PRODUCT REVIEW: COSRX ALOE SOOTHING SUN CREAM SPF 50 PA+++ - BEST SUNSCREEN FOR FACE, BEST SUNSCREEN FOR OILY SKIN
COSRX | ALOE SOOTHING SUN CREAM SPF 50 PA+++
This product review was originally part of my blog article titled, Three Amazing Sunscreens I Took with Me to Cabo from Supergoop, Cocokind and Cosrx. You can catch the full piece here.
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As I had done on my trip to Cancun, I brought skincare with me that I could tell a fun-in-the-sun story around. This time, it was sunscreens. Plus, I was overdue for a piece on my latest sunscreens discoveries. I had last featured my finds of the best sunscreens for face on the blog in the summer of 2021 in an article titled, Surprisingly Light Sunscreens for a Hot Summer Day from Glossier, Supergoop! And Zitsticka. You can catch it here.
In the mid-summer article, I featured three of my favorite warm weather sunscreens, including one of the best sunscreens of all time: the Supergoop! Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Sunscreen Serum PA+++. If you haven’t yet had the chance to try this remarkably innovative, Vitamin-C powered brightening sunscreen, you’re really missing out.
I also featured Glossier’s Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen+ SPF 35 — one of the most lightweight sunscreens available. If you’re a makeup wearer or have oily skin, the Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen+ SPF 35 could be just what you’re looking for. It’s the best sunscreen for oily skin that I came across last year.
SURPRISINGLY LIGHT SUNSCREENS FROM GLOSSIER, SUPERGOOP! AND ZITSTICKA - BEST SUNSCREENS FOR OILY SKIN
Rounding out my picks was Zitsticka’s new MEGASHADE Breakout-Proof SPF 50 Sunscreen Serum. Formulated especially for oily, acne-prone skin, it’s a perfectly legitimate sunscreen for the rest of us, too — particularly on a hot, humid summer day.
One of my favorite sunscreens of all time, and a staple for me in the summer or when traveling to a warm place, is the Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk. I’ve included it in multiple blog articles, including one of my all-time faves, A Complete $100 Skincare Routine with The Inkey List, The Ordinary, Benton & More! (You can catch it here!)
I nearly always have my Skin Aqua Moisture Milk with me. It’s a light, slender bottle, making it perfect for your travel bag. And the formula itself is ridiculously lightweight. While I took it with me to sunny Palm Springs over Christmas weekend, I resisted taking it with me on the trip to Cabo.
PRODUCT REVIEW: SKIN AQUA SUPER MOISTURE MILK SPF 50 – ONE OF THE BEST SUNSCREENS FOR OILY SKIN
When I was working at Kiehl’s, my favorite of the brand’s many philosophies was that it’s essential to wear sunscreen even on cloudy, seemingly sunless days. Of course, the mistake so many people make is in thinking that they can somehow outsmart the sun; that they don’t need sun protection in winter or on a cloudy day. Truthfully, the sun’s rays always find a way to our skin.
It is essential to wear sunscreen even on cloudy seemingly sunless days.
While I make it a practice of consistently applying sunscreen every day, all year round, the one thing that isn’t consistent is the texture of the facial sunscreen product itself. Like most people, I prefer heavier skincare in the fall and winter, lighter skincare in spring and summer.
Of course, in a warmer climate like I was headed for in Mexico, a lighter sunscreen is more ideal. But it’s the dead of winter here in NYC and I need a heavier daily sunscreen. So I thought I’d mix it up on my trip. It’s been just over six months since I did a deep dive into sunscreens of any kind.
I thought it would be cool to take that deep dive in the waters off the coast of Cabo!
I packed three sunscreens, two of which are new and one more of a staple in my vast repertoire of facial sunscreen products. One is a straight up mineral sunscreen, one is a purely chemical sunscreen, and the third is a blend of mineral and chemical filters.
The newest of the three is the Supergoop! Daily Dose Hydra-Ceramide Boost + SPF 40 Sunscreen Oil PA+++. If it sounds familiar, it’s an extension of the original Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Sunscreen Serum PA+++. The new Daily Dose Hydra-Ceramide Boost + SPF 40 Sunscreen Oil is a rich oil, ideal for dry, low-humidity air and for a drier skin type. It’s been my go-to sunscreen over the last several weeks as the temperatures have dropped dramatically and my skin is in a constant battle to stay hydrated.
PRODUCT REVIEW: SUPERGOOP! MINERAL SHEERSCREEN SPF 30 PA+++ - BEST MINERAL SUNSCREEN FOR FACE FOR OILY SKIN
The second facial sunscreen I took with me to Cabo is the Cocokind Daily SPF Facial Sunscreen Lotion — the lone mineral sunscreen of the three. I’m a huge fan of Cocokind; it’s one of my favorite brand discoveries of 2021. Formulated with 21% Zinc Oxide, Daily SPF is relatively lightweight, with that bright white texture common to a mineral sunscreen made with Zinc Oxide.
