K-Secret Seoul 1988 Sun : Pine Tree + Ceramide SPF 50
94/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
K-Secret Seoul 1988 Sun : Pine Tree + Ceramide is a modern chemical SPF 50 sunscreen combining Ethylhexyl Triazone, Tinosorb M, and Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone for strong broad-spectrum coverage. It wears matte with low white cast and a lightweight feel, does not commonly sting, and is low on breakout risk, making it a comfortable base under makeup. The ceramide addition is aimed at barrier comfort. Scoring 93.5/100 with excellent protection, it is one of the strongest picks in this group.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
92
- +34.2 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +20.9)
- +20.9 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #6, UV filter
- +38.4 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +14.4)
- +19.2 Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone at #12, UV filter
- −16.1 UVB coverage saturated
- −6.3 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
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Fungal acne
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- −18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate)
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Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #4, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- → 1 Glycerin at #13, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Humectant polyols
- → 6 Ceramide barrier lipids
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- ← 5 3 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dibutyl Adipate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylyl Methicone)
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 5 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 2 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, …)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- ✨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (46)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / → shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant polyol
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus)
- ↑ 34.2 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb M), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Iscotrizinol), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 19.2 UV protection
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13 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Botanical extract
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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26 Tromethamine
pH adjuster
-
27 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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32 Adenosine
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Botanical extract
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34 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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36 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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37 Ceramide NP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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42 Tripeptide-1
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
Is K-Secret Seoul 1988 Sun a good sunscreen?
Yes, it scores 93.5/100, among the highest in its group. It pairs excellent broad-spectrum protection with a matte, lightweight, low-cast wear.
Does the K-Secret Seoul 1988 Sun : Pine Tree + Ceramide SPF 50 work under makeup or for oily skin?
It is well suited. The matte finish and low pore-clogging risk make it comfortable for oily skin, and it is rated a good base under makeup.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a modern chemical sunscreen using Ethylhexyl Triazone, Tinosorb M, and Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, with no zinc or titanium.