Isntree hyaluronic acid perfect sun block & watery sun gel review

Continuing on with my new obsession with learning more about sunscreens, here is one Korean sunscreen that had been tested and proven to be SPF 50+ PA++++.  I’ve actually had these pictures taken a while ago but kind of forgot about the LOL.  With the new information, I think this review came in a timely matter even if I did forget about writing this review keke.  If you haven’t checked out my “2021 Korean sunscreens that are clinically tested and approved”, you might want to check it out after. There are so many sunscreens now on my list, but the struggle with my skin finding the majority of them itchy or giving me weird bumps continues.  Let’s get into the review!

Full name of product:
Isntree hyaluronic acid perfect sun block

Limited edition/ Permanent?:
Discontinued?
It might be discontinued since I don’t see it on the Korean website.

Description of product:
“Long-lasting moisture, gentle sunscreen
Gently applied UV absorbing particles strongly adhere to the skin and block UV rays.

Oil-moisture balance, anti-aging, skin barrier strengthening, skin-soothing.

Blocks UV rays upon application
SPF 50+ PA++++
Soft and refreshing inorganic sun block covers the skin comfortably.

Strengthens skin barrier
Lactobacillus fermentation products and natural ingredients soothe the skin and strengthen the skin barrier against irritation.

Enhances moisture, whitening, and wrinkles
Eight-layer hyaluronic acid locks in moisture in the skin, retain skin firmness with functional ingredients, and also whitening.”

Sunscreen:
SPF 50+ PA++++

Price:
22,000 won

Amount of product:
50 mL

Duration before expiration:
1 year after opening

Country of Manufacture:
Made in Korea
Manufactured by Kolmar Korea Co Ltd.

Where to buy:
Stylevana

Isntree hyaluronic acid perfect sun block ingredients:
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates Copolymer, Niacinamide, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Aluminum Stearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Caprylic/​Capric Triglyceride, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Ceramide NP, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica, Alumina, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Stearic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Tocopherol, Astaxanthin, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/​VP Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, T-Butyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin

How to use:
After your morning routine, let your skincare settle in and apply sunscreen 15 minutes before leaving the house.  Reapply every 2 hours.

Full name of product:
Isntree watery sun gel

Limited edition/ Permanent?:
Permanent

Description of product:
“Long-lasting moisture, gentle sunscreen
Gently applied UV absorbing particles strongly adhere to the skin and block UV rays.

Oil-moisture balance, anti-aging, skin barrier strengthening, skin soothing

Blocks UV rays gently
UV rays chemically with organic sunscreen

Alleviates skin irritation
Active ingredients help to soothe the heated skin and prevent dryness

Enhances moisture, whitening, and wrinkles
8 layer hyaluronic acid locks in moisture in the skin, retain skin firmness with functional ingredients, and also whitening!

Sunscreen with a moist and transparent application.
Eliminates white turbidity, moisturizing absorption, moisture lotion-like application!”

Sunscreen:
SPF 50+ PA++++

Price:
19,800 won

Amount of product:
50 mL

Duration before expiration:
1 year after opening

Country of Manufacture:
Made in Korea
Manufactured by Kolmar Korea Co Ltd.

Where to buy:
Stylevana
Stylekorean
Jolse
Amazon US

Ingredients:
Water, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Homosalate, Dibutyl Adipate, Niacinamide, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Polysilicone-15, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Ceramide NP, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceteth-10, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Decyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Tocopherol, Astaxanthin, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Acrylates/​C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl PEG/​PPG-10/​1 Dimethicone, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin

How to use:
After your morning routine, let your skincare settle in and apply sunscreen 15 minutes before leaving the house.  Reapply every 2 hours.

Product packaging:
Both of these sunscreens come in a plastic tube with a twist-off cap.  It is about the size of my hand and is easy to travel around with.

I do wish the squeeze tip hole was a bit bigger.  I find it a bit hard to squeeze it out, but I think that’s just nitpicking.  I also think it was a good idea for them to discontinue one of these sunscreens because I can’t tell which version is which.

Texture/ Finish:
To be honest, the first month I tried this sunscreen, I really wasn’t impressed as I found it to just sit on the top of my skin.  I’ve never had a sunscreen that would just sit on the top of my skin and never settle down.  This was quite uncomfortable and keep in mind, I didn’t put on heavy skincare in the morning either.

Left: Isntree hyaluronic acid perfect sun block
Right: Isntree hyaluronic acid watery sun gel

The Isntree hyaluronic acid perfect sunblock (discontinued) was the one that gave my skin a heavy, slick feeling however it did leave a gorgeous dewy glow.  The perfect sunblock version is slightly thicker than the watery version and only has titanium dioxide as its only filter.  I’m guessing it got discontinued because it didn’t equate to SPF 50+, but that’s just my speculation.  For a physical sunscreen, this didn’t have a white cast either to my surprise.

Isntree hyaluronic acid watery sun gel (permanent and tested version) has a lighter, more watery texture that absorbs into the skin more effortlessly and doesn’t have any type of white cast.  This one doesn’t make my skin as slick as the perfect sunblock version and absorbs into the skin a lot better than the perfect sunblock.

I also had an issue after wearing it for 4-5 hours, it would make my skin itchy and I got red bumps.  I didn’t find this sunscreen to be drying, but that is because there was a layer of hyaluronic acid that wouldn’t go away LOL.

Fragrance?:
There’s a slight sunscreen scent but there doesn’t seem to be any added fragrance.  Smell-o-scale: 4/10 in terms of how strong the scent is.

Pro:
-no white cast
-hydrating
-watery sun gel has a nice texture

Con:
-sits on top of my skin and never absorbs
-made my skin a bit itchy and bumpy

Repurchase?:
No

Stars given out of 5:
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall thoughts:
I think this sunscreen is an okay product and am happy to report the Isntree watery sun gel version was tested to have SPF 50+ PA++++.  However, I didn’t like that it sat on top of my skin forever and it would not settle down even hours of wear.  The watery sun gel kind of reminds me of my holy grail Thank you farmer sun project water sun cream but I much prefer the Thank you farmer version.  Overall this isn’t a bad sunscreen, but I can’t fathom how the slick texture would work skin types other than dry if it didn’t even work for me.

*PR sample