Beauty of Joseon vs Round Lab Sunscreen: Which One Is Better?
Quick Answer
Buy Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun if you have combination, oily, or normal skin and want the lowest possible feel under makeup. Buy Round Lab Birch Juice if you have dry, dehydrated, or sensitive skin and want a more hydrating finish.
Both are SPF50+ PA++++. BoJ Relief Sun is the better all-rounder and the better-value pick. Round Lab Birch Juice is the better fit for dry-skin needs, especially in UAE’s AC-heavy indoor environments. Check the live product pages for current pricing.
| Quick verdict | Pick this |
|---|---|
| Oily / combination / normal skin | Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun |
| Dry / sensitive / dehydrated skin | Round Lab Birch Juice |
| Best value per ml | Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun |
| Most under-makeup compatible | Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun |
| Most hydrating finish | Round Lab Birch Juice |
Both at a Glance
| Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun | Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream | |
|---|---|---|
| SPF/PA | SPF50+ PA++++ | SPF50+ PA++++ |
| Filter type | Hybrid chemical | Hybrid chemical |
| Texture | Thin lotion | Light cream |
| Finish | Invisible matte / soft satin | Dewy, slightly hydrated |
| White cast | None on light to deep skin | Minimal — slightly more visible than BoJ on deep skin |
| Hero ingredients | Rice extract, probiotics, niacinamide | Birch sap, panthenol |
| Size | 50 ml | 50 ml |
| Price (live) | Check the live product page | Check the live product page |
| Sensitive-tested | Yes, tolerates well | Yes, formally sensitive-tested |
Texture and Finish
Texture is the biggest day-to-day difference between these two.
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun is a thin, slightly milky lotion. It sinks in within 30 seconds, leaves a soft satin-to-matte finish, and feels close to invisible. The rice and probiotic complex gives a subtle calming feel without any heavy moisture. Under makeup, it sits flat and doesn’t pill.
Round Lab Birch Juice Sun Cream is closer to a light moisturizer with SPF baked in. It feels more substantial on the skin and leaves a dewy finish. If your skin is dry or you’re spending hours in AC, this extra hydration is genuinely useful. On oily skin in UAE summer heat, that same hydration can read as greasy after a few hours.
White Cast on Different Skin Tones
Both use hybrid filter systems, which keep white cast minimal compared to mineral sunscreens.
- BoJ Relief Sun: Effectively no cast on any skin tone. The most-recommended Korean sunscreen for medium and deep skin in the K-beauty community.
- Round Lab Birch Juice: Minimal cast on light and medium skin. On deeper skin tones, a very faint cast can show up immediately after application, but it settles within 5–10 minutes.
If white cast is a primary concern, BoJ wins.
Hydration vs Mattification
This is really the core difference. Two sunscreens at the same SPF/PA level can perform very differently depending on what else is in them.
Round Lab Birch Juice leans hydration. Birch sap is a long-standing K-beauty hydrating ingredient — closer to a moisturizer concentrate than a humectant. Panthenol adds barrier support. The total effect is a sunscreen that doubles as your moisturizer if your skin is dry.
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun leans skin comfort. Rice extract is hydrating but lightweight. Probiotics are calming. Niacinamide adds a faint brightening effect over time. The total effect is a sunscreen that feels like nothing, which is what most UAE shoppers want.
Under Makeup
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun is one of the most makeup-compatible Korean sunscreens on the market. Wait 5–7 minutes after application, then apply foundation as normal. Almost no pilling, no shifting, no separation. Sets cleanly.
Round Lab Birch Juice is less makeup-friendly because the texture is richer. You can absolutely wear makeup on top, but you need to wait closer to 10 minutes for the cream to fully set before applying foundation, and lightweight foundations (BB creams, tinted moisturizers) work better than full-coverage liquids.
If makeup is a daily routine, BoJ is the easier pick.
Price and Value
Current pricing for both varies — check the live product pages on Argana Beauty for up-to-date prices. As a rule of thumb, Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun is positioned as the better-value sunscreen of the pair (more ml per dirham). Both bottles last 2–3 months with daily use across face and neck (about a quarter-teaspoon per application).
Which to Buy for UAE Specifically
The UAE-specific verdict comes down to indoor vs outdoor exposure plus skin type.
- You’re mostly indoors in AC + your skin is dry: Round Lab Birch Juice — the extra hydration helps with AC-related dryness.
- You’re outdoors more than indoors + any skin type: BoJ Relief Sun — the lighter texture survives heat and humidity better.
- You’re on makeup-heavy days: BoJ Relief Sun — no pilling.
- You’re prone to sensitivity / mild redness: Round Lab Birch Juice — the formal sensitive-skin testing matters here.
Can You Use Both?
Yes — many K-beauty shoppers do. The most common rotation:
- AM, daily: BoJ Relief Sun under makeup.
- Outdoor reapplication: A sun stick (TOCOBO is the popular pair).
- AC office days when skin feels tight: Round Lab Birch Juice as a one-product moisturizer + sunscreen step.
Decision Matrix
| If you want… | Buy this |
|---|---|
| Cheapest reliable SPF50 PA++++ | Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun |
| Best invisible-under-makeup | Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun |
| Best for medium-deep skin tones | Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun |
| Best for dry / dehydrated skin | Round Lab Birch Juice |
| Best for sensitive / reactive skin | Round Lab Birch Juice |
| Best AC-friendly hydration | Round Lab Birch Juice |
| Best for outdoor / beach UAE summer | Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun |
FAQ
Can I use Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun on dry skin?
Yes, but layer it over a richer moisturizer. The sunscreen itself is lightweight; the hydration step underneath does the work.
Does Round Lab Birch Juice break out oily skin?
It can on the most oily skin types during UAE summer. The texture is comfortable but is built around hydration, not oil control. If you’re acne-prone or very oily, lean to BoJ.
Is one more water-resistant than the other?
Neither is rated as water-resistant by Korean standards. For pool, beach, or workouts, use a dedicated water-resistant sunscreen.
Which is better under foundation?
BoJ Relief Sun. The thinner texture sets in 5 minutes and accepts foundation cleanly.
Are both reef-safe?
Both contain modern chemical UV filters. Neither is marketed as reef-safe. If reef safety matters, look at mineral-only options.
Where can I buy authentic versions in UAE?
Both are available authentically at Argana Beauty with UAE delivery: Beauty of Joseon collection | Round Lab collection.
Final Verdict
If you’re choosing one to start with, buy Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun. It’s the cleaner all-rounder, the better value, the easier-under-makeup pick, and the most reliable across skin tones. Round Lab Birch Juice is the better choice if you specifically have dry or sensitive skin and want one product to do double duty as moisturizer plus sunscreen.
Both are also worth owning together if you rotate by season — BoJ for UAE summer outdoor days, Round Lab for AC-heavy winter weeks when skin gets tighter.
Shop Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun | Browse Round Lab on Argana Beauty | See all sunscreens.
For more comparisons in the K-beauty sunscreen world, see our TOCOBO vs Beauty of Joseon comparison and the broader best lightweight sunscreens for oily skin roundup.