I thought putting on more sunscreen meant I would never tan

Buying into the SPF 100 promise

I spent way too much time scrolling through random apps last week, looking for something that would actually stop my skin from turning red. I kept seeing these mentions of ‘SPF 100’ or high-performance blockers in various quizzes and shopping newsletters, so I convinced myself that if I just bought a stronger product, the problem would be solved. It felt like a simple math equation: higher number equals more protection. I ended up picking up a few different tubes—some standard non-comedogenic formulas and a couple of waterproof ones—at the local Olive Young near my office because I was tired of feeling like a boiled lobster after just twenty minutes of walking outside.

The reality of greasy layers

When I actually started using them, the experience wasn’t exactly what I expected. The heavy-duty ones felt like I was spreading spackle on my face. It wasn’t just the texture; it was the way it sat on my skin throughout the day. By noon, I could feel this weird, slick film building up, and when I tried to reapply, it just got worse. I remember looking in the mirror in the bathroom at the mall and just seeing a patchy mess. It felt like I was trading sunburn for breakouts, which honestly felt like a lateral move. I had read some marketing copy claiming 100% satisfaction rates, but that didn’t match the feeling of my skin struggling to breathe under the layers.

Why I still look like I spent the weekend at the beach

Even after being obsessive about the application, I still seem to get darker every time I step out. Maybe I’m not using enough, or maybe the sun here is just too intense for any bottle of cream to handle on its own. I even tried pairing the cream with a hat, but even then, my forehead feels warm and my cheeks feel tight by the end of the day. It’s frustrating because I keep seeing these advertisements for ‘exosome’ sunscreens or luxury kits that cost around 40,000 to 60,000 won, and part of me wants to believe they have some secret sauce. But then I remember how the cheaper, basic stuff already feels like a chore.

The endless search for the right weight

I’ve started looking into sun mists now, thinking maybe a lighter application would be easier to maintain. But then I worry if a mist actually covers the skin as thoroughly as a thick cream. It feels like I’m constantly shifting between products, trying to find that perfect balance where I’m protected but not miserable. I’ve probably spent over 100,000 won in the last month just testing different brands, and I still don’t feel like I’ve found a winner. It is just one of those things where you keep hoping for a magic solution, but the sun always seems to win anyway.

Is there an actual finish line to this?

I’m sitting here with four half-used bottles on my shelf, and none of them feel ‘right.’ Sometimes I wonder if I should just stop overthinking it and accept that a bit of color is inevitable, but then I get paranoid about the damage. I’m not even sure if I’m doing it right or if I’m just wasting money on better packaging. Maybe I’ll try a stick version next, even though I know it’ll probably just end up collecting dust like the others. I’m still not sure what the correct approach is, and honestly, the process is starting to feel like a full-time job I didn’t sign up for.