Last is a personal favorite straight out of the Skincarma Vault, the floor-to-ceiling medicine cabinet which houses my regular and daily skincare stash. The COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream is the lightest of the three and a blend of both mineral and chemical sunscreens — including three Asian and European sun filter innovations: Amiloxate, Ensulizole and Tinosorb S.
I’m naturally drawn to sunscreen products from outside the US marketplace as they’re nearly always composed of the most innovative sun filter technologies, something we’re sorely lacking here.
Whether you use a sunscreen made with 1980s technology or one that’s straight out of a modern-day Japanese lab, what’s important is that you find a facial sunscreen you love to use so much that you wouldn’t even think of skipping it. That’s why I’m always talking about sunscreens. If I can get even one reader of this blog to find a facial sunscreen they love, I’d consider my mission accomplished!
With that, let’s take a deeper look at one of the best facial sunscreens and a personal favorite from my trip to magical Cabo San Lucas, Mexico…
COSRX | Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++
While the Supergoop! Daily Dose Hydra-Ceramide Boost + SPF 40 Sunscreen Oil is a purely chemical sunscreen and the Cocokind Daily SPF is a 100% mineral facial sunscreen, the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream is a hybrid, using a blend of mineral and chemical sun filters.
If you know COSRX, you know it is a favorite among K-Beauty fans — me among them! One of my favorite hydrating toners of all time is the fermented COSRX Galactomyces Alcohol-Free Toner. If you haven’t tried it, you’re really missing out.
The COSRX Galactomyces Alcohol-Free Toner is a simple formula, comprising just 10 ingredients. Its star fermented active, as the name indicates, is Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate — the second ingredient after water. It’s simply divine and in my opinion one of the best hydrating toners ever. You can catch my review of it on the blog here.
PRODUCT REVIEW: COSRX GALACTOMYCES ALCOHOL-FREE TONER – BEST HYDRATING TONER
I don’t actually know when COSRX introduced their iconic Aloe Soothing Sun Cream but I first discovered it and reviewed it on the blog last spring. Hey, as they say, better late than never, right?!
A quick google search and I discovered that the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream was first introduced in 2015 as COSRX’s first and only sunscreen to this very day. So it took me six years to finally experience this terrific K-Beauty sunscreen.
The Aloe Soothing Sun Cream is actually one of two K-Beauty sunscreens in my stash, the other being the reformulation of Purito’s original, scandal-plagued sunscreen — the Purito Daily Go-To Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++. Indeed, Purito nailed it — it’s a “go-to” for me.
The COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream formula is a blend of five sunscreen filters, four of which are chemical. Only one of the filters is commonly found in US sunscreen products. The others are all Asian or European sun filter innovations, including: Amiloxate, Ensulizole and Tinosorb S.
The lone mineral sun filter in the Aloe Soothing Sun Cream is Titanium Dioxide.
I know many people prefer to avoid chemical sunscreens. As I’ve said, what’s important is that you find a sunscreen you love to use so much that you wouldn’t even think of skipping it. If it’s a chemical one, good for you.
What’s the Difference Between Mineral and Chemical Sunscreens?
For some real insights, there’s an excellent article by the Paula’s Choice Research Team titled, Mineral vs. Synthetic Sunscreen Ingredients available here. In the piece, the experts explain the differences and benefits between mineral and chemical sunscreens — and even dispel a myth or two:
“The two types of sunscreen ingredients are mineral and synthetic [chemical], and both are equally protective. Further reassuring is that each can be included in formulas created for every skin type. For example, if you have normal to oily skin, there are weightless, non-greasy options; if you have normal to dry skin, it’s possible to find skin-smoothing, hydrating SPF products.
What’s the Difference Between Mineral and Synthetic Sunscreen Ingredients?
The differences aren’t about which type is more effective; rather, it comes down to personal preference and how sensitive your skin is—mineral sunscreens are considered the most gentle options.
Mineral sunscreens: There are only two mineral sunscreen ingredients: titanium dioxideand zinc oxide. They work in skin's uppermost layers to both absorb and, to a lesser extent, deflect and scatter the sun’s harmful rays. These mineral ingredients are sometimes referred to as physical sunscreens or physical blockers, although that’s not a factual representation of how they work.
Synthetic sunscreens: There are over 30 synthetic sunscreen ingredients, all of which absorb into the top layers of skin, where they work similar to mineral sunscreens: by scattering and deflecting the sun’s harmful rays, and by converting UV rays into heat and “deactivating” them. (Don’t worry, you won’t feel a thing.) Common synthetic sunscreen ingredients include oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, and avobenzone. These are sometimes labeled “chemical sunscreens,” which is both misleading and false. All skin care ingredients, even water, are chemicals.
