Soft ivory sunscreen cream in a clean flowing macro texture.

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream vs Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Which Fits Your Skin?

ByK-Beauty Verdict Editorial Team
Sunscreens · Head-to-Head

Two beloved Korean daily SPFs — but one is a light, glowy all-rounder and the other a creamier, aloe-soothing option for dry and sensitive skin.

Updated Aug 23, 2026 · 7 min read · Editorial comparison
Close-up of a lightweight cream sunscreen texture on an ivory background.
Our verification promise: every fact on this page is checked against current official sources and published ingredient lists. Anything we cannot verify — guessed specs, invented testing, or unconfirmed claims — is deliberately left out.
Quick verdict

Light, glowy all-rounder vs creamy, aloe-soothing comfort.

Both are chemical-based Korean daily sunscreens around SPF50, and both contain fragrance. The difference is feel and finish. Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun is a lightweight, silky, glowy SPF50+ PA++++ with rice bran and niacinamide — near-invisible, no white cast, great under makeup. COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream is a creamier, more hydrating SPF50+ PA+++ built on aloe — more soothing for dry and sensitive skin, but a touch heavier and can leave a slight cast if layered.

Choose Beauty of Joseon Relief Sunfor a lightweight, glowy, no-white-cast SPF that suits most skin types and works beautifully under makeup.
Choose COSRX Aloe Sun Creamfor a creamier, aloe-soothing SPF that comforts dry and sensitive skin.

Same daily job, different texture and finish

Both use modern chemical UV filters (which is why neither leaves the heavy white cast of mineral-only formulas), and both aim at comfortable daily wear rather than water-resistant sport protection. The real split is texture, finish, and a small difference in UVA rating.

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics is the lightweight glow pick. Its rice-bran-and-niacinamide base gives a silky, serum-like feel, a dewy no-cast finish, and a mild brightening angle — which is why it’s Korea’s most popular daily SPF and a favorite under makeup. It’s rated PA++++ (the highest UVA level).

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream is the comfort pick. Its aloe-rich, creamier formula is more soothing and hydrating, which dry and sensitive skin often prefer — but that richer texture can feel heavier in heat, and because it includes some mineral filter it can leave a slight cast when layered. It’s rated PA+++, a step below Relief Sun on UVA.

Light & glowy

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics

The lightweight, no-white-cast daily SPF that works on almost everyone.

SPF / PASPF50+ PA++++
FiltersChemical (no white cast)
Key extrasRice bran + niacinamide (mild glow)
TextureLight, silky, serum-like; dewy finish
Best forMost skin types; under makeup; humid days
NoteContains fragrance

Best if: you want a lightweight, glowy, invisible daily sunscreen.

Beauty of Joseon official site
Creamy & soothing

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream

The creamier, aloe-soothing SPF for dry and sensitive skin.

SPF / PASPF50+ PA+++
FiltersChemical + some mineral
Key extrasAloe vera (soothing, hydrating)
TextureCreamier, richer; more comforting
Best forDry, sensitive skin
NoteContains fragrance; can slightly white-cast if layered

Best if: your skin is dry or sensitive and wants a soothing, hydrating SPF.

In stock at Stylevana →
Availability note (checked Aug 24, 2026)

COSRX’s own online store currently lists the Aloe Soothing Sun Cream as sold out. We verified that the identical product is in stock at Stylevana, an authorized K-beauty retailer — so that’s where our link points. If it’s unavailable in your region, the other sunscreen in this comparison, Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun, is a widely stocked alternative with a similar daily-SPF role.

At a glance

Finish
BOJ RELIEF SUNLight, glowy, no cast
COSRX ALOECreamier; slight cast possible
SPF / PA
BOJ RELIEF SUNSPF50+ PA++++
COSRX ALOESPF50+ PA+++
Filters
BOJ RELIEF SUNChemical
COSRX ALOEChemical + some mineral
Feel
BOJ RELIEF SUNSilky, serum-like
COSRX ALOERicher, more soothing
Best skin type
BOJ RELIEF SUNMost; oily/combo/normal
COSRX ALOEDry, sensitive
Under makeup
BOJ RELIEF SUNExcellent
COSRX ALOEGood; heavier in heat
Both
BOJ RELIEF SUNChemical SPF50 · fragrance
COSRX ALOEChemical SPF50 · fragrance

Texture, finish, and white cast

If you want a sunscreen you’ll forget you’re wearing — light, invisible, glowy, no cast, seamless under makeup — Relief Sun is the stronger pick, and its PA++++ rating edges out COSRX on UVA protection. Very oily skin occasionally finds even Relief Sun a touch dewy, but most people love the finish.

