Beauty Of Joseon
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K-beauty has swiftly rewritten the rules of skincare. Water essences have become a staple hydration step, PDRN is taking over INCI lists, and glass skin is at the epicentre of the beauty zeitgeist. And that's before mentioning the influx of K-beauty brands that are currently dominating the global beauty space.
There's one name that's been leading the charge. TikTok's obsession for the affordable, next-gen skincare titan, Beauty Of Joseon, is ever expanding, and it's all thanks to the K-beauty brand pioneering novel textures (think sorbet-like lotions), innovative ingredients (bean, ginseng, rice bran water, to name a few) and cutting edge products (see: ginseng eye pads and the beloved rice-infused and featherlight sunscreen).
The biggest TikTok sensation of all, however, is the tinted sunscreen. The Beauty Of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen was my first foray into the brand, and like many, I was instantly hooked. With a water-like, lightweight formula that instantly leaves your skin with a natural glow, the 100% mineral SPF foundation is unlike anything I've tried before; it's not too dewy nor too matte, but looks exactly like second skin and is far longer-lasting than other tinted moisturisers I've tried in the past.
What sets it apart? First is the finish. This fluid acts more like a serum than a sunscreen. It's been formulated with emollients (rather than a heavier silicone or wax base that can give mineral sunscreen a thick consistency) and upon contact with your skin, the water-like base blends seamlessly, leaving a soft sheen that's still buildable.
Personally, for me, it strikes the perfect balance of a glass skin finish without veery too shiny. Most tinted SPFs land at one extreme or the other, but the ingredients list strikes up a happy medium; it favours oil-absorbing ingredients and an emollient base that create a finish that is luminous but with enough oil control to prevent shine. It also harnesses mineral pigments (iron oxides) to help even out skin tone and add a sheer veil of colour to the complexion.
As for other ingredients, artemisia capillaris extract (also known as mugwort), which is derived from a herb used in traditional Korean medicine, helps soothe and calm all while helping to control oil and shine throughout the day, while olive lipids help boost and maintain skin barrier function.
Better yet, I'd argue this is the perfect skin tint for the soaring temperatures in the UK currently. It never feels like it's sitting too heavily on my skin; it also doesn't slip and slide, either. What remains throughout the day (34 degrees, and counting!) is a sheer, luminous wash of colour that looks natural and radiant.
A word to the wise: this is a fluid formula, and it behaves like one. If you have oily or combination-oily skin, this might not be the right texture for you. There is also still work to be done around the shade range too, with some creators sharing limitations around the mineral filters on deeper complexions. This tinted sunscreen is probably best suited to anyone with normal, dry or sensitive skin who's after a dewy, hydrated finish.
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