Versus

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh Rice + B5 SPF 50+ Versus Prequel Solar Shade Broad Spectrum SPF 46 PA++++

Sunscreen
Sunscreen
Korean Brand South Korea
American Brand United States

Updated on September 05, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free sunscreens. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants, SPF and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and oils

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh Rice + B5 SPF 50+

Water

Skin Conditioning

Oryza Sativa Seed Water

Antimicrobial
Antioxidant Icon

Dibutyl Adipate

Emollient

Butyloctyl Salicylate

Skin Conditioning
Non-Reef-Safe Icon

Ethylhexyl Triazone

UV Absorber
Chemical UV Filter Icon
Solar Shade Broad Spectrum SPF 46 PA++++

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Butyloctyl Salicylate is similar to octisalate. It a photostabilizer, SPF booster, emollient and solvent. Its main purpose is to evenly spread out ingredients.

This ingredient is a common sunscreen ingredient carrier and photostabilizer. According to a manufacturer, it is suitable for carrying micro Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and pigments.

Photostabilizers help stabilize UV-filters and prevents them from degrading quickly.

Due to regulation loopholes, this ingredient is not required to be labeled as an active chemical filter like other UV ingredients. This is why you'll likely find this ingredient in mineral sunscreens from the US.

According to EU regulation, this ingredient can cause harmful effects to aquatic life.

Learn more about Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse. 

It is a:

  • Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
  • Emollient, helping to soften skin
  • Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
  • Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives 
Abrasive, Absorbent

Silica is a mineral naturally found in our skin. It helps to thicken and smooth the texture of a product. It also acts as an agent for other ingredients by increasing the absorption of other ingredients into the skin.

Silica is often used for absorption and can help reduce shine when products are applied. Silica occurs in naturally in materials like clay and sandstone, and it can also be produced synthetically.

Silica is present naturally within the skin during collagen production and when reducing inflammation.

Learn more about Silica
Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin
Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol
Buffering, Masking

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

When to use

623 Routines
98% use in am
2% use in pm
93% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
11 Routines
100% use in am
0% use in pm
82% use every day

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh Rice + B5 SPF 50+ 45 ingredients

3.9 /5
from 19 ratings
Light (13) Absorbs Well (12) Works Well (11)
ylannguyen's avatar

Y-Lan

7 months ago
Review

It’s my first Korean sunscreen and I am an amazed. It feels so much better on my skin compared to European sunscreens. I have acne-prone skin and this sunscreen without niacinamide is so light and fluid. It smoothes my skin and gives the effect of second skin. It is not sticky nor gives a oily effect.

#light
#absorbs well
#works well
anemone's avatar

anemone

6 months ago
Review

ok, i knew i’d love this, but still… how did they make such a lightweight sunscreen without either alcohol or dimethicone? it’s even more lightweight than the SKIN1004 blue pump sunscreen. zero white cast at all (granted, i have fair skin), and absorbs just as quickly as any alcohol sunscreen. LOVE IT!
however, the only bad thing is that it’ll pill when i also use SKIN1004 Poremizing Ampoule. so Show more

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well

Prequel Solar Shade Broad Spectrum SPF 46 PA++++ 43 ingredients

3.0 /5
from 1 rating
Absorbs Well (1) Irritating (1) Light Scent (1)
kaitlin_m's avatar

Kaitlin M

7 months ago
Review

I think this is probably not the sunscreen for me personally because my oily skin looks quite oily by the end of the day with it and it’s also irritating my eyes. my rosacea also seems a bit worse after using it two days in a row.
that said, I can see this working well for others. it seems nicely and elegantly formulated, no strong smell, nice texture, rubs in well. I gave it to my boyfriend to Show more

#irritating
#absorbs well
#oily
#light scent