Best Chemical Korean Sunscreens

A chemical (organic) sunscreen uses carbon-based UV filters rather than zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Ten sunscreens in our catalog are confirmed chemical, ranked here from most to least expensive per mL.

Seven of these ten explicitly state 'chemical sunscreen' in the brand's own product data, Beauty of Joseon, Isntree, Round Lab, Torriden, Anua, Goodal, and SKIN1004. The remaining three, SCINIC, MEDIHEAL, and VT PDRN Air Cloud, have no mineral filter anywhere in their confirmed ingredient lists, but we didn't find an explicit brand statement calling them chemical specifically, a real but slightly weaker form of evidence, included here on the strength of absence rather than an explicit claim. COSRX Aloe and d'Alba Tone-Up, both self-described hybrids combining chemical and mineral filters, are excluded, they don't belong in a chemical-only list despite containing a chemical filter. Etude SoonJung is also excluded, since it's never been confirmed as chemical by name, only ruled out as not mineral.

$0.52 per mL ($26.00 for 50mL), the most expensive on this list. Fragrance-free, confirmed plant-based PDRN and nine types of hyaluronic acid, brand-confirmed chemical status not directly verified.

$0.39 per mL ($19.50 for 50mL). Brand-confirmed chemical sunscreen, back-to-back Olive Young #1 in 2024 and 2025, though it contains fragrance via chamomile oil.

Both run $0.38 per mL ($19.00 for 50mL). Beauty of Joseon is brand-confirmed chemical, fragrance-free, a longtime bestseller with no reported white cast. MEDIHEAL has no mineral filter confirmed but isn't brand-verified chemical, and contains fragrance.

$0.38 per mL ($19.00 for 50mL). Brand-confirmed chemical, fragrance-free, a very lightweight, watery-gel texture that may need a setting powder for full shine control.

$0.37 per mL ($22.00 for 60mL). Brand-confirmed chemical, fragrance-free, five confirmed actives including real allantoin and adenosine, the largest bottle on this list.

$0.36 per mL ($18.00 for 50mL). Brand-confirmed chemical, fragrance-free, strong social-media-driven demand real enough to cause intermittent restocks.

$0.36 per mL ($18.00 for 50mL). Brand-confirmed chemical, fragrance-free, six confirmed actives, one of the most reviewed K-beauty sunscreens on the market.

$0.34 per mL ($17.00 for 50mL). Brand-confirmed chemical, fragrance-free, a real Olive Young #3 placement in 2025.

$0.28 per mL ($14.00 for 50mL), the cheapest sunscreen tracked. No mineral filter confirmed, fragrance-free, confirmed available across all three retailers this site tracks.

See our full best budget sunscreens roundup, or browse the rest of our sunscreen coverage.