I finally got to try out the model sunscreen of COSRX, the Aloe Soothing Sun Cream and like most of their products, it deserves a proper spot on the blog.
Despite controversies about the true SPF ratings of Korean sunscreens, I’d still like to share a review of this one. This post contains some information about SPFs and UV rays, the product’s overview, main ingredients, suitability for different climates, my overall thoughts and where to purchase it (with discount codes!)
DISCOUNTS & REFERRALS
You can use my ‘rewards code’ KHAIRAH21 to get some $$ off all orders on Yesstyle 💰, no minimum spending required!
Please use the links below for each product if you’d like to shop any of them. Some of them are affiliates so I get a tiny commission for completed purchases at no cost to you!
This contributes to the maintenance of the blog, so I absolutely would appreciate you using the links!🖤
About SPF ratings and UVA, UVB rays
SPF ratings are indicative of how much protection you get from UV exposure. There are two types of UV rays – UVA and UVB rays and both play roles in causing skin cancer. UVB rays also cause sunburns while UVA rays penetrate deeper and is responsible for your skin aging prematurely so you definitely want to get some protection against both.
Sunscreens with only SPF ratings usually protect you from only UVB rays while sunscreens with SPF ratings and PA ratings protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. I found out about this recently and I’ve been on the lookout for sunscreens with both ratings ever since.
BUY NOW:
Also, you probably already know but yes, a physical sunscreen is “safer” than chemical sunscreens. That’s one of the reasons I like this sunscreen – it gives the best of both worlds by providing the benefits of chemical filters whilst still staying safe with their physical counterparts.
Update: StyleKorean shared results from testing some sunscreens that resulted in SPF 50+ and this COSRX sunscreen was one of them as well! The tests were conducted in two different labs; Korea and Poland and had results of 52.2 and 54.5.
About COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream
The COSRX sun cream is marketed as an hydrating sunscreen formulated with “55,000ppm of Aloe leaf extract”, has a lightweight texture “similar to a moisturizer” and protects against UVA and UVB rays.
Considered a mixed sunscreen, it contains a mix of physical and chemical(organic) UV filters with advanced filters that help to block out more UV rays. It comes in a 50ml size at a price range of $12 – $16 and you can easily shop it from different authorized retail stores.
Shop on:
– YesStyle (Use ‘rewards code’ KHAIRAH21 for extra 2-5% off)
– Style Korean (cheaper pricing)
Ingredients
The key ingredient for this sunscreen (apart from the UV filters) is the aloe arborescens leaf extract and it’s said to help soothe and moisturize the skin.
It has five UV filters; octinoxate, bemotrizinol, ensulizole, amiloxate and titanium dioxide. The first four are chemical filters while titanium dioxide is a physical UV filter.
Titanium dioxide blocks both UVA and UVB rays while octinoxate and ensulizole are UVB filters. The advanced filters are bemotrizinol and amiloxate and they block both UVA and UVB rays.
The UV filtering ingredients are listed as: ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid, isoamyl p-methoxycinnamate and titanium dioxide.
How to Use
It’s generally recommended to use about 2-3 finger spreads of sunscreen and wear at least 30 minutes before sun exposure. I typically only use 2 fingers and I like to apply in layers so as not to get any form of white cast from using too much at once. This helps me spread the product evenly across my skin and doesn’t leave me feeling greasy.
More skincare reviews to check out:
– Affordable Sunscreens in Nigeria: Altruist Sunscreen Review
– CELIMAX Skin Repair Bee Tox Therapy Masks Review
First Thoughts & Impressions
The first thing I noticed about this sunscreen was its smell. I liked how it had a different smell from other sunscreens I’ve tried. I’d begun to think sunscreen smells were typically unpleasant but this one had an aloe scent and it was a nice change.
Like most sunscreens, it’s white in color but has a lightweight “moisturizer-like” texture as claimed. It blends nicely into the skin but only when used in small quantities and on parts of the body like the hands. I was a bit disappointed to see that it requires extra effort to blend the right amount properly into the face before the white cast can completely disappear.
I also received feedback from my sister in a cold climate that it sometimes pills, sticks terribly to the eyebrows and leaves a whitish cast despite the blending. However, for me, it gets a bit greasy in hotter climates but doesn’t leave you feeling too heavy.
I’ve tried using lesser amounts and ended up getting some sunburns (this is largely because I failed to reapply). Still, make sure to apply a generous amount for enough protection and put in the energy to blend it properly.
Final Thoughts?
Overall, this is actually one of the good sunscreens out there! It may not suit some people and climates but I still think it’s great to try, especially for cooler climates and lighter skin tones.
Will I recommend? If you have a skin tone that can handle minimal white cast, you don’t mind using extra efforts to blend it and you live in a suitable climate, this is the sign for you to try it out.
Even if you don’t belong in any of the above categories, you can still check it out. As the saying goes, “skincare is not one-size-fits-all”
Will I repurchase? For now, no. I’d be trying out other sunscreens, just to find my absolute holy grail. However, I could see myself repurchasing it sometime later if I have to.
**All pictures used in this post are mine (except the test results & texture shot).
Thank you for reading and I hope the review was quite helpful! You can use the links above to purchase this product and the coupons as well.
Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried this sun cream before and what you think of it🖤
Till Next Time,
With Love,
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