Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun and SKIN1004 Centella Sun Serum are two of the K-beauty sunscreens people keep comparing because they solve the same basic problem: most people want daily SPF that does not feel like old-school sunscreen.
The short answer: SKIN1004 is the cleaner Current Shelf pick for a beginner morning routine because the texture is lighter and easier to layer. Beauty of Joseon is the trend-aware watchlist pick if your skin likes a creamier, more moisturized finish and you want that viral rice-and-probiotics SPF feel.
Quick Verdict
In This Article
Bottom Line
If your main goal is a daily sunscreen that disappears into a simple morning routine, start with SKIN1004. It behaves more like a lightweight serum-moisturizer hybrid, which makes it easier to pair with vitamin C, moisturizer, and makeup without feeling over-layered.
If your skin is dry, normal, or easily tight by midday, Beauty of Joseon may feel more satisfying. The brand positions Relief Sun around a moisturizing, non-greasy finish with rice extract and grain fermented extracts. That makes it feel more like skincare, but it also means oily or heavy-layered routines may prefer the lighter SKIN1004 path.
Quick Comparison: Beauty of Joseon vs SKIN1004
| Category | Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun | SKIN1004 Centella Sun Serum | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best routine role | Moisturizing SPF for dry or normal skin | Lightweight SPF for easy daily layering | SKIN1004 for beginners |
| Texture | Creamy lotion | Serum-light lotion | SKIN1004 |
| Finish | Soft, hydrated, slightly dewy | Fresh, luminous, lighter-feeling | Depends on skin type |
| Under makeup | Good if the layers underneath are not too rich | Safer if makeup pilling is your issue | SKIN1004 |
| Dry skin | Strong fit | Good if paired with moisturizer | Beauty of Joseon |
| Oily or combination skin | Can feel rich depending on moisturizer | Better first try | SKIN1004 |
| Seller sensitivity | High because it is heavily duped and trend-driven | High because imported sunscreen versions vary | Tie |
Texture and Finish
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun has the richer feel of the two. Official product information lists 30% rice extract plus grain fermented extracts as key ingredients, and the brand describes the sunscreen as moisturizing, non-greasy, and makeup-friendly. In routine terms, that means it can replace a light moisturizer for some normal or dry skin days.
SKIN1004 Centella Sun Serum is the better pick if you hate feeling layers on your face. Retail product information describes it as lightweight, moisturizing, and serum-like, with centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid as key skincare ingredients. It is not matte, but it usually reads less creamy than Beauty of Joseon.
That texture difference is why SKIN1004 sits in the live Current Shelf, while Beauty of Joseon is still in Testing Bench. Popularity alone is not enough. The question is whether it makes the routine easier.
Skin Type Match
Choose Beauty of Joseon if: your skin is dry, normal, tight after cleansing, or you prefer your sunscreen to feel like a moisturizing skincare step. It makes sense for people who do not want a separate rich moisturizer every morning.
Choose SKIN1004 if: your skin is combination, easily congested, makeup-prone, or annoyed by heavy sunscreen texture. It is also the better first choice if your morning routine already includes serum and moisturizer.
Be careful with both if: your skin is reactive to botanical extracts, ferments, niacinamide, or sunscreen filters in general. Patch test first, especially if your barrier is irritated or you are switching from mineral SPF.
Makeup Wear and Pilling
If your sunscreen pills under makeup, do not blame the SPF immediately. Pilling usually comes from stacking too many film-forming or silicone-heavy products, applying layers too quickly, or rubbing instead of pressing.
For makeup wear, SKIN1004 gets the operational win because it is easier to keep thin. Apply moisturizer first only if you need it, wait a minute, then apply SPF in two lighter passes. Beauty of Joseon can still work beautifully, but it needs a simpler base underneath.
If pilling is your recurring issue, read the morning skincare routine and keep the routine boring until the texture conflict is solved.
Where to Buy Safely
Sunscreen is seller-sensitive. This matters more than it does with a basic cleanser. With K-beauty SPF, product version, storage, counterfeit risk, and seller path all matter.
Use the brand storefront, Amazon as seller, an authorized retailer, or a retailer you already trust. If the seller name looks random, the price looks unusually low, or the product packaging looks inconsistent with the version you expected, pause before buying.
SKIN1004 Centella Sun Serum SPF 50
Current Shelf pick · SPF step
Buy if: you want the safer first pick for a lightweight, low-friction morning routine.
Skip if: you want a rich cream feel or your skin prefers a mineral-only sunscreen.
Check SKIN1004 on AmazonBeauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF 50+
Testing Bench pick · Trend-aware SPF
Buy if: your skin likes a creamier, more moisturized sunscreen finish and you want to try the viral K-beauty SPF category.
Skip if: you are oily, already layer a rich moisturizer, or need the thinnest possible makeup base.
Track Beauty of Joseon on AmazonFinal Call
For most Shelzy's Beauty readers, the first buy is SKIN1004. It is easier to slot into a beginner routine, easier to wear under makeup, and already fits the Current Shelf logic: cleanser, vitamin C, moisturizer, SPF.
Beauty of Joseon still deserves attention. It is trend-aware for a reason, and the formula logic makes sense for dry to normal skin. But it should earn its place by outperforming the shelf in your actual routine, not just because TikTok made it unavoidable.
FAQ
Beauty of Joseon is usually the better first try if you want a creamier, more moisturized SPF feel. SKIN1004 can still work for dry skin, but it may need moisturizer underneath.
Usually, yes. SKIN1004 is the lighter-feeling pick, which makes it easier for oily and combination routines. It is not a hard-matte sunscreen, so very oily skin may still want powder or a more matte SPF.
Yes, as long as your skin tolerates the combination. Apply vitamin C first, moisturizer if needed, then sunscreen. If the layers pill, reduce the number of products before replacing the SPF.
SKIN1004 is the current shelf pick. Beauty of Joseon is a Testing Bench watchlist pick, which means it is worth tracking but has not replaced the shelf product yet.
Sources Checked
Formula and usage notes were checked against the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun product page, the Ulta SKIN1004 product page, and the DailyMed SKIN1004 UV label. Product packaging and seller details can change, so check the listing before buying.