Product Review: ROUND LAB Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream

One of the most popular sunscreens in South Korea for the last few years, ROUND LAB Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream’s reputation as a highly moisturizing sun cream has finally joined our collection at oo35mm! But what’s the hype all about? Well, we are here to help break it down for you!

What Makes It So Good?

If we take a look at the ingredient list, this sunscreen contains birch sap and hyaluronic acid (HA), both help to tighten pores and firm the skin. It also has niacinamide (brightening), allantoin, and purslane extract (soothing for irritated skin) which are beneficial to pair with sunscreen for their antioxidant properties. The product is listed for all skin types but advertises for oily and dehydrated skin. It is non-irritating, cruelty-free, vegan, and coral-reef safe but not water-resistant.

In terms of sun protection, the sunscreen has SPF 50+ (meaning it prevents 98% of the UVB rays from penetrating your skin) and PA++++ (Extremely high UVA protection, under Korean regulations). The UV filters are Uvinul A Plus [UVA1 and 2], Uvinul T 150 [UVB], Tinosorb M [UVA/B], and UVAsorb HEB[UVA/B]. 

So in translation, this is a chemical sunscreen with very high UVA/B protection all while helping to brighten, soothe, and hydrate your skin!

How Does It Feel?

With 50 ml of product, the sunscreen does not pill and may leave a dewy finish for some, yet it does not leave a sticky finish! It feels more like a lotion than what people would think of a sunscreen (thick and heavy white cast), absorbing easily into the skin without much effort.

White Cast?

Most of our customers did not experience a white cast with this sunscreen. However, if you have dark skin, you might find a slight white cast due to the Tinosorb filter.

Personal Take [oily, dehydrated, acne-prone]

With my skin type, I am always on the lookout for lightweight yet moisturizing sunscreens and this was marketed specifically for my skin type! I wanted to try this sunscreen out as I heard it was awarded as the sunscreen of the year by HwaHae. Even in NYC’s humid summers, this sunscreen doesn’t feel too heavy on my skin because in my morning routine I’d skip my moisturizer and replace it with this sun cream. 

I have used this sun cream throughout the year as well as other sunscreens. I took this sunscreen with me during my trip to Hawaii in early January and I found it perfect for days when I was dealing with a lot of wind and tons of sun exposure. It was very moisturizing, melted right into my skin, and did not clog my pores. However, reapplying it over my makeup wasn’t the best experience as it can usually be a little messy with many liquid forms of sunscreen. So I would suggest either using blotting paper or a tissue to gently pat your face to absorb any excess oil and sweat before reapplying this over makeup, if you wear minimal makeup. You can also use a sun stick for your reapplication such as the A.H.C. Natural Perfection Fresh Sun Stick and JM Solution Glow Luminous Flower Sun Spray. ROUND LAB Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream is an overall hydrating sun cream to use year-round in all sorts of climates!

Takeaways

• All skin types can use this as a morning moisturizer (For dehydrated skin I recommend to use a moisturizer before)
• Coral-reef safe and vegan
• Provides broad spectrum protection
• No noticeable scent (but it does contain chamomile oil)

References

1. ROUND LAB Product Page [Australia] 
2. ROUND LAB Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream Ingredients [Explained] (incidecoder.com)

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