Purito Sunscreen Review: Is It Worth the Comeback?
Purito Sunscreen Review: Is It Worth the Comeback?
Can you trust Purito again?
That's the real question, right? Not whether the texture feels nice or whether it plays well under makeup. The actual thing people want to know when they search for a Purito sunscreen review in 2026 is: should I give this brand a second chance after the whole SPF scandal?
I'm going to answer that upfront: yes, but with some caveats. And I've got six weeks of daily wear on my actual face to back it up.
Let me rewind a bit.
The Scandal (Quick Recap for Anyone Who Missed It)
Back in late 2020, independent testing revealed that Purito's wildly popular Centella Green Level Unscented Sun — the one half the internet was raving about — didn't actually meet its SPF50+ PA++++ claims. Not even close. Some tests put it around SPF19. That's... not great. That's "you thought you were protected but you basically weren't" territory.
Purito pulled the product. They apologized. And then they went kind of quiet for a while.
Here's the thing though: that scandal happened over five years ago. Purito has since reformulated everything, gotten proper independent testing, and released new sunscreen lines that are supposed to fix every issue the originals had. The question is whether those fixes actually worked or whether it's just good marketing over a broken foundation.
I bought three of their current sunscreens to find out.
What I Tested
I picked these up at the Olive Young in Gangnam station (the massive one near exit 11) about six weeks ago. Here's what I grabbed:
- Purito Daily Go-To Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ — their main daily driver
- Purito Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ — the matte version
- Purito Seoul of Aqua Sun Gel SPF50+ PA++++ — the lightweight gel formula
The Daily Go-To was ₩18,000 (about $13.50), the Soft Touch was ₩19,000 (~$14), and the Seoul of Aqua was ₩17,000 (~$12.70). Pretty standard K-beauty sunscreen pricing — not the cheapest, but not crazy either. For reference, a La Roche-Posay Anthelios runs you like $25-35 depending on where you buy it, and honestly the Purito tubes are bigger (60ml vs 50ml for most LRP options).
Yesstyle → | Stylekorean → | Amazon →
Purito Daily Go-To Sunscreen — The Main One
This is the one most people are going to reach for, and it's the one I've worn the most over these six weeks.
First impressions: The tube is clean, minimal, very on-brand for Purito. You squeeze out this slightly peachy-toned cream that smells faintly of... I want to say rice water? It's very subtle. Almost nothing. Which is a relief because I've been burned by sunscreens that smell like a chemical plant (looking at you, Neutrogena Beach Defense).
Texture and feel: This is where it gets interesting. The consistency is thinner than I expected — somewhere between a lightweight moisturizer and a serum-cream hybrid. It spreads easily and absorbs in about 15-20 seconds. No white cast at all, which matters to me because I've got a medium-warm skin tone and most mineral sunscreens make me look ghostly.
But here's the catch — it's a chemical sunscreen, not mineral. The filters are primarily Uvinul A Plus and Tinosorb S, which are newer-generation European UV filters. These are good filters. Like, genuinely well-regarded in the dermatology community. But if you're specifically looking for a mineral/physical sunscreen, this isn't it.
Under makeup: I wore this under my Clio Kill Cover cushion for about three weeks straight. It plays nicely — no pilling, no weird separation. My cushion actually seemed to apply a bit more smoothly over it than over my usual moisturizer alone. I did notice a very slight dewy sheen that could read as "glowy" or "oily" depending on your skin type. I'm combination-leaning-dry, so it worked for me. If you're oily, you might want to set this with a light powder or just go straight for the Soft Touch version instead.
The six-week verdict: My skin didn't freak out. No breakouts, no irritation, no weird reactions. It felt genuinely lightweight enough that I never skipped it (which is the whole point of a daily sunscreen, right?). On the days I forgot to bring it to work and missed my midday reapplication, I noticed my skin looked a little more dull by evening — which honestly says more about my reapplication discipline than the product itself.
One complaint: The pump mechanism on my tube started getting sticky around week four. Like, the product would build up around the opening and I'd have to wipe it down before dispensing. Minor annoyance, but annoying.
Rating: 8.5/10
Purito Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen — The Matte One
Okay so this one is specifically marketed toward oily and combination skin types, and the finish is noticeably different from the Go-To.
Texture: Thicker. More of a traditional cream consistency. When you blend it in, there's this silky, almost powdery dry-down that reminds me a lot of the Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen (but at literally half the price). It doesn't feel heavy though — it's more like the product melts into this velvety layer that sits on top of your skin without clogging anything up.
The matte claim: It's... semi-matte? I wouldn't call it truly matte. My T-zone still got a bit shiny after about 4-5 hours, which is pretty normal for me. But compared to the Go-To, it definitely controls oil better. I'd say it buys you an extra 2-3 hours before shine breaks through, which is honestly not bad.
Scent: Virtually none. Even less than the Go-To. If you're sensitive to fragrances, this is your safest bet in the lineup.
The annoying part: It pills if you layer too much underneath. I learned this the hard way — one morning I put on my toner, serum, moisturizer, AND this sunscreen, and by the time I got to primer, everything was rolling off my face in little balls. Gross. The fix was simple: I cut my routine to toner → sunscreen on the mornings I use this one. But if you're someone who loves an 8-step morning routine, heads up.
Under makeup: Actually great. The semi-matte finish acts almost like a primer, so you can skip one step entirely. My base lasted noticeably longer on Soft Touch days versus Go-To days.
Rating: 8/10
Purito Seoul of Aqua Sun Gel — The Lightweight One
This was the one I was most curious about, because gel sunscreens have kind of exploded in Korea over the past year or so. Everyone wants that "I'm not wearing anything" feel, and gels are probably the closest you can get.
