An honest Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua Fresh Review.

I tried the viral Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics - and truthfully it wasn't for me. It was just too dewy on my oily ass skin. But I decided to give the new Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua Fresh Rice + B5 Sunscreen a go because it's meant to be for my skin type (oily but sometimes dehydrated on the U-Zone, prone to hormonal acne, sometimes sensitive).

Traditionally, Beauty of Joseon has been better for skin on the dry side

For lovers of simple, clean and effective skincare, Beauty of Joseon hits the target every time. But I've always found that their products sort of veer towards catering for skin on the dry side of the spectrum. So as a sometimes oily, sometimes hormonal acne-prone type of person, I've felt like their emollient products (moisturisers and SPFs) weren't the best option for me. But the brand's newer releases has been filling that gap - think Red Bean Gel Cream and Matte Sun Stick. Given I found the extremely popular Probiotics Relief Sun Essence a tad too dewy for me, I was looking forward to trying the Relief Sun Aqua Fresh. 

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua Fresh Ingredients

The key ingredients in the formula are Oryza Sativa (Rice) Seed Water, Dibutyl Adipate (an emollient that helps the spreadability of sunscreens), and Panthenol (an absolutely stellar ingredient - it's a vitamin that effectively soothes and moisturises skin). Honestly, I couldn't tell you if Rice Seed Water is a super impactful skincare ingredient because there aren't a lot of clinical studies on it - but it certainly wouldn't hurt.It's been use across Asia for eons now, and at the very least, has some hydrating and antioxidant properties.

The sunscreen filters used are: Ethylhexyl Triazone, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine. Big words but in short, they are all chemical filters, are ultra-low on the potential irritant scale (according to INCI). None of them will leave a white cast, and together they provide broadspectrum SPF50+ PA+++ protection. Note, these are 'next-gen' filters and the SPF rating has been given by Korean Labs (i.e. not TGA-approved, as most K-Beauty sunscreens sort of forget about our little Australia / New Zealand market). 

How it compares to the Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics

Both offer the same level of protection, but the key differences lie in its texture and finish. The Aqua Fresh is more runny, while the OG Relief Sun is creamier. The OG also uses an SPF filter called Tinosorb M - which is a fairly common UV filter. BUT, I've found that I've had to rub sunscreens which use Tinosorb M into my dark skin more thoroughly, because they can leave a hint of a cast / lotion pattern behind. The finish of the Aqua Fresh is between natural and matte, while the finish of the Relief Sun Rice+Probiotics is between natural and dewy.

Texture and application of Aqua Fresh

The texture is lotion-like and adheres well to the skin. It dried down pretty quickly, even when my skin was still damp from the 1 million layers of toner I applied beforehand LOL. No tackiness either. It didn't feel 'cooling' as Beauty of Joseon suggested, but given that I layer my skincare,  you might feel a more 'cooling' sensation with a simpler routine. The texture is like a thick but lightweight lotion. It doesn’t feel greasy in the slightest, but still feels super hydrating when applied. If you’re the type that wipes off half your product on your pillowcase while you sleep or have skin on the dry side, then you’ll probably want to put a thin layer of a sleeping mask or occlusive on top. The finish immediately after application is nice, semi-matte. 

Results and final verdict

Love it. The non-greasy finish makes re-application a breeze, and I haven't noticed any pore clogging. While I haven't worn a full face of makeup on top, I've used a BB Cream and oil stain on my cheeks with no pilling issues. In fact, I think the Relief Sun Aqua Fresh would work well as a combination sunscreen primer. There's no real scent to it, and it didn't sting my eyes either - not even after a big sweat session at the gym. Basically, the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua Fresh goes on the 're-use for life' list. 

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Find the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun online in Australia at Kanvas Beauty

You can shop the Relief Sun Aqua Fresh and other Beauty of Joseon products right here on Kanvas Beauty.

We ship Australia-wide, including all the major cities (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Darwin, Adelaide and Canberra). Enjoy free standard shipping with any purchase over $50, and free express shipping with any order over $99. If you’re new to Kanvas Beauty, take an additional $20 off your first order with us (use code WELCOME20 at checkout).

Happy shopping! If you have further questions about Beauty of Joseon or any of our other brands, drop us a line on chat or on email: hello@kanvasbeauty.com.au.

Have you tried any Relief Sun products from Beauty of Joseon? What do you think, are they worth the hype?