. People who sting from chemical filters may prefer a mineral formula. Our sensitive skin guide covers what to look for.
Both can work
Light, moisturizing sunscreens usually sit well under makeup once they set for a few minutes. Tips are in sunscreen under makeup.
Region matters
Is Beauty of Joseon sunscreen FDA approved?
In the US, sunscreen is regulated as an over-the-counter drug, not a cosmetic. Only filters on the FDA’s permitted list can be used in sunscreens sold on US shelves, and the FDA notes that sunscreens bought abroad may be labeled and formulated differently from US products. Many other countries treat sunscreen as a cosmetic and allow a wider list of filters.
Bisoctrizole, one of Beauty of Joseon’s filters, is not on the FDA permitted list. The FDA did add a different modern filter, bemotrizinol, to its list in 2026, but that does not cover the filters in Relief Sun. Korean-formula sunscreens still reach US shoppers through online and international sellers, and Korean press coverage notes that these imports can be stopped at customs and cannot be sold as compliant products on US store shelves.
That does not mean the formula is unsafe: these filters are used in many countries. It means it was not made to, or reviewed under, US sunscreen rules, and US labeling (such as “broad spectrum”) will not apply. Round Lab, by contrast, sells a dedicated US formula with a US Drug Facts label.
Before you buy
- Check the label: a US product has a “Drug Facts” box with active ingredient percentages.
- Match the SPF to the version you think you are buying (SPF 45 vs SPF50+).
- Buy from the brand or a reputable retailer to avoid counterfeits.
- Check the expiry date; see does sunscreen expire.
Watch out for
- Assuming two products with the same name have the same filters.
- Choosing a sunscreen for swimming or heavy sweating when it makes no water-resistance claim.
- Unbranded sellers with unclear lot numbers or labels.
- Relying on makeup alone for protection.
Getting real protection
How to use either sunscreen properly
- Apply as the last skin-care step in the morning
Put it on after moisturizer and before makeup. Our skincare layering order guide shows where it fits.
- Use enough
Most people under-apply, which lowers the protection they actually get. See how much sunscreen to use for the face and body amounts.
- Give it time before sun exposure
The FDA advises applying sunscreen about 15 minutes before going outside.
- Reapply at least every two hours outdoors
The FDA and the US Round Lab label both say to reapply at least every 2 hours, and more often when swimming or sweating.
- Switch products for water and sport
Neither product claims water resistance. For swimming or workouts, use a sunscreen labeled water resistant (40 or 80 minutes).
- Add shade, hats and sunglasses
The FDA recommends using sunscreen alongside clothing and shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Safety and professional-help boundaries
When sunscreen choice is a medical question.
- If a sunscreen causes itching, a spreading rash, swelling or hives, stop using it; this may be an allergy or contact dermatitis, and a dermatologist can patch test the ingredients.
- If you have melasma, a history of skin cancer or a photosensitivity condition, ask a dermatologist which filters and SPF level you need.
- Do not use sunscreen on babies under 6 months without asking a doctor; the FDA advises shade and clothing instead.
- During pregnancy, our guide favors mineral sunscreens; discuss chemical sunscreens like these with your prenatal clinician.
- Any new, changing or bleeding spot should be checked by a doctor, whatever sunscreen you use.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions
Is Beauty of Joseon or Round Lab sunscreen better?
Neither is clearly better; they suit different needs. Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun has a creamier, dewier feel and modern filters, while the US Round Lab SPF 45 is made to FDA sunscreen rules and feels lighter. Choose based on your skin type and where you buy.
Is Beauty of Joseon sunscreen FDA approved?
No. Relief Sun uses filters such as bisoctrizole that are not on the FDA permitted sunscreen list, so it is not a US-compliant sunscreen drug. It is sold internationally and reaches US buyers mainly through online and import channels.
Is the Round Lab sunscreen in the US different from the Korean one?
Yes. The US Birch Juice Moisturizing UVLock Sunscreen is SPF 45 with avobenzone, homosalate and octisalate, while the Korean Birch Juice sunscreen is SPF50+ PA++++ with four newer filters. Check the label to see which you have.
Which is better for oily skin, Beauty of Joseon or Round Lab?
Many people with oily skin find lighter textures easier, but both have a moisturizing, slightly dewy finish rather than a matte one. Patch test first and consider a mattifying primer or a sunscreen designed for oily skin if shine is a problem.
Can I use Beauty of Joseon or Round Lab sunscreen on sensitive skin?
Often yes, since neither lists added fragrance, but check the version. The Korean Round Lab contains pine and chamomile oils, which can irritate some sensitive skin. If chemical filters sting you, a mineral sunscreen may suit you better.
Are Beauty of Joseon and Round Lab sunscreens water resistant?
No. Neither product claims water resistance on its brand page or label. Use a sunscreen labeled water resistant for 40 or 80 minutes when swimming or sweating.
Do these Korean sunscreens leave a white cast?
Beauty of Joseon says Relief Sun leaves zero white cast, and chemical filters generally leave far less cast than mineral ones. Round Lab’s versions are also chemical sunscreens, so a white cast is unlikely.
How often should I reapply Beauty of Joseon or Round Lab sunscreen?
Reapply at least every two hours when you are outdoors, and sooner after swimming, sweating or towel drying. This is FDA guidance, and it applies to any sunscreen whatever its SPF.
Can I use these sunscreens while pregnant?
Ask your prenatal clinician. Our pregnancy guide favors a mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, and both of these brands’ products here are chemical sunscreens.
Editorial Record
- Editorial status
- reviewed
- Medical reviewer
- Dr. Abdurrahman Efem
- Practical reviewer
- Merve Akkaya
- Last reviewed
- November 13, 2026
Related pages
Continue from here
Sources reviewed
Evidence behind this comparison
- Beauty of Joseon: Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50+ PA++++ (official product page and ingredient list).
- NDC List: FDA drug label for Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing UVLock Sunscreen SPF 45 Broad Spectrum.
- Skinsort: Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++ ingredient list (Korean formula).
- US Food and Drug Administration: Sunscreen, how to help protect your skin from the sun.
- SGS SafeGuardS: FDA adds bemotrizinol to OTC sunscreen monograph, June 2026.
- Korea JoongAng Daily: Is the new US regulation an open door or obstacle for K-sunscreens?
Sources support the general editorial guidance shown here. They do not replace personal medical advice from a qualified clinician.