I spent too much time trying to find a sunscreen that does not feel like oil on my face

Why I keep buying different sunscreens in the summer

Every time June hits and the humidity starts sticking to my neck, I fall into this loop of buying new sunscreens. I think it is the fear of that greasy feeling, you know, the kind that makes your face look like a frying pan by noon. I recently picked up a Dr.G Brightening Up Sun Plus because I heard so many people talking about how it stays matte. It was around 20,000 won or so at the local Olive Young, which felt fine at the time. I honestly don’t mind spending a bit if it means I don’t have to carry blotting paper around everywhere I go.

The struggle with the white cast

Applying it feels fine at first, but then comes the white cast. I have this habit of rushing in the morning, and rubbing a thick white cream into my skin while trying to catch the bus is never a good look. I ended up looking like I had ghost makeup on in the elevator reflection. It is not that the product is bad, but it is just annoying to have to stand there and pat it into my skin for an extra two minutes when I am already running late. I have started wondering if I should have gone for one of those chemical ones like the d’Alba Mild version instead, even though I usually prefer physical blockers just because I am paranoid about skin irritation.

Dealing with the weird afternoon heat on my skin

Sometimes, especially when it is really humid, I get this burning sensation on my cheeks regardless of what I put on. I remember reading somewhere that sometimes it is not the product itself, but how we layer it. I tried switching to a routine where I focus on cooling down my skin first—maybe a bit of mist or just a very basic essence before the SPF. It helps a little, but there are days when my skin just feels tired and raw. I have seen those ‘baby’ sunsticks or cushions that are supposedly meant for kids, and I have seriously considered buying one just because they seem so gentle. But then I think, will a sunscreen meant for a five-year-old actually stay on my face during a full day of meetings? Probably not.

The cleanup process is the most annoying part

The part that nobody tells you is that if you use a ‘durable’ or matte sunscreen, you are signing yourself up for a long night of cleansing. If I am too lazy and just use a quick foaming wash, I can still feel a residue on my forehead the next morning. I tried using the Manyo Factory cleansing milk to strip everything off, and it does work, but then I have to do the whole routine all over again. It feels like my entire day is just managing what I put on my face in the morning. I am still using the Dr.G tube because I already paid for it, but I find myself leaving it on the bathroom shelf more often than actually taking it with me in my bag.

Sometimes I wonder if it even matters

There are days when I just skip it entirely, especially when I know I will be mostly indoors. Then I catch a glimpse of a sunspot on my cheek in the mirror and I start the whole guilt-tripping process again. I am not sure if I have actually found a ‘favorite’ yet. It seems like the search for the perfect, non-greasy, non-ghost-face, gentle-on-the-skin, easy-to-wash-off sunscreen is just a cycle that never ends. Maybe I am just overthinking the ingredients and the texture, but after spending years testing different ones, I still don’t feel like I have cracked the code. Maybe next summer I will just try wearing a hat and call it a day.