Olive Kollection Curated K-Beauty Sunscreen’s Tested by Matt @Dirtyboysgetclean 

Olive Kollection is a carefully curated online shop that only offers the best K-Beauty brands and products. Christina Im is the founder and is based in California. When Christina and I were discussing ideas on an article I immediately thought “sunscreen”! I am pretty much a self-proclaimed sunscreen addict but my experience with K-Beauty sunscreens is actually very scarce. Each day @ms_Hannah_E and I asked everyone on Instagram to share the SPF they are wearing that day with #TodaysSPF and each day there are a ton of K-Beauty sunscreens. They seem to be the most beloved of all, so why not test out some of Olive Kollections best-selling curations? Let’s dive into it! 

Now, before I get started I want to share that my skin is fair, dry, and not easily prone to acne. I find its important to give background on my skin anytime I am speaking about my experience with products because just because something does or does not work for me, doesn’t mean you will have the same outcome. It’s important to remember your skin when shopping for a new skincare product. 

A’pieu Madecassoside Sun Cream SPF 39/ PA++ is a non-chemical sunscreen that is meant to soothe, moisturize, and strengthen the skin’s natural barrier. This was the first sunscreen of the four I tried. This lightweight sunscreen is white in color but once applied left no signs of white cast. The scent is very faint, refreshing, and almost herbal. I found that it gave my dry skin a healthy glow without appearing to be greasy. One of the things I like best about this sunscreen is that it contains Niacinamide. While Niacinamide is very commonly used ingredient, I always find it appears to be absent from sunscreens for the most part. This particular sunscreen also contains Centella Asiatica, which is known for being soothing, repairing, and acne-prone skin friendly. 

AMPLE:N Ceramide Shot Barrier Sun Care SPF 50+ is a mineral sunscreen that actually makes a nice primer. So if you’re someone who is looking for an SPF that will act as a fantastic primer under your makeup—this one is for you. There is no greasy residue or white cast with this SPF as well. The fragrance in this one is a bit more noticeable as it contains lavender and rosemary. I didn’t find the fragrance irritating on my skin, but I am not someone who is sensitive to that very easily. This particular sunscreen didn’t leave a glow on my skin, it definitely seemed to mattify out more. If you have oily skin—this would be more ideal for you. 

Nacific Fresh Herb Origin Sunblock SPF50+ PA++++ is definitely one of the more interesting sunscreens I’ve tried. It applies like a cream but quickly turns into almost a water cream texture, but then mattifies out a bit. This sunscreen contains calendula extract to calm and soothe, as well as lavender, chestnut, green tea, and cranberry to help with sebum. But I think the star of this sunscreen is the white water lily extract. It is very present in the dewiness that appears once you massage it into the skin. The fragrance is herbal but it actually fades very quickly. Oddly enough, I think this sunscreen would be ideal for those with oily/normal skin. I found that for my dry skin it wasn’t that beneficial in the winter. I will definitely pull this one back out during the warmer months. 

Some By Mi Truecica Mineral 100 Calming Suncream SPF 50/PA++++ is made with 85% essence for nourishment and is very light in texture. It is marketed for sensitive and acne-prone skin. There is no white cast and melts into the skin. I find that this sunscreen has the most prominent fragrance which is almost entirely tea tree. I actually adore the scent of tea tree but I know that it is a bit much for some, so keep that in mind. I find this sunscreen to be incredibly soothing on my skin. It does contain orange and lavender as well. 

Of all four sunscreens I tested from Olive Kollection, I would say that my two favorites are A’pieu Madecassoside Sun Cream SPF 39/ PA++ and Some By Mi Truecica Mineral 100 Calming Suncream SPF 50/PA++++. The one I think would be suitable for most is A’Pieu. K-Beauty sunscreens definitely have a very unique approach. I think that these sunscreens offer more than just sun protection. I understand that many people avoid essential oils/fragrance when it comes to skincare. For me it’s something I recommend in moderation. Its all about preference and your particular skins tolerance.