The Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics is a chemical sunscreen offering SPF50+ PA++++ broad-spectrum protection in a lightweight, fast-absorbing cream. It is built on 30% rice extract and a grain probiotic ferment complex, with niacinamide, green tea, ginseng, adenosine and vitamin E.

This is the original Relief Sun, and it is the one that built the brand’s reputation. It protects and doubles as a hydrating skincare step, which is why many people skip moisturiser entirely on warmer days. The finish is dewy with a natural glow rather than a matte or greasy one.

It suits normal, dry and combination skin, and it is free from added fragrance and alcohol. 50 mL. Part of the Beauty of Joseon range and one of our best-selling sunscreens.

Which Relief Sun Should You Buy?

Beauty of Joseon makes two Relief Sun sunscreens and they are easy to confuse. They are not the same product in different packaging. Here is the short version.

Choose Rice + Probiotics (this one) if you have normal, dry or combination skin, you want your sunscreen to double as a hydrating step, and you like a dewy, glowing finish. It is the richer and more nourishing of the two.

Choose Rice + B5 Aqua-Fresh if you have oily or very oily skin, you live somewhere hot and humid, or you found this one too rich. It is a lighter gel texture, absorbs faster and sits better under makeup in heat. It also contains panthenol for calming, which makes it the better pick for reactive skin.

Both are SPF50+ PA++++ and both use the same broad-spectrum chemical filter approach. The difference is texture and supporting ingredients, not protection level.

What Do SPF50+ and PA++++ Actually Mean?

SPF measures protection against UVB, the rays that cause burning and directly damage skin cell DNA. SPF50+ is the highest rating issued under Korean and European labelling, and it filters roughly 98% of UVB when applied at the correct thickness.

PA++++ measures protection against UVA, the deeper-penetrating rays responsible for photoageing, collagen breakdown and the worsening of pigmentation. Four plus signs is the highest grade on the Asian PA scale. This matters more than most people realise, because UVA passes through cloud cover and window glass, and it is the primary reason dark marks and melasma resist treatment.

A high SPF number with weak UVA protection is a common failing in Western sunscreens. This one rates at the top of both scales, which is why it works as a daily sunscreen year-round in South African conditions rather than only in summer. Compare it with the rest of our Korean sunscreen range.

How to Use: Your Seoul Guide

Sunscreen is the final step of your morning routine. Application amount is the single biggest factor in whether you actually get the protection on the label, so read step 3 carefully.

Step 1: Complete your morning skincare first

Cleanse, tone, apply serums and moisturiser as usual. Sunscreen goes on last, over everything. This one is hydrating enough that many people on normal or combination skin skip moisturiser and go straight from serum to sunscreen.

Step 2: Let the previous layer settle

Wait about a minute after your moisturiser. Applying sunscreen onto a still-wet layer is the most common cause of pilling.

Step 3: Use two fingers’ worth

This is the step almost everyone gets wrong. The correct amount for the face and neck is roughly a two-finger length of product, or about a third of a teaspoon. Applying half that gives you closer to SPF20 than SPF50. If it feels like too much, you are probably using the right amount for the first time.

Step 4: Apply in sections

Dot the product across forehead, cheeks, nose and chin, then spread each area. Working in sections gives more even coverage than trying to spread one blob across the whole face.

Step 5: Do not forget the neck, ears and hairline

These are the areas people miss and they show ageing and pigmentation just as readily. Extend down the neck and behind the ears.

Step 6: Let it set before makeup

Give it two to three minutes to absorb before applying makeup. This formula sits well under foundation once it has settled, but rushing the step causes patchiness.

Step 7: Reapply every two hours

Sunscreen degrades with UV exposure and rubs off through the day. Reapply every two hours when outdoors, and immediately after swimming or heavy sweating. For reapplication over makeup, a sunscreen stick or cushion is more practical than a cream.

Frequency: Every morning, all year round. UVA levels stay high through winter and on overcast days. At the correct application amount, a 50 mL tube lasts roughly six to eight weeks with daily use. Several of our customers buy two or three at a time for exactly this reason.

Why We Like It

It is the sunscreen people actually wear. The best sunscreen is the one you apply properly every day, and this is the one our customers repurchase most. Across 29 reviews it averages 4.62, with recurring themes: lightweight, no greasiness, absorbs fast, and comfortable enough to reapply. A technically superior sunscreen that feels unpleasant gets used sparingly, which defeats the point.

30% rice extract makes it a skincare step, not just a shield. Rice extract and rice ferment have been used in Korean skincare for centuries for brightening and softening. At 30% this is a headline concentration, and it is why so many people report skipping moisturiser. Browse the full rice range to see what else uses it.

The probiotic ferment complex is unusual in a sunscreen. Lactobacillus, bacillus soybean ferment, monascus rice ferment, aspergillus ferment and saccharomyces rice ferment filtrate all appear here. Fermented ingredients break large molecules into smaller, more bioavailable ones and contribute antioxidant activity. In a product worn for twelve hours a day, that antioxidant layer is doing real work alongside the UV filters.

