K-Beauty · Olive Young
Olive Young sunscreen, picked by a dermatologist
A Seoul dermatologist’s 5 favourite Olive Young sunscreens for trouble-prone and sensitive skin – plus a simple way to read any label and choose your own.
Olive Young sunscreen shelves are overwhelming: dozens of SPF50+ PA++++ tubes that all look the same. In this video, Seoul dermatologist Dr. Son Hyun-ho (손현호, of Best Skin Dermatology) cuts through the noise with five sunscreens he would actually recommend to patients with acne-prone or sensitive skin – and one simple rule for reading any sunscreen label.
Below we turn his picks into a buyable shortlist: what each one is, who it suits, and how shoppers outside Korea can actually get hold of them. Olive Young is Korea’s biggest health-and-beauty chain, so these are easy to find in person or online.
Video by 손현호의 베스트피부 (Dr. Son Hyun-ho, Best Skin) · Watch the original on YouTube. Embedded with credit; views go to the creator.
In this guide
- Our take on the video
- Mineral vs chemical: the one thing that matters
- The 5 Olive Young sunscreens
- How to buy them (in Korea or from abroad)
- FAQ
Our take
What the video gets right
It is a dermatologist’s view focused on skin type rather than marketing. He is honest that the SPF and PA numbers barely differ between products, and he explains the mineral-versus-chemical choice clearly – the part that actually changes how a sunscreen feels and behaves on reactive skin.
What we added
English product names, a quick who-it-suits for each pick, and how international shoppers can actually get them – including anything that is hard to ship.
Who it is for
Anyone with acne-prone, sensitive or atopic skin shopping for K-beauty sunscreen, and first-time Olive Young shoppers who want a trustworthy shortlist.
Mineral vs chemical: the one thing that matters
The SPF and PA numbers
SPF measures UVB protection (burning) and PA measures UVA protection (ageing, pigmentation). Useful to know – but as the doctor points out, almost every Olive Young sunscreen is already SPF50 / PA++++, so the number is rarely the deciding factor.
Mineral (physical) vs chemical (organic)
Mineral sunscreens use zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to reflect UV like a mirror. They can feel thicker and leave some white cast, but they sting the eyes less and are less likely to trigger breakouts – which is why the dermatologist recommends them for sensitive and acne-prone skin (he uses mineral only himself).
Chemical sunscreens absorb UV through filters like avobenzone. They spread thin and feel moist with little white cast, but they can generate a little warmth and may aggravate reactive, breakout-prone skin.
How to read the label in 5 seconds
Flip the product over and scan the ingredients (listed from most to least). If zinc oxide or titanium dioxide appears high up, it is likely mineral; if you see names starting with ethylhexyl- near the top, it is likely chemical. It is a rule of thumb, not a guarantee, but it rarely steers you wrong.
The 5 Olive Young sunscreens
1. Aestura Derma UV365 Sunscreen (에스트라 더마 UV365) – mineral, for very sensitive skin
From Aestura, the brand behind the popular Atobarrier moisturisers, this mineral sunscreen is formulated almost like a ceramide moisture cream – fragrance-free, colorant-free and non-comedogenic. It spreads well (if a touch heavy) and, unusually for a mineral formula, does not sting the eyes. The doctor’s pick for atopic and very sensitive skin that still wants a physical filter.
2. ATTE Vegan Relief Sun Cream (아떼 비건 릴리프 선크림) – mineral, the best to apply
A mineral sunscreen carrying a ‘booster oil’ of soothing actives, and the dermatologist’s personal favourite. The reason: the spreadability is genuinely good for a mineral, it washes off cleanly, leaves little white cast and feels fresh. If past mineral sunscreens felt heavy or chalky, this is the one to try.
3. Etude Soonjung Director Toner Sunscreen – Mineral Filter (에뛰드 순정 디렉터 토너 선크림) – mineral, soothing blue
A newer mineral-filter version of Etude’s gentle Soonjung line, tinted blue from azulene, a calming ingredient. It helps soothe skin that has had a lot of sun, though it feels a little oily and the scent is not its strong point. The colour and the soothing angle are what make it stand out – an upgrade on the earlier Soonjung tone-up.
4. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Repair Sunscreen (라로슈포제 시카플러스 B5) – chemical, barrier repair
The sunscreen sibling of the cult Cicaplast B5 repair balm that sells out at Olive Young. It is a simple chemical formula with little white cast and almost no fragrance, plus panthenol and madecassoside to support the skin barrier. Think of it as everyday SPF that also leans ‘recovery’ – handy after procedures like lasers.
5. Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen (라운드랙 자작나무 수분 선크림) – chemical, light & hydrating
From Round Lab’s hydrating birch-juice line, this chemical sunscreen is light and lotion-like with strong moisture, and – unusually for a chemical formula – barely stings the eyes. A fresh, comfortable option for oily, breakout-prone skin, especially in summer.
Want these shipped to you? We’ll buy them at Olive Young.
Some K-beauty products are Korea-only or hard to ship abroad. With Unboxing Korea’s shopping service, just send us the product names – we buy them on your behalf and forward them to your hotel in Korea or your home country.
How to buy them – in Korea or from abroad
In Korea
Olive Young stores are everywhere, and the Myeongdong flagship in Seoul is a destination in itself. Foreign visitors can claim a tax refund on qualifying purchases with their passport, so it is worth buying skincare in one go.
From abroad
Olive Young Global ships to many countries, but the selection and stock can differ from Korean shelves, and some items are domestic-only. For anything you cannot get shipped directly, a proxy buying service can purchase it in Korea and forward it to you.
Quick tips
Patch-test any new sunscreen, reapply through the day, and let your skin type lead: mineral for reactive, acne-prone or sensitive skin; chemical when you want the lightest possible feel.
FAQ
Are all five sold at Olive Young?
Yes – all five are stocked at Olive Young, Korea’s largest health-and-beauty chain, in stores and often on Olive Young Global.
Mineral or chemical for acne-prone skin?
The dermatologist leans mineral (zinc oxide / titanium dioxide) for sensitive and acne-prone skin, because it is less likely to trigger breakouts or sting the eyes. Chemical formulas feel lighter but can run slightly warm.
Does the SPF number really matter?
Most Olive Young sunscreens are already SPF50 / PA++++, so the bigger decision is mineral versus chemical and how the texture feels on your skin.
Can I buy these from outside Korea?
Some ship through Olive Young Global. For Korea-only items or anything out of stock abroad, a proxy shopping service can buy and forward them to you.
Is this medical advice?
No. It is a general overview of a dermatologist’s product picks. Patch-test new products and consult a professional about your specific skin.
Ready to stock up on K-beauty?
Korean sunscreen is some of the best value in skincare, and Olive Young is the easiest place to find it. If you cannot shop in person, let Unboxing Korea buy from Korean stores on your behalf and ship to you, or have our personal concierge track down anything specific. Planning a trip? Pair this with our Seoul travel tips and luggage & travel hacks. For more on choosing sunscreen, see the American Academy of Dermatology.
This is an independent review and shopping guide. We do not reproduce the video’s script; the information is rewritten in our own words and the original video is embedded with full credit to its creator. Product picks reflect the dermatologist’s opinions in the video, not medical advice. We will gladly adjust or remove the embed at the creator’s request.
