Sunscreen is the whole routine. Everything else is a bonus.

If you do one thing from this entire blog, make it this: wear sunscreen every morning. Not because it’s trendy — because it’s the single highest-return step in skincare, and Korean formulas have quietly made it pleasant enough that there’s no excuse left.

Why it outranks everything

The majority of what we think of as “aging” — uneven tone, loss of firmness, stubborn dark marks — is sun damage accumulated over years. No essence, serum, or cream reverses that as effectively as daily SPF prevents it. A €15 sunscreen worn daily outperforms a €90 serum worn over unprotected skin. Every time.

You can’t out-serum a sunburn. Protection beats correction.

What Korean SPF gets right

Western sunscreens earned a reputation for being thick, white, and sticky. Korean formulas changed the game on texture and finish:

• Lightweight, almost serum-like fluids that sink in fast
• No white cast on most skin tones
• Finishes you can choose — dewy “glow” or soft matte
• Pleasant enough that you’ll actually reapply, which is the whole point

How to actually use it

• Amount matters more than brand. Most people apply a quarter of what they should. Aim for roughly two finger-lengths of product for the face and neck.
• It’s the last skincare step, before makeup. Let it set for a minute.
• Reapply every two hours of real sun exposure. For a desk day indoors, your morning layer is largely fine.

Reading the label

Look for broad-spectrum protection — SPF for UVB, and PA+++ or PA++++ for UVA (the “aging” rays). The PA rating is a Korean/Asian standard you’ll see on these bottles; more pluses means more UVA defense.

Chemical, mineral, or hybrid is mostly down to your skin’s preference — sensitive skin often prefers mineral or gentle hybrids. The best sunscreen is genuinely the one you’ll wear every single day, so prioritise the one that feels good on your face.

Everything else in your routine is a bonus stacked on top of this. Get this one right and you’re already ahead.