Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun vs SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum
Two of the most bought Korean sunscreens in the US, both SPF50+ PA++++. The split comes down to finish and what your skin is dealing with.
| Beauty of Joseon | SKIN1004 | |
|---|---|---|
| Protection | SPF50+ PA++++ | SPF50 PA++++ |
| Supporting actives | Rice extract, probiotics | Centella asiatica, hyaluronic acid |
| Texture | Light cream, slightly dewy finish | Serum-fluid, closer to weightless |
| Under makeup | Works, but give it a few minutes to set | The easier of the two under base makeup |
| Stated goals | Hydration | Sensitive skin, hydration |
| Size & price | 50 ml, about $18 | 50 ml, about $19 |
| Best for | Normal to dry skin that likes a soft glow | Redness-prone or combination skin, makeup wearers |
| Who should skip it | Very oily skin chasing a matte finish | Anyone who wants a cushiony, moisturiser-like SPF |
The verdict
Relief Sun is the better daily pick for normal to dry skin that does not mind a soft, slightly dewy finish and wants one product to do SPF and light hydration. The SKIN1004 serum is lighter and calmer on redness-prone skin, and it is the one to buy if you wear foundation over your sunscreen. At a dollar apart, the choice is about finish, not value.
Buy — from $18 Opens the retailer’s page in a new tab. Prices change with promotions — the shop shows the current one.
Buy — from $19 Opens the retailer’s page in a new tab. Prices change with promotions — the shop shows the current one.
The short version
These two are the sunscreens most often in the same US cart, and they are genuinely close. Both are SPF50-class Korean formulas with PA++++, both come in 50 ml tubes, both cost under twenty dollars. What separates them is finish. Relief Sun behaves like a very light moisturiser; SKIN1004’s Water-Fit Sun Serum behaves like a serum that happens to protect.
Filters and what sits alongside them
Both use modern organic UV filters of the kind approved in Korea and Japan but not, in most cases, in the United States. That is the practical reason these textures feel so different from what you find at an American drugstore: the filter set does more of the work at a lower load, so formulators have more room to make the base pleasant. Neither is a mineral sunscreen, so neither leaves a white cast worth worrying about on most skin tones.
The support cast differs. Beauty of Joseon leans on rice extract and probiotics, framed by the brand as comfort and hydration rather than treatment. SKIN1004 uses centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid, which is a sensible pairing for skin that flushes easily. In both cases these are supporting ingredients in a sunscreen — useful for how the product feels, not a reason to skip your actual treatment steps.
How they wear through a day
Relief Sun goes on as a thin cream and settles to a soft, faintly dewy finish. On dry skin in winter it can replace a light moisturiser entirely. On oily skin by hour six it reads as shine rather than glow, and blotting paper becomes part of the routine.
The Water-Fit serum is thinner and disappears faster. It is the easier of the two to apply at the full recommended amount — which matters more than any other variable, since under-applying is what actually costs you protection. It also sits under foundation with less grabbing and rolling. Neither is fully matte; if you want matte, you want a different category.
Price and how long a tube lasts
About $18 against about $19 for the same 50 ml. At a genuinely protective daily amount for face and neck, a 50 ml tube runs six to eight weeks, so budget for reordering rather than rationing. If cost per use is the deciding factor, neither of these wins — a large-format body SPF does — but for the face, both are reasonable.
Which one fits your skin
- Choose Relief Sun if your skin is normal to dry, you like a soft finish, and you want your sunscreen to double as your last hydrating step.
- Choose the SKIN1004 serum if your skin runs combination or oily, you get redness easily, or you wear base makeup over your SPF most days.
- Buy either in a two-pack if you are consistent — the biggest sunscreen mistake is stretching one tube across a season.
An honest note on the differences
These two products are closer than the internet’s strong opinions suggest. Both protect on the label at the same class, both feel far better than most Western equivalents, and reactions to either come down to individual skin rather than one being a better formula. If you already own one and like it, there is no upgrade waiting in the other. If you own neither, buy the one that matches your finish preference and re-evaluate in a season.
Frequently asked
Which is better under makeup, Relief Sun or the SKIN1004 sun serum?
The SKIN1004 Water-Fit serum. It is thinner, disappears faster and grabs less under foundation. Relief Sun works too, but it needs a few minutes to settle before you put anything over it.
Is Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun good for oily skin?
It is usable, but the soft, faintly dewy finish reads as shine by hour six and blotting paper becomes part of the day. Oily and combination skin generally gets on better with the lighter serum texture.
Do these sunscreens leave a white cast?
Neither is a mineral formula, so a white cast is not a meaningful concern on most skin tones. Both use the modern organic filters standard in Korea and Japan u2014 our Korean and Japanese sunscreen guide explains what those are and why the textures differ so much from US products.
How long should a 50 ml sunscreen tube last?
About six to eight weeks if you apply a genuinely protective amount to face and neck every day. A tube stretching across a whole season means you are under-applying, which costs more protection than any difference between these two.
Is SPF50 PA++++ different from SPF50+ PA++++?
Only marginally, and not in a way you will notice. The plus on SPF means the tested value exceeded 50; both products sit in the same protection class, and how much you apply matters far more than the label.