Out of the tube: It's genuinely transparent. Like, clear gel. No tint, no white cast, absolutely nothing. You could put this on in the dark and not worry about uneven application (not that I recommend that). The texture is watery and cool — almost like squeezing out an aloe gel. There's a faint citrusy scent that disappears in about 30 seconds.
How it wears: This is where it's a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, it feels like nothing on your skin. Seriously. Five minutes after application, I couldn't tell I had sunscreen on at all. That "weightless" claim you see on every sunscreen ad? This one actually delivers on it.
On the other hand, I'm not fully convinced it holds up as well as the other two for extended outdoor exposure. I wore this on a Saturday when I walked around Bukchon Hanok Village for about three hours, and by the end I could feel that the product had kind of... faded. My skin felt a little exposed. This might be totally in my head, and I didn't get sunburned or anything, but it didn't give me the same "I'm protected" confidence that the Daily Go-To does.
Best for: Indoor days, office days, quick errands. If you're doing heavy outdoor stuff, I'd reach for the Go-To or Soft Touch instead. Or at minimum, reapply this one every 90 minutes when you're outside.
Rating: 7.5/10
So... Can You Trust Purito's SPF Claims Now?
Right. The big question.
Here's what I know: Purito has been getting their reformulated products tested by KFDA (Korea's FDA equivalent) and by independent European labs. The results have been consistent with SPF50+ PA++++ claims. Multiple third-party reviewers and dermatologists have tested the new formulations and haven't found the same discrepancies that plagued the original Centella Sun.
Does that mean you should blindly trust them? I mean, I don't blindly trust any brand. I think healthy skepticism is just good skincare hygiene. But the evidence suggests they took the feedback seriously, reformulated properly, and got legitimate testing done. That matters.
I'll also say this: the old Centella Sun felt like wearing nothing. Like, literally nothing. And part of the reason it felt so good was because... well, there wasn't enough UV protection in it. The new formulations feel a bit more "sunscreen-y" — you can tell there's product on your face. That's actually reassuring to me. A sunscreen that feels like water probably isn't giving you much protection. The new Purito sunscreens feel light, yes, but they feel like something. If that makes sense.
How Does Purito Compare to Other K-Beauty Sunscreens?
Since I've tested a bunch of Korean sunscreens at this point, here's a quick comparison with the popular ones:
Purito Daily Go-To vs Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: The BoJ has a dewier, more "glass skin" finish. The Purito is slightly more natural-looking. In terms of comfort, they're pretty close — I'd give a slight edge to the BoJ for dry skin types and Purito for combination skin. Price is similar. Honestly, you can't go wrong with either.
Purito Soft Touch vs Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence: The Biore is cheaper (like ₩12,000 / ~$9) and has that classic watery texture everyone loves. But it contains alcohol, which some people's skin hates. The Purito Soft Touch is alcohol-free and gives a better matte finish. I'd pick Purito if your skin is sensitive, Biore if you want the cheapest decent option.
Purito Seoul of Aqua vs COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream: The COSRX is thicker, has a more traditional cream texture, and leaves a subtle white cast. The Purito gel is lighter and more invisible. But the COSRX feels more "protective" for outdoor use. Different products for different situations.
Purito vs La Roche-Posay Anthelios (the Western benchmark): The LRP is still arguably the gold standard for sun protection globally. It's been tested more extensively and has a longer track record. But it's also more expensive, harder to find in Asia, and most formulations leave at least some white cast. The Purito is more cosmetically elegant, more affordable, and better under makeup. If you're someone who needs absolute maximum protection (say, post-laser treatment or you're on retinoids), I might lean LRP. For daily wear? Purito is more pleasant to actually use, which means you're more likely to use it consistently. And consistent use matters way more than peak SPF.
Who Should Buy Purito Sunscreen (And Who Shouldn't)
Go for the Daily Go-To if: - You want an easy, comfortable daily sunscreen - You have normal to dry or combo skin - You like a natural, slightly dewy finish - You're looking for something that works well under makeup
Go for the Soft Touch if: - You're oily or combo-oily - You hate the feeling of sunscreen on your skin - You want something that doubles as a primer - You keep your morning skincare routine minimal
Go for the Seoul of Aqua if: - You work indoors most of the day - You want literally zero white cast - You're in a hot, humid climate and want maximum lightness - You don't mind reapplying more frequently
Maybe skip Purito if: - You need a mineral/physical sunscreen (all three are chemical) - You're post-procedure and need medical-grade protection - You can't get past the 2020 scandal and that's totally valid — trust matters in skincare
Final Verdict
Six weeks of testing, three different formulas, one reformed brand. Here's where I land:
Purito's comeback is legit. The Daily Go-To is my new everyday sunscreen. It's comfortable, it works under makeup, it doesn't break me out, and at ₩18,000 (~$13.50) for 60ml, the price-to-quality ratio is genuinely hard to beat. I've already repurchased it once.
The Soft Touch is a solid choice for oily skin folks who want something more matte. And the Seoul of Aqua is fine for indoor days but I wouldn't rely on it as my only sunscreen.
Would I trust my skin to Purito for daily protection in 2026? Yeah. I do. Every morning for the last month and a half. And my skin is honestly in some of the best condition it's been in since I moved to Seoul.
But I'll keep watching the independent testing results as they come in. Because trust, once broken, gets rebuilt slowly. And that's how it should be.
Where to Buy:
- Yesstyle → (international shipping, usually has bundle deals)
- Stylekorean → (ships from Korea, fast delivery within Asia)
- Amazon → (check seller reviews — lots of fakes floating around, buy from authorized sellers only)
- Olive Young in-store (if you're in Korea, obviously the easiest option)
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I've personally tried and genuinely like.