Some sunscreens protect well but feel awful. Some feel beautiful but leave you wondering if the formula is more trend than substance. Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50+ PA++++ sits in the sweet spot for a lot of people because it feels like a moisturizer, does not leave the obvious chalky cast many people dislike, and uses modern UV filters.
Still, a pretty texture is not enough. We checked the official claims, the ingredient list, the filter system, the rice and probiotic story, and the published science behind the supporting ingredients. Here is the honest breakdown.
This article is based on official product information, the ingredient information reviewed in the product dossier, and accessible peer-reviewed or regulatory sources. It is not medical advice. Sunscreen needs are personal, especially if you have melasma, rosacea, a history of allergic reactions, or recently treated skin.
Table of Contents.
What Is This Product?
Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50+ PA++++
Beauty of Joseon
A cosmetically elegant daily sunscreen with a strong modern filter system, a hydrating base, rice extract, niacinamide, and no added fragrance. Best for normal, dry, and dehydrated skin. Less ideal if you need water resistance, a matte finish, or visible-light protection from a tinted formula.
The brand positions this as a daily chemical sunscreen with SPF50+ PA++++, 30% rice extract, fermented grain extracts, a hydrating moisturizer-like finish, and no white cast. The official product information also emphasizes a comfortable, non-sticky texture that works under makeup.
It is not just popular because it protects. It is popular because people are willing to wear it.
And that matters for real sunscreen consistencyBrand Claims vs. the Science.
| Claim | Honest read |
|---|---|
| SPF50+ PA++++ | Strong daily protection claim. The reviewed dossier also notes disclosed lab values from Korean and Spanish labs, which is better than a bare marketing claim. |
| 30% rice extract | Credible as a supporting moisturizing and antioxidant story. Rice-derived skincare ingredients have published evidence for moisturizing, barrier, antioxidant, and brightening potential, but results depend heavily on extract type and formula. |
| Probiotics or fermented grain extracts | Interesting support ingredients, but not the main reason to buy it. Ferments can be useful in skincare, but the exact clinical evidence for each specific ferment in this sunscreen is limited. |
| No white cast | Very plausible for most users because the formula uses organic UV filters rather than zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the main protection system. |
| Hydrating, moisturizer-like feel | Well supported by the formula style. Glycerin, propanediol, butylene glycol, multiple emollients, rice extract, and niacinamide all help explain the comfortable finish. |
| Sensitive and acne-prone skin friendly | Reasonable for many people because it is fragrance-free and not loaded with classic heavy occlusives. Still, acne and sensitivity are personal, so patch testing matters. |
The best sunscreen is not always the most matte, the most expensive, or the most hyped. It is the one you can apply enough of and reapply without hating your life.
The UV Filter System.
This formula uses a modern four-filter system: Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, and Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone.
A modern UVA filter, often used to strengthen long-wave UVA coverage. This matters because UVA contributes to photoaging, pigmentation, and deeper skin damage.
A very efficient UVB filter that helps the product reach high SPF. UVB is strongly linked with sunburn, so this is one of the protection workhorses.
Also known as MBBT or bisoctrizole. It helps cover both UVA and UVB. Regulatory reviews consider nano MBBT safe for dermal use up to allowed levels in sunscreen creams.
A photostable filter that supports the overall protection system. In a daily facial sunscreen, this type of filter package is a real strength.
The takeaway is simple: this is not a weak "skincare first, SPF second" formula. The UV filter system is one of the strongest parts of the product.
Key Ingredients, Honestly Assessed.
Outside the UV filters, the product is built like a hydrating moisturizer. That is exactly why it became so wearable.
Rice extract gives the formula its brand story, but it is not just decoration. Rice-derived skincare ingredients have evidence for moisturizing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and brightening potential. It is best viewed as a supportive skin-conditioning ingredient, not a replacement for sunscreen filters or pigment treatments.
One of the most useful supporting ingredients here. Niacinamide has clinical and mechanistic support for barrier function, uneven tone, sebum regulation, and signs of photoaging. In this sunscreen, it helps make the product feel more like a skincare step.
This is the hydration stack. These ingredients pull water into the upper skin layers and help explain why the sunscreen feels comfortable rather than dry or chalky.
Mostly sensorial ingredients. They help dissolve filters, improve glide, reduce heaviness, and make the sunscreen easier to apply evenly.
Nice extras with antioxidant or soothing rationale, but not the main story. The strongest reasons to like this sunscreen are the filter system, fragrance-free design, hydration base, and niacinamide.
