Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
TH
THE WHOO

Gongjinhyang Fresh UV Protective Cream

SPF 50+ · PA++++ Tinted Iron-oxide pigment masks white cast with a sheer skin-tone finish. KR South Korea global Formulation variant: global. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Alcohol denat plus octinoxate, ensulizole, PEG-100 stearate, and 8+ declared fragrance allergens deeply hurt sensitivity and health.

◉ HYB Hybrid filters Hybrid filters — Combines mineral and chemical filters for balance of protection and feel. ((· BS Broad spectrum Broad spectrum — Blocks UVA + UVB across the full sun-damage spectrum. ● TINT Tinted Tinted — Adds sheer colour — covers white cast and gives a skin-tone finish.
61.5
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #1297 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Alcohol denat plus octinoxate, ensulizole, PEG-100 stearate, and 8+ declared fragrance allergens deeply hurt sensitivity and health.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

Tinted hybrid combining modern BEMT and DHHB with legacy octinoxate, amiloxate, and PBSA in a herbal-rich base. Alcohol denat, added fragrance, and eight declared EU allergens make this a high-sensitization formula.

Pros
  • Modern BEMT and DHHB extend UVA coverage
  • Tinted finish helps blend on the skin
  • Niacinamide and ceramide NP present
  • PA++++ rating
Cons
  • Alcohol denat present
  • Octinoxate, amiloxate, and PBSA included
  • Fragrance with eight declared EU allergens
  • Dense herbal extract list raises sensitizer load

Who it's for: Fans of heritage Korean herbal sunscreens wanting tinted coverage, who tolerate ethanol and fragrance without issue.