Niacinamide and adenosine mean it works on tone and lines too. Niacinamide brightens and evens tone, while adenosine is a Korean-approved functional anti-wrinkle ingredient. Combined with the highest UVA rating available, this is a sunscreen that actively supports pigmentation treatment rather than just preventing new damage.

No fragrance, no alcohol. Both are common in Asian sunscreens and both are common triggers. Their absence is a large part of why this suits sensitive and acne-prone skin so consistently. See our fragrance free collection for more.

The white cast question is largely settled. It uses modern chemical filters rather than zinc or titanium dioxide, and our customers across a wide range of skin tones consistently report no cast, including at NC45 and deeper. One reviewer did report a cast, so it is not universal, but the strong majority experience is clean.

Worth Knowing Before You Buy

Three things come up repeatedly in our reviews and it is fairer to flag them than let you discover them yourself.

The scent. There is no added fragrance, but the rice and probiotic ferments have a natural smell of their own. Most people do not notice it or find it neutral. A minority find it off-putting. If you are sensitive to smell, the Rice + B5 Aqua-Fresh version has a lighter scent profile.

The tube size. At 50 mL and the correct application amount, this does not last long. That is a function of using sunscreen properly rather than a fault in the product, but it is worth budgeting for.

It does not suit everyone. A small number of our customers have reported breakouts, including some with oily and acne-prone skin who otherwise loved the texture. No sunscreen works for every skin. If you are highly acne-prone, the lighter Rice + B5 Aqua-Fresh formula may be the safer starting point.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics and Rice + B5?

Both are SPF50+ PA++++ with the same protection level. Rice + Probiotics is the richer, more nourishing cream suited to normal, dry and combination skin, with a dewy finish. Rice + B5 Aqua-Fresh is a lighter gel texture that absorbs faster, better suited to oily skin and hot, humid conditions.

Does it leave a white cast?

For the large majority of our customers, no, including those with deep skin tones. It uses modern chemical filters rather than mineral ones, which is why. A small number of reviewers have reported a cast, so results are not universal.

Is it a chemical or physical sunscreen?

Chemical. It uses organic UV filters that absorb UV radiation and convert it to heat, rather than zinc oxide or titanium dioxide which sit on the skin surface. This is what gives it the lightweight feel and absence of white cast.

How much should I apply?

Roughly a two-finger length, or about a third of a teaspoon, for face and neck. This is more than most people use. Under-applying is the single most common reason sunscreen underperforms its SPF rating.

Do I need a separate moisturiser with it?

Often not. With 30% rice extract it is hydrating enough that many people on normal and combination skin apply it straight after their serum. Dry skin in winter will usually still want a moisturiser underneath.

Does it contain fragrance or alcohol?

No added fragrance and no alcohol. The rice and probiotic ferments do have a natural scent of their own, which some people notice and a minority dislike.

Is it suitable for acne-prone skin?

For most people, yes. It is lightweight, non-greasy, fragrance free and alcohol free, and many of our acne-prone customers use it daily. A small number have reported breakouts, so no sunscreen is universally suitable.

How often should I reapply?

Every two hours when you are outdoors, and immediately after swimming or heavy sweating. For reapplication over makeup, a sunscreen stick or cushion is more practical than a cream.

Does it work under makeup?

Yes. Our customers consistently report it sits well under foundation and does not pill, provided you give it two to three minutes to set before applying makeup.

What does PA++++ mean?

It is the highest grade on the Asian UVA protection scale. UVA rays cause photoageing and worsen pigmentation, and they pass through cloud and glass. A high SPF with weak UVA protection leaves you exposed to the ageing and pigmentation side of sun damage.

How long does one tube last?

At the correct application amount, roughly six to eight weeks with daily use on face and neck. The tube is 50 mL.

Can I use it in winter?

Yes, and you should. UVA levels remain significant through winter and on overcast days, and UVA is what drives photoageing and pigmentation. Daily year-round use is the recommendation.

Where does it go in my routine?

Last step of your morning routine, after moisturiser and before makeup.

Key Ingredients

Rice (Oryza Sativa) Extract (30%): A headline concentration. Brightens, softens and hydrates. Long-established in Korean skincare for tone and texture. Browse the rice range.

Grain Probiotic Ferment Complex: Lactobacillus, bacillus soybean, monascus rice, aspergillus and saccharomyces rice ferment filtrate. Improve ingredient bioavailability and add antioxidant protection through the day.

Niacinamide: Vitamin B3. Brightens, evens skin tone and strengthens the barrier. Browse all niacinamide products.

Adenosine: A Korean-approved functional anti-wrinkle ingredient that improves elasticity and softens fine lines.

Green Tea and Ginseng Extracts: Green tea provides polyphenol antioxidant protection against UV-induced free radicals, while ginseng supports circulation and radiance.

Tocopherol (Vitamin E): An antioxidant that supports the UV filters by neutralising free radicals generated during sun exposure.