Press
DEANNA PAI - BRITISH VOGUE
The Best Korean Sunscreens That Blend Efficacy with Elegance
BEST HYBRID: Thank You Farmer Sun Project Water Sun Cream
Why we love it: A formula with both mineral and chemical filters delivers a happy medium, avoiding both the white cast caused by the former, as well as the potential irritation caused by the latter. That’s indeed the case with this weightless lotion, which appears transparent on skin and lends a dewy gleam. Worth noting: It does have a light scent, but that dissipates quickly.
SPF level: 50
Texture: Lightweight lotion
Chemical or physical: Chemical (Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate 6.80 per cent, homosalate 6 per cent, ethylhexyl salicylate 4.50 per cent, octocrylene 2.5 per cent, titanium dioxide 1.40 per cent)
Lucy Smith - INDEPENDENT
Forget Supergoop, this Korean sunscreen is my new favourite
If you love clean beauty and French pharmaceutical skincare, then you won’t want to miss the Korean skincare bandwagon, least of all the Thank You Farmer water sun cream (£22, Cultbeauty.co.uk).
Korean skincare has been a hit on TikTok over the past couple of years, championing trends from glass skin to skin flooding, and top brands have included Laneige, Glow Recipe and, in this instance, Thank You Farmer.
Why this SPF, you ask? It protects your skin barrier, leaves a youthful dewy finish, and, my personal favourite, it’s ultra hydrating, thanks to hyaluronic acid. For the sweat-prone among us, this SPF is feather-light so won’t feel leave you feeling clammy, nor will it leave a white cast on darker skin tones, or so it promises.
If I haven’t convinced you yet,I put the product to the test on a balmy afternoon in ‘Blighty to give you a full rundown of the water cream’s key features, plus why I think it should be a summer skincare staple in your arsenal.
Lucy Smith - INDEPENDENT
12 Best Korean skincare brands, tried and tested by a beauty writer!
Best: For nourishing skin
Thank You Farmer first came onto our radar when skincare guru Caroline Hirons mentioned the brand’s SPF (£22, Cultbeauty.co.uk) in an old ‘skincare empties’ blog in 2017. The brand was relatively young at that point, having only launched in 2014 and, 10 years on, it still centres its products around a combination of nurturing Korean herbal ingredients and modern innovations, such as extracting the nutrients from rice (using low-temperature ultrasonic technology) to create the rice pure milky hydrating toner (£24, Cultbeauty.co.uk). The toner itself is soothing and gentle, sweeping away any leftover impurities post-cleanse and leaving the skin perfectly prepped for your serums, oils, moisturisers and so on.
GEORGIA DAY - VOGUE
Best for oily skin: Thank You Farmer True Water Light Gel Cream Moisturiser
Why we love it: If you’re constantly battling shine, this ultra-lightweight gel cream is a daily essential. Helping to minimise excess oil and improve skin tone and texture thanks to niacinamide, the antioxidant-rich formula also contains peony extract to clarify and a blend of gentle humectants to address any areas of dehydration. As well as balancing the skin, it’s also a great base for makeup as it leaves a smooth, lightly mattified finish with no sticky residue.
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, glycerine, peony extract
Size: 50ml
Ellie Davis - THE STANDARD
Best Korean SPF to hydrate, nourish and provide high-factor protection
South Korean label Thank You Farmer was created to cut through the beauty noise. Forget over complicated formulations and long lists of ingredients that no one has heard of, the label instead prioritises natural and farm-grown ingredients, all in a bid to delay the skin’s ageing process. Its own 8-Relieful Complex is at the heart of the Sun Project Skin Relief Sun Cream and contains eight elements like chia seed, honeysuckle and liquorice root extracts that calm inflammation, enrich the complexion with antioxidants and are all plant-based. Gentle on the skin, while packing powerful UV protection, it is a lightweight, non-greasy product that melts into the skin.
LUCY ABBERSTEEN - MARIE CURIE
Thank You Farmer Sun Project Water Sun Cream
“As you can probably tell, I’m obsessed with face/base/skincare products. The [Thank You Farmer] SPF is the best I’ve ever used, and you won’t catch a day I don’t use it. Is so perfect under make-up, with no separating, white cast or oily feeling.” - Lottie Timson, Assistant Communications Manager, M.A.C.
