K-Beauty Sunscreen Culture: Why Korea Treats SPF Like a Lifestyle
Daily reapplication, cushion compacts, and PA ratings as the norm.
The FDA has not added a new sunscreen filter to the monograph since 1996 (until 2026's bemotrizinol).
Dr. Ellen Marmur notes the U.S. lags because filters here are regulated as drugs, not cosmetics.
Questions we get a lot
Why are European and Asian sunscreens different from American ones?
The US regulates sunscreens as OTC drugs, so adding a filter requires drug-level safety data and FDA approval — a slow process that stalled for decades. The EU, Japan and Korea treat them as cosmetics or quasi-drugs and approve modern filters faster, which is why foreign formulas often feel lighter and cover more of the UVA range.
Why can't I buy some foreign sunscreens in the US?
Sunscreens sold in the US may use only FDA-approved filters and must meet OTC-drug rules, so a foreign product containing filters the FDA hasn't cleared (e.g., Tinosorb M or Uvinul filters) can't be legally marketed as sunscreen here. You may see them sold abroad or, unreliably, via personal import.
What does PA++++ mean on a sunscreen?
PA is the 'Protection Grade of UVA,' a rating developed in Japan and used across Asia, based on the Persistent Pigment Darkening (PPD) test. It runs from PA+ (some UVA protection) to PA++++ (extremely high). It complements SPF, which reflects only UVB protection.
r/SkincareAddiction: 'Is European sunscreen really that much better than American?'