What makes the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream such a stand-out is its refreshing texture. It’s not overly lightweight, certainly not as light as the Supergoop! Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Sunscreen Serum or the two J-Beauty icons the Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk and Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence.
But the Aloe Soothing Sun Cream has got a really nice, silky texture that’s more of a thick lotion than a runny milk or serum.
As the name asserts, there’s some aloe in the formula in the form of Aloe Arborescens Leaf Extract. I have never seen Aloe Arborescens in an INCI. What happened to our old friend Barbadensis? Is she on vacation, too?
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I wish that the chemists at COSRX had taken inspiration from their exceptional Galactomyces Alcohol-Free Toner formula and replaced the water at ingredient number one.
COSRX’s Aloe Soothing Sun Cream is not a perfect formula — with both denatured alcohol and a tiny amount of fragrance as the last ingredient in the INCI. Nor does it contain the kind of antioxidant botanical extracts I would expect from well-formulated Korean skincare products. Hmm. I have to wonder where the centella asiatica and the Licorice Root Extract are. They must be costly ingredients.
It’s clear that the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream is more of a straight-up, no-frills facial sunscreen. And at just under $13 a bottle, you kinda get what you pay for: a super affordable, pleasurable, and highly effective sunscreen. Period.
What I like about it: The COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream is effective, pleasurable and super affordable at around $13 a tube. With its blend of innovative sun filters, you really can’t beat that.
What I don’t like about it: There are denatured alcohol and fragrance in the formula, both of which are potentially sensitizing to the skin.
Who it’s for: All skin types, except perhaps sensitive skins.
SHOP THE BLOG: For a limited time, save 25% at Yesstyle. Purchase the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream for $11.70 (reg. $15.60) here.
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The Ingredient List of the Supergoop! Daily Dose Hydra-Ceramide Boost + SPF 40 Sunscreen Oil PA++:
Avobenzone (2 percent), Homosalate (9 percent), Octisalate (5 percent), Octocrylene (10 percent), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Polybutene, Ethyl Olivate, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Squalane, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Squalene, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Tocopherol, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Oil, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Ceramide NP (Ceramide III B), Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Bacillus Ferment, Phytosterols, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax.
The Ingredient List of the Cocokind Daily SPF:
sii|h 0 0, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice 
so|h, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil aox|emo, Tocopheryl Acetate aox 0 0, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil emo 0 0, Coco-Glucoside surf, Glyceryl Caprylate pres, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter emo|vc, Cetearyl Glucoside emu|surf, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside surf, Xanthan Gum vc, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate emo, Lecithin emo|emu, Polyhydroxystearic Acid emu, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate emu|vc, Isostearic Acid surf|emu, Oryza Sativa Starch vc, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate so|h, Bisabolol so, Caprylhydroxamic Acid chel, Sodium Phytate chel, Sclerotium Gum vc, Sucrose h|so, Phaeodactylum Tricornutum Extract h|so, Glucose h, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Tocopherol aox 0-3 0-3, C10 Alcohol emo|surf|vc, C8 Alcohol perfThe Ingredient List of the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++:
sii|h 0 0, Propylene Glycol h|solv|vc 0 0, Cyclopentasiloxane emo|solv, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid sunsc, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine sunsc, Dicaprylyl Carbonate emo, Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate sunsc, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate emu|surf, Alcohol 
amic|solv|vc, Dimethicone emo 0 1, Butylene Glycol h|solv|vc 0 1, Glyceryl Stearate emo|emu 0 1-2, Titanium Dioxide sunsc|col, C14-22 Alcohols, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Cetearyl Alcohol emo|vc|emu|surf 1 2, PEG-100 Stearate surf|emu 0 0, Triethanolamine buff 0 2, Silica vc, Sodium Hydroxide buff, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer vc, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside emu|surf, Aluminum Hydroxide emo|h|vc, Stearic Acid emo|vc 0 2-3, Fragrance perf, Caprylyl Glycol h|emo, Phenoxyethanol pres, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer vc, Aloe Arborescens Leaf Extract(1,100 Ppm) h|so, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate so|h, Carbomer vc 0 1, Xanthan Gum vc, Limonene perf|solv, Tocopheryl Acetate aox 0 0, Disodium EDTA chel, Hexyl Cinnamal perf, Linalool perf, Benzyl Salicylate perf, Geraniol perf, Benzyl Alcohol pres|perf|solv|vc, Citronellol perf, Benzyl Benzoate solv|perf|amic, Citral perf
