Humans have a somewhat complicated relationship with the sun. Although the sun is what basically keeps this green and blue planet, we call home alive, it’s also the source of much discomfort for many of us, chipping away at our youth and leaving our skin wrinkled, dry and pretty much covered in unsightly brown spots. It’s not an exaggeration to say that sun exposure is one of the biggest contributing factors to skin aging. That’s why protecting yourself with sunscreen is so important, especially if you’re the type who believes that having great skin is the utmost importance. And when it comes to sunscreen, no other product compares to Korean sunscreen. But what makes sunscreen made in South Korea so special?
They Have Great Texture
One of the most noticeable differences that Korean sunscreens have over their American counterparts is that the Korean products have better texture and wear. Korean sunscreens tend to be lighter and easy to spread without leaving any visible traces behind, making them perfect to use on top of your basic skin care routine or moisturizer without feeling greasy or heavy afterwards. Some of the top-tier sunscreen even provide benefits to your skin, like hydration, and improving your skin tone, which allows you to add them to your skincare routine smoothly without the feeling of going overboard.
There’s Very Little Brand Loyalty in Korea
Koreans have learned to not trust a given item based on its brand, which means that many Korean companies are kept on their toes. Everyone is always in the market for the next best thing, whether it’s with makeup, internet speeds and even sunscreen, all of which Korea is considered the best in the world, by the way. Korean sunscreen companies need to satisfy the needs of the public and do so quickly. This is why a lot of money and resources go to innovating products, because if products fail to deliver, then nobody’s sticking around.
Korean Sunscreen Manufacturers Have Easier Access to Better Ingredients
It might come as a surprise to many, but South Korea doesn’t have a special ingredient unique to the country that allows them to create good products. They do, however, have better access to certain ingredients that many of their foreign counterparts don’t. The U.S., for example, has a tougher approval process for certain sunscreen chemicals, which led to the list of approved sunscreen ingredients not being updated since 1999. This ultimately blocks U.S. companies from using ingredients that South Korean companies use on a more frequent basis, which allows them to be at the cutting edge of sunscreen and skin care products.
Koreans Spare No Expense
A lot of companies in Korea are not shy of putting a high-grade product in the market, regardless of whether they’re getting a huge profit margin or not. One of the reasons why American sunscreen companies prefer to produce sunscreen that has the same consistency as mayonnaise is because it’s cheaper to produce that way, as opposed to making formulas that have a more elegant consistency, similar to other cosmetics. Because of how their culture is wired, many Korean companies would be too embarrassed to put forward a product that is subpar in any way and are never willing to cut corners.