MEDINA AZALDIN - ELLE
Best K-beauty buy: Thank You Farmer Sun Project Light Sun Essence SPF 50
Korean and Japanese beauty brands excel at formulating silky, lightweight sunscreens that sit beautifully on oily complexions. Dr Mahto is a fan Thank You Farmer's fluid SPF50+. Aside from protecting against UV damage, it also calms redness and wears nicely under make-up.
Charlie Colville - Country & Town House
Why Is Everyone Talking About Korean Sunscreen?
When it’s not pumping out award-winning dramas, films and musicians, South Korea can be found nurturing an impressive beauty empire. Korean skincare has especially gained a huge following in recent years – TikTok is home to almost 200 million posts on the topic – and now that summer is in full swing, the beauty conscious among us are turning their attention to the country’s vast sunscreen offering. But where do we start? We asked the experts to point us in the right direction.
ESTHER NEWMAN - REFINERY29
Thank You Farmer Water Sun Cream 50ml
“I’m so fussy about my SPFs; I want them to protect, obviously, but I don’t want to feel them on my face, I don’t want them to irritate my acne or eczema, and I certainly don’t want a white cast on my brown skin. This formula ticks all of my boxes. It’s a satisfyingly lightweight fluid — the very opposite to the thick, pasty formulas of my nightmares — and I can use the full recommended amount without it leaving a chalky, white tint. It’s soothing on any irritated skin, and it doesn’t break me out. The only drawback is that this cream does seem to trap in moisture; ideal for dry-skinned girlies, but not one for the sweaty girls during summer.” — Humeara Mohamed, SEO Writer
Sali Hughes - Guardian
The influence of Korea has been dramatic throughout the industry, but nowhere more so than in sunscreen technology. K-beauty brands are the masters of feather-light, cosmetically elegant (that’s industry speak for a nice-feeling, makeup-friendly formula) protection and this is exemplified in Thank You Farmer’s Sun Project line. Balanced, dry and very dry types will love the Water Sun Cream (£18, 50ml), while oily and combination skins will want the Light Sun Essence (£21, 40ml) – both are SPF50 and neither leaves a cast, only a little added glow.
ADEOLA GBOYEGA - Sheer Luxe
How To Properly Protect Your Skin From The Sun
"We all know we should reapply sunscreen throughout the day, but this can be challenging – especially when you’re wearing make-up. Experts recommended you reapply your sunscreen every couple of hours – especially if it’s very hot – and luckily, there are now several options that exist to make this more convenient."
Sun Project Silky Calming Sun Stick SPF50+
MORGAN FARGO - Stylist
Thank You Farmer Sun Project Water Sun Cream 50+
While this SPF was created specifically for dry skin, it has captured the hearts of people with acne-prone skin and oily skin, alike. Light and easily absorbed, the cream has SPF50+ protection without leaving a white cast or visible residue.
Sali Hughes - Guardian
Sun Protect Silky Calming Sun Stick SPF50+, Thank You, Farmer
A characteristically fine textured, elegantly formulated balm from South Korea.
No grease or white residue.
EMMA LAKE - THE SUN
Thank You Farmer Sun Project Skin Relief Sun Cream
Pros: Very hydrating, lightweight
Cons: None
Score: 5/5
This sun cream from Thank You Farmer is really hydrating and feels incredibly light on the skin.
It absorbs almost instantaneously, leaving no white cast. Best of all I was left with no greasy, oily residue on my skin, even after reapplying several times.
It's genuinely fragrance free and Thank You Farmer says clinically proven to reduce sebum production and the appearance of acne.
It left my skin feeling soothed and smooth, while providing SPF 50+ and PA++++.
Overall it's a lovely product that sits really well beneath or on top of make up.
----
Thank You Farmer Sun Project Water Sun Cream
Pros: SPF 50+, UVA and UVB protection, lightweight, sinks in quickly
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
Thank You Farmer is a Korean brand that uses natural, farm-grown ingredients to boost skin health, fight against environmental stresses and delay ageing over time.
This cream is fluid, and lightweight sinking into the skin effortlessly, without leaving any grease or residue on your skin that could cause a breakout.
As well as SPF 50 it has high levels of hyaluronic acid to plump your skin and leave you with a dewy glow instantly.
I loved the finish and found that it didn't make my make up slip off.
As well as hydrating ingredients, it also contains mistletoe extract to stimulate cellular turnover. In short, this means it encourages your skin to repair and renew after being exposed to the sun and oxidative stress. This is also useful if you have a few stubborn breakouts.