This $9 Facial Sunscreen Is So Good, I Love Wearing It Every Single Day—and It’s Dermatologist Approved

When I was little, I used to get sunburned the moment I stepped outside. My mom always put sunscreen on me, but it almost seemed inevitable to get beet-red patches right underneath my eyes. As I got older, I always knew sunscreen was important to wear. But, I could never find one I actually wanted to put on my face. 

I have the body sunscreens covered, but every facial sunscreen I’d try would either feel too heavy and sticky, cause me to break out, leave  horrible white casts, or worst of all, be heavily fragranced. Sometimes, they just didn’t work at all. I wasted so much money trying bottle after bottle only to dread putting it on my face every day. When I finally found this dermatologist-approved Beauty of Joseon sunscreen, I knew I’d found my perfect match. Not only could I effectively use it everyday, but I ended up falling in love with it so much that I actually look forward to putting it on. And best of all, it’s available for as low as $9 at Walmart, or on YesStyle.

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ PA++++ Facial Sunscreen 

The Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics Sunscreen is a Korean sunscreen I first learned about on TikTok. I bought it around four to five months ago after a frustrating round of trials from other sunscreen brands. The very first thing I noticed while putting it on was that it was virtually weightless, with an incredibly thin consistency.While this was promising from the beginning, overtime, I learned just how effective it was. My skin actually improved, and felt extra-nourished from the sunscreen’s moisturizing properties. 

When I started to apply it daily, I rarely burned and saw far less symptoms of sun exposure, like sun spots. The photo below is of me after being outside for an hour on the first sunny, 70+ degree-Fahrenheit day of the season. My skin still has a healthy glow, and I only have just a bit of redness (but that’s just because I’m warm). 

While I can personally vouch for this, I really wanted to make sure it was fully dermatologist-approved. I chatted with Board-Certified Dermatologist Dr. Mamina Turegano via email, who supported my conclusions about the product. “It is a beautifully formulated sunscreen that absorbs really well but also hydrates the skin very nicely,” she wrote. “It doesn’t leave a white cast, and it has a variety of skin nourishing ingredients.” It also checks all of Dr. Turegano’s boxes, since it has an SPF over 30 (it’s SPF 50), and is broad spectrum, which means it has good UVA and UVB protection. 

This sunscreen is based on Korean formulations, which really makes it stand out from American or Western brands, since it features a more “cosmetically elegant formula” according to Dr. Turegano. “Their sunscreen contains chemical sunscreen filters that are not available in the US: Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine,” she further explained. These filters are chemical-based (instead of mineral), which I’d been sensitive to in the past. I used to only buy minerals because of that, but this particular formula doesn’t bother me. Dr. Turegano agrees that it’s likely less irritating than other sunscreens I’ve tried. 

“It has rice bran water, which has a variety of different amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to soothe and hydrate the skin. It also has a Lactobacillus/rice ferment, Aspergillus ferment, and Saccharomyces/rice ferment filtrate which help to further nourish the skin,” along with other skin-loving ingredients for barrier protection and hydration like glycerin, niancinamide and more. It makes sense why I have seen improvements with my skin overtime, since it typically thrives on those ingredients. I have dry, sensitive, dermatitis-prone skin, and this formula never breaks me out or irritates my skin even with daily use. 

Dr. Turegano says this sunscreen can virtually work for anyone, though if you lean dry like me, you’ll likely want an additional moisturizer. Folks with oilier skin might just be able to get away with this sunscreen alone, thanks to its formula. It’s also worth noting that this sunscreen is  less expensive than other popular options on the market like Supergoop or EltaMD, and it’s fully cruelty-free, which is important for me, personally. 

If you’re also looking for the perfect sunscreen, especially as we head into summer, I highly recommend this Beauty of Joseon sunscreen. Not only does it work, but I just love putting it on everyday. I already have a new bottle on the way, that way I never run out. 

Shop More Sunscreens We Love: 

Thinksport SPF 50+ Mineral Sunscreen

Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion

Babo Botanicals Sheer Zinc SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Lotion

Black Girl Sunscreen Moisturizing SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion 

Supergoop! Poof 100% Mineral Part Powder PF 35 PA+++ Scalp Sunscreen

At the time of publishing, the price started at $9.