Most people tolerate these, but they can be relevant allergens for a small group of sensitive users. If your skin reacts easily to sunscreens, patch test before making it your everyday SPF.
Who Is This Best For?
Normal, dry, dehydrated, and balanced combination skin that wants a soft, moisturizer-like sunscreen.
Many acne-prone users who want fragrance-free SPF without a heavy greasy feel.
Very oily skin. You may prefer a lighter gel or matte SPF, especially in hot weather.
Highly reactive rosacea or allergy-prone skin. The formula is gentle for many, but not guaranteed bland enough for everyone.
Beach days, sports, heavy sweating, or swimming unless you use a separate water-resistant sunscreen.
Melasma routines that specifically need visible-light protection. A tinted sunscreen with iron oxides is usually the better option for that goal.
Transparency Notes.
The formula looks strong, but there are a few details worth saying clearly.
- Check your actual box. The reviewed dossier found that the official site ingredient list and the packaging panel were not perfectly identical. For sensitive users, the packaging on the exact unit you buy matters most.
- The "alcohol-free" language needs context. The reviewed sources noted a mismatch where the site labeled the product alcohol free while the website ingredient deck listed t-Butyl Alcohol. The packaging panel reviewed did not list it. That is a transparency issue, not automatically a safety issue.
- Ferments are not magic. They can support the formula, but the clinical evidence for the exact ferment ingredients is not as strong as the evidence for UV filters, niacinamide, and glycerin.
- Not all pigmentation needs are the same. For melasma and visible-light triggered pigmentation, a non-tinted sunscreen can be incomplete even when the UV protection is good.
How to Use It Properly.
Use it as the last step of your morning routine. Apply enough to cover your face and neck evenly. The practical rule many dermatologists and brands use is two full fingers for the face and neck, then reapply every 2 to 3 hours when you are outdoors, sweating, or getting strong daylight exposure.
If your skin is normal or dry, use moisturizer underneath when you need it. If your skin is oily, try it without moisturizer first. This sunscreen already has a hydrating base.
Let it set for a few minutes before applying makeup. Because the finish is soft and glowy, it can double as a skin-prep step for people who dislike matte primers.
This is not a substitute for water-resistant SPF when swimming, sweating heavily, or spending hours at the beach. For those days, choose a sunscreen that clearly says water resistant on the label.
Final Verdict.
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun is popular for a reason. It combines modern broad-spectrum filters with a hydrating, fragrance-free, elegant base that makes daily sunscreen feel less like a chore.
The most convincing parts are the filter system, the comfortable texture, the glycerin-rich hydration base, niacinamide, and the lack of fragrance. The rice and ferment story is nice, but it should be treated as a supporting skincare bonus rather than the main reason this product works.
A strong daily sunscreen for normal, dry, and dehydrated skin. It is elegant, comfortable, and well built for everyday UV protection. We would not choose it as a sports sunscreen, a very matte oily-skin SPF, or a melasma-specific tinted sunscreen, but for daily wear it is one of the easier formulas to recommend.
With love,
Stylishandhealthy
This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you have a skin disease, melasma, active irritation, post-procedure skin, pregnancy-related concerns, or a history of sunscreen allergy, speak with a qualified healthcare professional. Affiliate links on this site are always disclosed. We only recommend products we believe in.
Sources
- [1] Beauty of Joseon. Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50+ PA++++. Official product information. beautyofjoseon.com
- [2] Zamil DH, Perez-Sanchez A, Katta R. Dermatological uses of rice products: Trend or true? J Cosmet Dermatol. PMID: 35587098. PubMed
- [3] Bissett DL, Oblong JE, Berge CA. Niacinamide: A B vitamin that improves aging facial skin appearance. Dermatol Surg. PMID: 16029679. PubMed
- [4] Boo YC. Mechanistic basis and clinical evidence for the applications of nicotinamide in skin aging control and pigmentation. Antioxidants. PMC full text
- [5] Fluhr JW et al. Glycerol accelerates recovery of barrier function in vivo. Acta Derm Venereol. PMID: 10598752. PubMed
- [6] European Commission SCCS. Revision of the opinion on Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol nano. SCCS publication
- [7] Lyons AB et al. Photoprotection beyond ultraviolet radiation: A review of tinted sunscreens. J Am Acad Dermatol. PMID: 32335182. PubMed
- [8] Dumbuya H et al. Impact of iron-oxide containing formulations against visible light-induced skin pigmentation. J Drugs Dermatol. PMID: 32726103. PubMed