Non-sensitizing, light texture, soothing, modern filters?!?!? Of course I had to test Etude House’s collaboration sunscreen with Director Pi! Read on for my Etude House Moisture Sun Cream review!
The brand
One of the most established K-Beauty brands and definitely one that beauty lovers in Western countries got to know first, Etude House was established in 1985. It got its current name and branding in 1997. It belongs to the Amore Pacific Group and has established stores in many Asian and Western countries. The company draws its name from French composer Chopin’s piano “etudes” that are practice pieces for beginners. Similarly, the makeup brand is made explicitly for beginners. Nowadays they not only carry makeup, but skin- and haircare and also tools.
Sunscreen description
What it is
This is a cooperation between K-Beauty YouTuber Director Pi and the successful Soon Jung skincare line which boasts extra gentle and non-sensitizing ingredients. I was unable to find out if it’s limited edition, but if you’re rather looking for a mineral sunscreen, there’s also one in the line.
“Moisture-fit sun cream moisturizes, blocks UV rays, and soothes irritated skin with low-irritant mild formula. (…) An essence type texture that is light and moisturizing helps soothes skin that has been irritated by sunlight.”
Etude House
The claims are:
- Light and moisturizing
- Easy to cleanse
- For dry and sensitive skin
- Hypoallergenic
- SPF certified
Etude House Moisture Sun Cream review: Ingredients
WATER / AQUA / EAU, DIBUTYL ADIPATE, PROPANEDIOL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYL TRIAZONE, TEREPHTHALYLIDENE DICAMPHOR SULFONIC ACID, POLYGLYCERYL-3 DISTEARATE, TROMETHAMINE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, DIETHYLAMINO HYDROXYBENZOYL HEXYL BENZOATE, POLYSILICONE-15, GLYCERYL STEARATE, BIS-ETHYLHEXYLOXYPHENOL METHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE, POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE, METHYLPROPANEDIOL, SILICA, CARBOMER, CENTELLA ASIATICA EXTRACT, GLYCERYL STEARATE CITRATE, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/VP COPOLYMER, POLYETHER-1, DISODIUM EDTA, BIOSACCHARIDE GUM-1, ALLANTOIN, PANTHENOL, TOCOPHEROL, MADECASSOSIDE
Etude House
The ingredients aren’t really that exciting: we have some different forms of centella asiatica, which of course are soothing and also work as antioxidants. On top of that, there’s some soothing Panthenol and Allantoin.
The formula is suitable for sensitive skin as it doesn’t include fragrance, essential oils or alcohol denat.
Filters
| Sunscreen Filter | Type | Spectrum | Remarks |
| Ethylhexyl Triazone / Uvinul T 150 | chemical / organic | photostable UVB filter | oil soluble, odorless & colorless powder, available elsewhere except the US & Canada |
| Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid / Mexoryl SX / Ecamsule | chemical / organic | UVA, peak absorbance at 345 nm | L’Oreal exclusive (?), water soluble |
| Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate / Uvinul A Plus | chemical / organic | high UVA protection (320-400 nm) with peak protection at 354nm | high photostability, can be used up to 10%, available everywhere but the US & Canada |
| Polysilicone-15 / Parsol SLX | chemical / organic | UVB (290-320 nm), peak at 312 nm | Colorless to pale yellow liquid with nice and non-shiny finish. Can stabilize Avobenzone and works well with Ensulizole |
| Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine / Tinosorb S | chemical / organic | broad spectrum (UVA & UVB, 280-400 nm, peak at 310-345 nm) | very photostable, available everywhere but the US |
(The formula also uses a sunscreen booster very high on the ingredient list: Dibutyl Adipate is an emollient that can help to solubilize UV filters.)
The SPF was tested in a Korean lab and scored an UVB protection over 50 and an UVA protection around 18. (55.3±3.6 / 18.08±2.65).
Sustainability
This claims to be a vegan and reef-safe (sigh) formula that’s “clean” (SIGH). (The excluded ingredients include incense – which is a first for me. What’s the problem with incense in clean-speak, can someone please enlighten me?! For me, right now, that sounds like such a bogus claim and similar to claiming the formula doesn’t include cyanide.) The packaging uses recycled materials.
Application
Etude House Moisture Sun Cream belongs into the category “I nearly had a heart-attack when applying for the first time” because it was so not what I was expecting. This one is THICK.
The white, creamy lotion looks exactly like that when applying: it’s A LOT – thick, wet-looking, a bit like body lotion applied on the face. Consequently, I was ready to throw an absolute fit – but then, it vanished. Sunk in completely, and quickly. What remained was the obvious feeling of a sunscreen film on my face. It doesn’t feel tacky at all, but strangely, when I look down or nod, I can kinda feel my skin sticking together. It’s weird.
As you can see, two-finger-lengths is actually too much: it’s 2.4g that I used for my face, neck and decolletage.
(This is why it might be a good idea to weigh your sunscreen!)
(I did my usual routine of toner, serum and a very very very lightweight moisturiser – Paula’s Choice’s discontinued CBD Milk before applying the sunscreen.)
Makeup Application
No problems at all with that. The sunscreen works like a grippy primer and works well with powder or liquid foundations.
Finish
Etude House Soon Jung x Director gives me a rather skin-like, satin finish that’s neither sticky nor over the top glowy. It looks like skin. Moisturised, healthy skin. This is, as you will know, my absolute fave finish, and also one I haven’t encountered in this year’s crop but in Eucerin’s Oil Control Sun Gel-Cream Dry Touch that comes with a whopping amount of alcohol denat. This alone catapults it into my top 3 of 2022.
I’ve never experienced pilling nor has it made my eyes water. It also doesn’t leave any white residue in my hairline, brows, or fine lines.
Comparison
The texture is reminiscent of Scinic’s Enjoy Super Mild Sun Essence. Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun feels lighter while applying, but then has a stickier and more glowy finish (that’s also true for Scinic). My new fave from Eucerin feels more weightless and is definitely more matte.
It doesn’t feel as lightweight as Skin Aqua’s UV Super Moisture Milk. The Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel comes close.
Checklist
Etude House Moisture Sun Cream review: Rating
Here’s what I emphatically dislike about the Etude House Soon Jung x Director SPF: and that’s the bogus claims (clean, doesn’t include xyz), with a focus on the claim “tested” that’s printed on the packaging. There’s so much wrong with that that I don’t know where to begin. First, every sunscreen has to be tested to be called a sunscreen. Second, it implies that competitors don’t “test”, and third, it’s not a regulated term, nor is it a third-party certificate. You can, in fact, replace it with “turns you into a unicorn” if you want to – it’s just as valid.
I just HATE fear-mongering. HATE.
What I also don’t like is the price. It’s around 20$ right now, and I wonder how they justify that for a sunscreen that yes, has modern filters, but so do Scinic and Beauty of Joseon. Both of these, though, have more skincare goodies.
The suggested price is $30, and then we really have to compare it to Anessa, Iope, Evy & Skinceuticals, for example. These brands come up with new concepts and ingredients all the time, so I find it really hard to pay that kind of money for a rather mediocre K-Beauty sunscreen.
On the plus side, we have a formula I really, really REALLY like: one that is moisturising and non-sensitising, with a skin-like satin finish.
If I had to choose, though, I’d rather choose Skin Aqua (or even Canmake) instead of Etude House: not only for the price, but also for the texture.
Availability & Price
I bought my 50ml tube for around 17€ at Stylevana. It’s also available at the usual retailer like YesStyle etc.
Please note that this post is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods or money for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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