Is Beauty of Joseon sunscreen FDA approved?

No. Relief Sun uses UV filters that aren't approved for sunscreens in the US, so it's sold here as an import outside FDA review. Use an FDA-compliant broad-spectrum SPF 30+ if that matters to you.

Is Beauty of Joseon good for sensitive skin?

Many of its products are gentle and fragrance-light, but propolis and plant extracts can bother some people. Patch test first.

What is Beauty of Joseon known for?

Relief Sun sunscreen, the Propolis + Niacinamide Glow Serum and Dynasty Cream, all using traditional Korean ingredients like rice and ginseng.

Skin Files · Brand receipts

Beauty of Joseon: the Relief Sun, Glow Serum and Dynasty Cream, decoded

An honest receipt on Beauty of Joseon: what's in Relief Sun SPF 50+, the Propolis + Niacinamide Glow Serum and Dynasty Cream, and what US shoppers should know about the sunscreen.

Grains of white rice, a slice of ginseng root and golden propolis drops beside a swirl of white cream — Illustrative image

Sun protection
Dark marks & tone
Dryness

01 · The short version

Beauty of Joseon is a Korean brand built on hanbang (traditional Korean herbal) ingredients like rice, ginseng and propolis, sold at drugstore prices. Its Relief Sun sunscreen became one of the most talked-about sunscreens online.

Searches for the brand are up sharply. Here's an honest look at the hero products.

02 · Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50+

A light, non-greasy chemical sunscreen with no white cast, which is why people love it. It uses newer UV filters that are common in Korea and Europe.

The catch for US shoppers: several of those filters aren't on the FDA's approved list for sunscreens, so the version people buy online is an import that hasn't gone through FDA review here. That doesn't make it dangerous, but the US label rules and testing don't apply. If you want an FDA-reviewed option, pick a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sold for the US market.

03 · The serums and cream

Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide. Propolis is a bee resin with soothing and antimicrobial lab data; niacinamide has the stronger evidence for tone and oil. A gentle, pleasant serum.
Glow Deep Serum: Rice + Arbutin. Alpha-arbutin is a gentler cousin of hydroquinone with early studies for dark spots.
Dynasty Cream: a rich, glossy moisturizer with rice water, ginseng and squalane. Comfortable for dry skin; may be heavy for oily skin.
Revive Eye Serum: ginseng and retinal. A low-dose retinoid for the eye area; patch test.

04 · Who it suits

People who want affordable, gentle K-beauty with nice textures. If you're focused on dark spots, the same principles apply as with any brand: sunscreen every day plus one tone ingredient. Niacinamide is the common thread, whether in the Glow Serum or our Tone Balance Niacinamide Serum.

05 · The science

Niacinamide reduces the transfer of pigment to surface skin cells and supports the barrier, which is why it shows up in so many brightening serums.

Sunscreen filters are regulated as drugs in the US. In 2026 the FDA added bemotrizinol, its first new sunscreen filter in more than 20 years. Several other filters common in Korean and European sunscreens still aren't on the US list.

06 · What might help

Niacinamide serums for tone and oiliness.limited evidence
Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen.well-supported

07 · Insufficient evidence

Propolis, ginseng and rice extracts as proven brighteners or anti-aging actives.
Herbal "hanbang" ingredients as superior to standard actives.

The Receipt

01Gentle, affordable, nice textures.
02Relief Sun is lovely to wear, but the online version isn't an FDA-reviewed sunscreen.
03Niacinamide is the proven part of the Glow Serum.

Education, not a diagnosis. If something changes quickly, hurts, bleeds, or worries you, see a dermatologist.

Questions people ask

Is Beauty of Joseon sunscreen FDA approved?: No. Relief Sun uses UV filters that aren't approved for sunscreens in the US, so it's sold here as an import outside FDA review. Use an FDA-compliant broad-spectrum SPF 30+ if that matters to you.
Is Beauty of Joseon good for sensitive skin?: Many of its products are gentle and fragrance-light, but propolis and plant extracts can bother some people. Patch test first.
What is Beauty of Joseon known for?: Relief Sun sunscreen, the Propolis + Niacinamide Glow Serum and Dynasty Cream, all using traditional Korean ingredients like rice and ginseng.

Sources (6)