If your skin runs dry, tight, or easily irritated, COSRX Aloe’s creamier, aloe-rich texture is more comforting and hydrating. The trade-offs: it feels heavier in heat and humidity, and because it includes some mineral filter it can leave a faint cast when layered or applied heavily.

Related: our Relief Sun vs Round Lab Birch comparison

If Relief Sun is on your shortlist, it’s also worth seeing how it stacks up against the other cult favorite, Round Lab Birch Juice — especially for dry and sensitive skin. Read the full Relief Sun vs Round Lab comparison →

What real reviewers report

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun — what reviewers report

Commonly praised: lightweight and invisible, no white cast, glowy finish, excellent under makeup, great value.

Commonly flagged: the glow can read slightly dewy on very oily skin; contains fragrance.

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream — what reviewers report

Commonly praised: soothing and hydrating, comfortable on dry/sensitive skin, calming aloe feel.

Commonly flagged: richer texture feels heavier in heat; can leave a slight cast layered; contains fragrance.

Which one for you?

“I want the lightest, most invisible SPF.”
BOJ Relief Sun
Silky, glowy, and truly no white cast.
“My skin is dry or easily irritated.”
COSRX Aloe
Aloe-rich and more soothing/hydrating.
“I wear it under makeup daily.”
BOJ Relief Sun
Sits seamlessly and doesn’t pill easily.
“I want the highest UVA (PA) rating.”
BOJ Relief Sun
PA++++ vs COSRX’s PA+++.

Pick Relief Sun if…

  • you want a light, glowy, invisible finish
  • you have oily, combo, or normal skin
  • you wear sunscreen under makeup
  • you want the highest PA++++ rating

Pick COSRX Aloe if…

  • your skin is dry or sensitive
  • you want a soothing, hydrating aloe base
  • you prefer a creamier texture
  • a slight cast doesn’t bother you

FAQ

Which has less white cast?

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun — it uses chemical filters and leaves essentially no cast, which makes it great on medium and deep tones. COSRX Aloe includes some mineral filter, so it can leave a faint cast when layered.

Is the PA difference important?

PA measures UVA (aging/pigment) protection. Relief Sun is PA++++ (highest) and COSRX is PA+++ — both are strong, but if maximum UVA rating matters to you, Relief Sun edges it.

Which is better for oily skin?

Relief Sun’s lighter texture suits oily and combination skin better. COSRX Aloe’s creamier feel is aimed at dry and sensitive skin and can feel heavy in heat.

Are they fragrance-free?

No — both contain fragrance. If you’re fragrance-sensitive, patch test first or look for a fragrance-free sunscreen.

Are they water-resistant?

Neither is marketed as a water-resistant sport sunscreen — they’re daily-wear SPFs. For swimming or heavy sweating, use a dedicated water-resistant formula and reapply often.

How we compared these: we judged them on published SPF/PA, filter type, and texture from each brand’s official information, and flagged the honest trade-offs — COSRX’s slight cast and heavier feel, Relief Sun’s dewy finish on oily skin, and fragrance in both. Feel notes summarize consistent public reviews, not a firsthand test.

Bottom line

Choose Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun for a lightweight, glowy, no-white-cast SPF that suits most skin types and layers perfectly under makeup.

Choose COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream for a creamier, aloe-soothing SPF that comforts dry and sensitive skin.

Both are solid daily sunscreens — pick by texture and skin type, apply two finger-lengths, and reapply through the day.

Sources & verification

  1. Beauty of Joseon — official site. Checked Aug 23, 2026. Used for Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics SPF50+ PA++++, rice/niacinamide, and lightweight no-cast positioning.
  2. COSRX — official site. Checked Aug 24, 2026. Official brand source for the Aloe Soothing Sun Cream; its SPF50+ PA+++ rating and aloe/chemical-mineral filter formula are confirmed via the INCIDecoder listing below.
  3. Stylevana — COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream product page (authorized retailer). Checked Aug 24, 2026. Used to confirm current in-stock availability of the identical product after COSRX’s own store showed it sold out.
  4. INCIDecoder — COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream ingredient list. Checked Aug 23, 2026. Used to confirm the chemical + mineral filter mix and aloe content.
  5. K-Beauty Verdict — Relief Sun vs Round Lab Birch (our comparison). Related head-to-head on Relief Sun vs the other cult-favorite Korean sunscreen.
  6. K-Beauty Verdict — Korean Skincare Routine for Dry & Sensitive Skin (2026). Related (our routine guide).
Editorial method: objective facts (ingredients, sizes, official claims) come from current official pages and published ingredient lists (INCIDecoder). The “what reviewers report” notes paraphrase recurring sentiment across public user reviews. No firsthand wear test is claimed. Current prices are omitted because they change.

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