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Product photo: Olive Young Korea
Water Splash Sun Cream
A light, watery sun cream with four UV filters, a touch of iron oxide tint and a ceramide complex, made by a makeup brand to sit well under foundation.
Buyer verdictA good daily sunscreen if you wear makeup and want something light that doesn't pill. It has fragrance and a faint tint, so it's not for very sensitive skin. Seoul is roughly half the Amazon price, one of the bigger sunscreen savings on the site.
- Key ingredient
- Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (octinoxate), Diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate (Uvinul A Plus)
- Texture
- Fluid, watery cream with a slight peach tint that blends out
- Routine step
- sunscreen · AM
- Korean pack
- 50ml
Overview
Key ingredients
- Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (octinoxate) UVB filter
- Diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate (Uvinul A Plus) Strong UVA filter
- Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine (Tinosorb S) Broad-spectrum, photostable filter
- Titanium dioxide Mineral filter in a small amount
- Ceramides, cholesterol and phytosphingosine Barrier-lipid complex near the end of the list
From the US, it's 46% cheaper in Seoul after tax and refund. From the UK, it's 47% cheaper in Seoul.
What it is
Espoir is a Korean makeup brand, and this is its best-known skincare product: a sunscreen designed to go under foundation without pilling or turning greasy. The current version is called Water Splash Sun Cream Ceramide. It comes in a 50ml tube and has a light, watery feel that spreads quickly. Korea registers it as a functional cosmetic for UV protection.
The filters do the work. The Korean ingredient list puts ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (octinoxate, a UVB filter), Uvinul A Plus (a strong UVA filter), titanium dioxide and Tinosorb S near the top. Tinosorb S and Uvinul A Plus are modern, stable filters that aren’t approved in US-made sunscreens. That’s one reason Korean sunscreens often feel lighter than American ones.
Further down there’s fragrance, small amounts of red and yellow iron oxide (a slight tint), and a skin-barrier complex of five ceramides, cholesterol and phytosphingosine, plus centella extract.
Who it suits (and who should skip it)
Good pick if
- You wear foundation or cushion and want a sunscreen that won’t pill under it
- You have normal, combination or oily skin and dislike heavy sun creams
- You want a high-protection sunscreen with no obvious white cast
Skip it if
- Your skin reacts to fragrance
- You want a mineral-only sunscreen for very sensitive skin
- You avoid octinoxate for personal reasons; several other Korean sunscreens don’t use it
What the ingredients do
The four UV filters cover both UVB (the burning rays) and UVA (the ageing rays). Tinosorb S is especially useful because it’s broad-spectrum and helps keep other filters stable in sunlight. As with any sunscreen, the protection depends on using enough: about a quarter teaspoon for the face.
The silicones and silica behind the filters (phenyl trimethicone, caprylyl methicone) give the smooth, quick-setting finish that makes it a good makeup base.
The ceramides and cholesterol are a nice extra for comfort, but in a sunscreen they’re present in small amounts. Don’t count on this to repair a damaged barrier.
How to use it
Espoir’s instruction is simple: apply evenly as the last step of your skincare. Use a generous amount, about two finger-lengths for the face and neck, and let it set for a minute or two before makeup.
Reapply every two hours when you’re outdoors, and after sweating, swimming or towelling off. For a beach day, a sunscreen sold as water-resistant is the safer choice.
How it compares
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh is similarly light, with no tint and a fresher gel-like feel. Round Lab Birch Juice Sun Cream is more moisturising, which suits drier skin. Dr.G Green Mild Up Sun Plus is the mineral, fragrance-free option for sensitive skin.
For more help choosing, see our Korean sunscreen guide.
Is it worth buying in Seoul?
Yes, clearly. Olive Young’s price, especially on promotion, works out at roughly half of Amazon US and UK per ml. That makes it one of the bigger sunscreen savings on the site.
One tube clears the ₩15,000 tax refund minimum on sale. Sunscreen also gets used up quickly, so it’s worth buying two or three. At 50ml, the tubes fit in a carry-on liquids bag.
FAQ
Is it a chemical or mineral sunscreen?
Mostly chemical (organic) filters: octinoxate, Uvinul A Plus and Tinosorb S, with a small amount of titanium dioxide. It's a hybrid, not a mineral sunscreen.
Does it leave a white cast?
Usually not. The small amounts of red and yellow iron oxide give it a faint peach tint, which helps cancel the slight whiteness of the titanium dioxide.
Does it contain fragrance?
Yes. Fragrance (향료) is on the Korean ingredient list. Skip it if fragrance bothers your skin.
Is the Amazon version the same?
Check the name and size. Olive Young sells the 50ml 'Ceramide' version. Amazon US mostly lists a 59ml tube, so our price box compares them per ml.
