Cassandra Bankson: 10 Best Korean Sunscreens of 2021 for Every Skin Type

Skintellectuals or not, we swear by sunscreens *religiously* here — wear it every single day, rain or shine. And if you're a fervent skincare junkie like Cassandra Bankson, one of our favorite STYLEVANA Influencers, who believes in the power of year-round SPF, you might want to pick the best sunscreen for your skin type to really get the result you want. Whether it's mineral sunscreen for sensitive skin or chemical sunscreen for mature skin that deserve a spot on your radar, let Cassandra be your guidepost and pick your next love-at-firt-try picks. Scroll down and get some inspiration!


For Dry Skin

THANK YOU FARMER - Sun Project Water Sun Cream

cassandra bankson sunscreen review thank you farmer

Courtesy of Stylevana Influencer Cassandra Bankson

"As a water cream, it’s super hydrating, moisturizing, and phenomenal for my dry patches."

Looking for a sunscreen that doubles as a moisturizer? Your dry skin will love this buzzworthy THANK YOU FARMER Sun Project Water Sun Cream as much as Cassandra does. Trusting the power of a moisture-boosting sunscreen, Cassandra is most impressed by the soothing ingredients from this THANK YOU FARMER sunscreen which includes centella and mistletoe extracts. It also has multiple types of oils including sunflower oil and soybean lipids for those whose skin is constantly dry. This team of ingredients is a winning combo that helps moisturize and soothe dryness while locking in the moisture for your skin. For the texture, it glides very nicely on the skin and gives your dry skin the oily, serum finish without making it look like a grease-ball.


For Oily Skin

make p:rem - UV Defense Me. Daily Sun Fluid

make prem sunscreen review cassandra bankson

Courtesy of Stylevana Influencer Cassandra Bankson

“I fell in love with this sunscreen in my first STYLEVANA video.”

It seems like this make p:rem UV Defense Me. Daily Sun Fluid just got reformulated for a better and improved version and it's got Cassandra's stamp of approval! The old version was Cassandra's long-time favorite for her oily skin and she's happy that the new formula still has that same lightweight liquid texture which absorbs into the skin magnificently while giving a little bit of a dewy look without feeling overly-saturated. This sunscreen is also a great antioxidant boost for the skin thanks to the nourishing blend of fruit extracts like black currant, pear, peach, and fig. If you have extremely oily skin, Cassandra recommends using it as a moisturizer to keep the layer fresh and breatheable.


For Acne-Prone Skin

FRUDIA - Ultra UV Shield Sun Essence SPF50+ PA++++

frudia sunscreen review cassandra bankson

Courtesy of Stylevana Influencer Cassandra Bankson

“This sunscreen works so great for my cousin who has her personal struggle with acne. It doesn’t break her out and is super fun for her to apply!”

The next sunscreen on Cassandra's tried-and-loved list is the FRUDIA Ultra UV Shield Sun Essence SPF50+ PA++++, which checks all the boxes for an acne skin-friendly sunscreen: sheer, lightweight texture, no flashbacks, and doesn't cause any breakout. That's why Cassandra introduces this Korean sunscreen to her cousin who happens to be an athlete and doesn’t like sticky sunscreen on her face. It comes in a travel-friendly packaging which is a huge plus for outdoor junkies who are always on an adventure.

CARE:NEL - No Sebum Perfect UV Shield SPF50+ PA++++

carenel sunscreen review cassandra bankson

Courtesy of Stylevana Influencer Cassandra Bankson

“If you have oily breakout-prone skin, this sunscreen formula will be your friend.”

Whether you have dry or oily breakout-prone skin, this CARE:NEL sunscreen is a solid choice for you. This sunscreen specifically has tea tree oil in it which is antimicrobial and antibacterial so this formula already sets your skin up with a great base. Not to mention, the aptly named "no-sebum" formula has a powdery texture to it which helps you control greasy skin and saves your skin from getting the mid-day shine.


For Sensitive Skin

ROVECTIN - Skin Essentials Aqua Soothing UV Protector SPF 50+ PA++++

rovectin sunscreen review cassandra bankson

Courtesy of Stylevana Influencer Cassandra Bankson

“This mineral sunscreen from ROVECTIN is a slam-dunk! It works so well for my friend and her sensitive skin!"