01 Score breakdown
UV protection How well the product blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 100
Filter modernity Penalises legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen filters. 72
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 22
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 65
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 60
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 42
02 Composition · key UV filters 6 filters resolved
UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — covered
Octinoxate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
PBSA Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Titanium Dioxide Mineral Physical filter — sits on skin and reflects UV. Reef-safer.
Amiloxate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Bemotrizinol Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Uvinul A Plus Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
03 At-a-glance facts
Protection
Filter type Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on skin and reflect UV. Chemical filters absorb UV. Hybrid blends both.
Hybrid
Broad spectrum Protects across both UVA and UVB ranges. UVA causes aging and deeper damage; UVB causes burns.
Yes
Formulation & feel
Texture How the formula feels at application — milk, gel, cream, spray, stick, essence, lotion, powder, or cushion.
Cream
Finish How the formula looks on skin once dry: matte, natural, dewy, or glowy.
Natural
Tinted Adds sheer pigment (iron oxides) that masks the white cast common to mineral filters and gives a skin-tone finish.
Yes
Fragrance-free No synthetic perfume added. Not FDA-defined in the US; the EU requires 'Parfum' + the 26 named allergens on the label. 'Unscented' differs — may contain masking fragrance. Botanical oils still scent.
No
Alcohol-free No drying short-chain alcohols (alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol). Does not refer to fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl alcohol, which are emollients.
No
04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 94 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 2 LEGACY FILTER 3 MINERAL FILTER 1 ADDED FRAGRANCE 1 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 10 ALCOHOL 1 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 4
Water·Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract·Cyclopentasiloxane· Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature. ·Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract· Thymus Vulgaris Extract Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. ·Velvet Extract (pending review)· Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid PBSA ·Dipropylene Glycol·Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment Filtrate·Hydrogenated Polyisobutene·Hydrogenated Lecithin·Tromethamine· Titanium Dioxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. · Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. · Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate Amiloxate ·Cetyl Phosphate·Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract·Glyceryl Stearate· Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable. · Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter. ·Stearic Acid· Panthenol Vitamin B5 — soothing humectant. ·Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract·Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract·Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract·Morus Alba Fruit Extract·Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract·Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract· Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. ·Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract·Chrysanthemum Indicum Extract·Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract·Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract·Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Extract·Panax Ginseng Root Extract·Typha Angustifolia Spike Extract·Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract·Liriope Muscari Extract·Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract·Angelica Gigas Root Extract·Saposhnikovia Divaricata Root Extract·Atractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract·Zingiber Officinale Root Extract·Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract·Angelica Tenuissima Root Extract·Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract·Platycodon Grandiflorus Root Extract·Cnidium Officinale Rhizome Extract·Schizonepeta Tenuifolia Extract·Hexyl Laurate·PEG-10 Dimethicone·Hydrogen Dimethicone·Alumina·Peg-10 Rapeseed Sterol·Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate·Behenic Acid·Myristic Acid·C14-22 Alcohols·Squalidae (pending review)·Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil·Triethylhexanoin·Arachidyl Glucoside·Butyrospermum Parkii Butter·1‚2-Hexanediol· Ceramide Np Skin-barrier lipid. ·Cholesterol·Peg-100 Stearate·Dimethicone·Carbomer·Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride·Saccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate·Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate·Triethanolamine· Alcohol Denat. Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts. ·Sorbitol·Lecithin·Polysorbate 80·Xanthan Gum· Tocopherol Vitamin E — antioxidant. ·Cetearyl Alcohol·Vp/Eicosene Copolymer·Mica·Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer·Trisodium Edta· Fragrance Synthetic fragrance blend — a common irritant. Composition is a trade secret; can include dozens of compounds. Avoid if your skin is reactive. · Alpha-isomethyl Ionone Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Benzyl Salicylate Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Citronellol Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Coumarin Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Geraniol Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Hydroxycitronellal Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Limonene Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Linalool Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Water Water
02 Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
03 Cyclopentasiloxane Cyclopentasiloxane
04 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate LEGACY FILTER Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature.
05 Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract Japanese Angelica Root Extract
06 Thymus Vulgaris Extract NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.
07 Velvet Extract Pending review
08 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid LEGACY FILTER PBSA
09 Dipropylene Glycol Dipropylene Glycol
10 Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment Filtrate
11 Hydrogenated Polyisobutene Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
12 Hydrogenated Lecithin Hydrogenated Lecithin
13 Tromethamine Tromethamine
14 Titanium Dioxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
15 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
16 Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate LEGACY FILTER Amiloxate
17 Cetyl Phosphate Cetyl Phosphate
18 Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
19 Glyceryl Stearate Glyceryl Stearate
20 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine MODERN FILTER Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable.
21 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate MODERN FILTER Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter.
22 Stearic Acid Stearic Acid
23 Panthenol ACTIVE Vitamin B5 — soothing humectant.
24 Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract
25 Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
26 Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract Chinese Wolfberry Fruit Extract
27 Morus Alba Fruit Extract White Mulberry Fruit Extract
28 Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract
29 Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract Persimmon Leaf Extract
30 Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.
31 Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract Japanese Mugwort Leaf Extract
32 Chrysanthemum Indicum Extract Chrysanthemum Indicum Extract
33 Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Green Tea Leaf Extract
34 Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract Japanese Yam (Dioscorea Japonica) Root Extract
35 Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Extract
36 Panax Ginseng Root Extract Ginseng Root Extract
37 Typha Angustifolia Spike Extract
38 Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract Peony Root Extract
39 Liriope Muscari Extract
40 Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
41 Angelica Gigas Root Extract
42 Saposhnikovia Divaricata Root Extract
43 Atractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract
44 Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
45 Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract Jujube Fruit Extract
46 Angelica Tenuissima Root Extract
47 Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract Bupleurum Root Extract
48 Platycodon Grandiflorus Root Extract
49 Cnidium Officinale Rhizome Extract
50 Schizonepeta Tenuifolia Extract
51 Hexyl Laurate Hexyl Laurate
52 PEG-10 Dimethicone PEG-10 Dimethicone
53 Hydrogen Dimethicone Hydrogen Dimethicone
54 Alumina Alumina
55 Peg-10 Rapeseed Sterol
56 Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
57 Behenic Acid Behenic Acid
58 Myristic Acid Myristic Acid
59 C14-22 Alcohols C14-22 Alcohols
60 Squalidae Pending review
61 Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil Macadamia (Ternifolia) Seed Oil
62 Triethylhexanoin Triethylhexanoin
63 Arachidyl Glucoside Arachidyl Glucoside
64 Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
65 1‚2-Hexanediol 1,2-Hexanediol
66 Ceramide Np ACTIVE Skin-barrier lipid.
67 Cholesterol Cholesterol
68 Peg-100 Stearate PEG-100 Stearate
69 Dimethicone Dimethicone
70 Carbomer Carbomer
71 Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
72 Saccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate
73 Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate
74 Triethanolamine Triethanolamine
75 Alcohol Denat. ALCOHOL Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts.
76 Sorbitol Sorbitol
77 Lecithin Lecithin
78 Polysorbate 80 Polysorbate 80
79 Xanthan Gum Xanthan Gum
80 Tocopherol ACTIVE Vitamin E — antioxidant.
81 Cetearyl Alcohol Cetearyl Alcohol
82 Vp/Eicosene Copolymer VP/Eicosene Copolymer
83 Mica Mica
84 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
85 Trisodium Edta Trisodium EDTA
86 Fragrance ADDED FRAGRANCE Synthetic fragrance blend — a common irritant. Composition is a trade secret; can include dozens of compounds. Avoid if your skin is reactive.
87 Alpha-isomethyl Ionone NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
88 Benzyl Salicylate NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
89 Citronellol NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
90 Coumarin NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
91 Geraniol NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
92 Hydroxycitronellal NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
93 Limonene NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
94 Linalool NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.