Beauty of Joseon vs Biore UV 2026: Which Asian Sunscreen?
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun vs Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence: texture, finish, alcohol content, and which SPF 50+ PA++++ pick fits your skin type.
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Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun ($18) and Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence ($16) are the two most cross-shopped Asian sunscreens on Amazon, and both offer SPF 50+ PA++++ protection with zero white cast. The difference is texture and skin-type fit. Relief Sun is a creamy, hydrating Korean formula with rice extract and a dewy moisturizer-like finish, best for normal, dry, or sensitive skin. Aqua Rich is a featherweight Japanese watery gel with alcohol that flashes dry to a barely-there finish, best for oily and combination skin. Dry or reactive skin: Beauty of Joseon. Oily skin or sunscreen-haters: Biore.
Both of these earned cult status the same way: modern UV filters, elegant textures American drugstore sunscreens still can’t match, and prices under $20. You genuinely can’t go wrong. But they feel completely different on skin, and picking by skin type is what decides which one you’ll actually reapply.
Based on published formulas and verified owner reviews, here’s the head-to-head.
The spec sheet
| Product | Spec | Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun | Rating | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (2026) Both under $20 | ~$18 | ~$18 | ~$16 | — |
| Protection Identical top-tier rating | SPF 50+ PA++++ | SPF 50+ PA++++ | SPF 50+ PA++++ | — |
| Origin Different formulation traditions | Korean (K-beauty) | Korean (K-beauty) | Japanese (J-beauty) | — |
| Texture The main difference | Creamy lotion | Creamy lotion | Watery gel essence | — |
| Finish Dewy vs disappearing | Dewy, moisturizer-like | Dewy, moisturizer-like | Weightless, near-invisible | — |
| Alcohol Matters for sensitive skin | No denatured alcohol | No denatured alcohol | Contains alcohol | — |
| Skincare extras Both add hydrators | Rice extract, probiotics-derived ingredients | Rice extract, probiotics-derived ingredients | Hyaluronic acid | — |
| Best for Pick by skin type | Dry, normal, sensitive skin | Dry, normal, sensitive skin | Oily, combination skin | — |
The core difference: cream vs water
Relief Sun applies like a light moisturizer and leaves a hydrated, dewy glow, so dry and normal skin can often skip a separate morning moisturizer. Aqua Rich applies like water, flashes dry in seconds, and feels like nothing, but its alcohol content and lighter emollience can leave dry skin tight by afternoon. Texture preference is the whole decision.
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun is the K-beauty philosophy in one tube: sunscreen as skincare. The formula pairs modern organic UV filters with rice extract and fermented ingredients, and the finish reads as healthy skin rather than sunscreen. Under makeup it behaves like a hydrating primer.
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence is the J-beauty philosophy: sunscreen you cannot feel. The watery gel spreads thin, sets almost instantly, and disappears completely. The trade-off is denatured alcohol, which is what makes that evaporating texture possible. Most skin tolerates it fine; very dry or compromised skin may notice tightness with daily use.
Wear test: how they hold up
Verified owner reviews repeat the same patterns:
- Relief Sun: comfortable all day, plays well with makeup, and the dewiness can read as shine on oily skin by midday. A few batches drew fragrance-sensitivity complaints, though the formula is lightly scented at most.
- Aqua Rich: invisible under everything, zero pilling, and the go-to for people who hate wearing sunscreen. It is not marketed as strongly water-resistant, so for beach or sweat days a dedicated sport formula holds better.
Neither is a swim sunscreen. For pool and beach days, see the best summer sunscreens list.
Where each one wins
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun wins on:
- Dry and sensitive skin comfort: no denatured alcohol, hydrating base
- Dewy K-beauty finish: doubles as a lightweight morning moisturizer
- Skincare extras: rice extract and ferment-derived soothers
- Under-makeup behavior: works like a gripping primer
Biore UV Aqua Rich wins on:
- Weightlessness: the closest any SPF 50+ gets to wearing nothing
- Oily skin: no added shine, no heaviness, no clog-prone richness
- Speed: flashes dry in seconds, zero wait before makeup
- Price: usually a couple of dollars cheaper
Which one we’d recommend
Dry, normal, or sensitive skin: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun, because the alcohol-free hydrating base makes daily compliance effortless. Oily or combination skin, or anyone who has abandoned sunscreens for feeling like sunscreen: Biore UV Aqua Rich. At under $20 each, plenty of people keep both, Relief Sun for winter and Aqua Rich for summer.
Beauty of Joseon
Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+
Creamy, dewy K-beauty SPF 50+ PA++++ with rice extract. No white cast.
Best for: Dry, normal, and sensitive skin, dewy-finish lovers
Weightless J-beauty watery gel, SPF 50+ PA++++, disappears on skin.
Best for: Oily and combination skin, sunscreen-texture haters
Dig deeper
- Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun full review: formula, wear, and repurchase verdict
- Biore UV Aqua Rich full review: why it earned cult status
- Best Korean sunscreens: Relief Sun’s K-beauty rivals
- Japanese vs American sunscreens: why Asian filters feel better
- Best sunscreens with no white cast: for medium and deep skin tones
Frequently asked
Is Beauty of Joseon or Biore better for oily skin? +
Biore UV Aqua Rich. Its watery gel dries down to a weightless, low-shine finish, while Relief Sun's dewy cream can read as extra shine on oily skin by midday.
Does either sunscreen leave a white cast? +
No. Both use modern organic (chemical) UV filters rather than zinc oxide, so both are invisible on every skin tone.
Which is better under makeup? +
Both behave well. Relief Sun acts like a hydrating primer under foundation; Aqua Rich disappears entirely and suits matte bases. Pick by the finish you want.
Are these sunscreens water resistant? +
Neither is a dedicated sport formula. For swimming or heavy sweat, use a water-resistant sunscreen like Anessa Perfect UV Milk and reapply after toweling off.
Is PA++++ better than what US sunscreens list? +
PA++++ is the highest UVA rating on the Asian scale and exceeds what most US labels disclose, since the FDA only requires a broad-spectrum designation rather than a graded UVA score.
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