Sensitivity triggered by sunscreen is a struggle that does not get talked enough about. Cassandra shared her friend's struggle in finding the right sunscreen for her sensitive skin (one that "doesn't make her skin feel like it's burning"), and Cassandra revealed that this ROVECTIN Skin Essentials Aqua Soothing UV Protector has become her friend's new savior. This fragrance-free sunscreen is a solid choice for people who are ultra sensitive to synthetic fragrances.

rovectin sunscreen review cassandra bankson

Courtesy of Stylevana Influencer Cassandra Bankson

It has Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide, with the 3rd ingredient on the list being the moisture-locking, skin-soothing Cyclohexasiloxane. Cassandra also tested this sunscreen on her under-eye area as an “eye cream” treatment to smooth over fine lines and wrinkles and it doesn’t make her tear up or cause any irritation unlike most mineral or physical sunscreens.


For Mature Skin

Romand - Zero Sun Clean SPF50+ PA++++ (01 Fresh)

romand zero sunscreen review cassandra bankson

Courtesy of Stylevana Influencer Cassandra Bankson

“This sunscreen is so good for mature skin specifically because it doesn't ball up and peel off in fine lines and wrinkles.”

Cassandra crowned this Romand sunscreen as a must-have for "grown-up girls" for good reasons. ICYDK, sunscreen is the best way to prevent fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and worsening your acne scarring. And if you're at your 30s and pre-mature aging is one of your skin concers, this Korean sunscreen puts your worries to rest. It's soothing to the skin and helps plump up and boost up the fine lines and wrinkles to make your complexion look more supple and fresh. Besides, this sunscreen dries down completely and goes on super sheer with a nice finishing touch to the skin. It is also great to wear under your everyday makeup.


For Normal Skin

Isntree - Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel

isntree sunscreen review cassandra bankson

Courtesy of Stylevana Influencer Cassandra Bankson

“This is the one that I have a love affair with. It gives me the Welsh-twins glowy skin.”

Cassandra ranked this Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel as the crowning glory of her sun-safe routine for all the right reasons. She revealed that she has been struggling with dry skin patches throughout 2021 and this Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel is the one she’s reached for. It gives me a little glow and sits on the skin very well without any flashback and peeling off. In general, hyaluronic acid is a humectant which can sometimes mess up the SPF protection and pull moisture from the sunscreen. But luckily, Isntree combines it with their SPF formula in a clever way that it works well with the sunscreen without ruining the SPF protection so your skin can get the best of both worlds.


For Hyperpigmentation & Redness

SKIN1004 - Madagascar Centella Air-Fit Suncream Plus SPF50+ PA++++

skin1004 sunscreen review cassandra bankson

Courtesy of Stylevana Influencer Cassandra Bankson

“I love this sunscreen for redness because the color neutralizes anything red on my face.”

If you’re trying to calm your skin and acne scars post-breakouts, this mineral sunscreen is perfect for you. The star ingredient of this SKIN1004 sunscreen is centella asiatica which is great for alleviating redness and soothing irritation.

skin1004 sunscreen review cassandra bankson

Courtesy of Stylevana Influencer Cassandra Bankson

This Korean sunscreen also features niacinamide and licorice which are amazing ingredients for both redness and hyperpigmentation. So for someone struggling with erythema (facial redness), Cassandra likes that this Korean sunscreen comes with a slightly tinted coverage to help neutralize and color-correct the redness so it works well AS makeup too!


Makeup Friendly Sunscreen

COSRX - Aloe Soothing Sun Cream

cosrx sunscreen review cassandra bankson

Courtesy of Stylevana Influencer Cassandra Bankson

“I have tried and tested so many sunscreen formulations and this one is a DREAM.”

According to Cassandra, this COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream is a good team-player when it comes to working with heavy foundations and makeup. It doesn’t flashback, and works well under the thickest of foundation or the thinnest. More importantly, it has hydrating ingredients that support the skin throughout the day like glycerin, sulfonic acid, and silica.


Sports Friendly Sunscreen

SCINIC - Enjoy Super Active Airy Sun Stick SPF50+ PA++++

scinic sunscreen review cassandra bankson

Courtesy of Stylevana Influencer Cassandra Bankson

“It is airy and convenient to use anytime, anywhere.”

For our athletic, outdoorsy friends, Cassandra highly recommends this SCINIC Enjoy Super Active Airy Sun Stick as your go-to. This award-winning Korean sunscreen comes in as a travel-friendly sun stick, which is perfect for outdoor junkies and athletes who like to pack light on the go. It has a powdery finish and feels good on the skin especially during a sweaty workout. As far as the application goes, this sunscreen offers an almost-invisible coverage without any flashback. Not to mention It smooths over the skin wonderfully with licorice which helps prevent pigmentation.

Watch her FULL video here:


Looking for more beauty inspo from Cassandra? Check out Cassandra's list of love-at-first-try FRUDIA favorites and her cruelty-free skincare picks! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to get more instant product updates and skincare tips!