By Cat Cactus, Snow White and the Asian Pear
| | | | | | | The hanbang-inspired packaging really caught my eye |
Chemical (or ‘organic’) UV filters are straightforward for many, but they trigger irritation and reactions in a lot of people (including me). That leaves those with sensitive skin relying on physical (or ‘inorganic’) filters. Some of these are white—literally white pigment. Nanoparticle versions promise less white cast, but their safety is still debated. The takeaway from this dense paragraph is that physical sunscreens with minimal whitening are incredibly hard to find. People like me scour obscure corners of the web and run underground swap networks for decants.
Inside this write-up
- Product specifics
- Ingredient breakdown
- Swatches on NC10 and NC30 complexions
- My next purchase instead
- Closing thoughts & why I’ll finish the bottle
I had elevated expectations because the Goodal Mild Protect Natural Filter Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++ was a favorite. Surely this nearly identical name with one extra PA rating would deliver too? Are you hunting for the ideal undead base makeup and sunscreen combination for a daytime Halloween beach party or perhaps channeling Marley’s Ghost in an outdoor afternoon production of A Christmas Carol?
No? Then the Goodal Mild Protect Natural Filter Sun Fluid isn’t for you. I’m a Mac NC10, and it appears ghostly white on my skin. I had to verify it wasn’t intended as a brightening cream. Revisiting the marketing copy as I craft this review, I’m starting to believe “light finish” doesn’t refer to texture—it’s an invitation to vampire cosplay. You’ll see what I mean. cue ominous organ music and bat wings flapping Quick note: this blog uses both affiliate and non-affiliate links. If you click the former before shopping, your purchase may contribute a tiny amount to site upkeep. Full details are at the end of this post! #receipts
| | | | | | | The bottle is slightly larger than most Asian sunscreens I’ve tried. |
Product specifics
Full product name: Goodal Mild Protect Natural Filter Sun Fluid SPF50+ PA++++ Purpose: A full-spectrum sunscreen relying solely on physical, inorganic filters titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Scent: Like its Sun Cream sibling, it has a floral fragrance. Unless you want to be not just a mime, but a fabulous, scented mime, skip it. Texture: Unfortunately lovely. It has a thin, fluid consistency that glides on easily. Quantity: 90ml, generous for an Asian sunscreen. I own Japanese sunscreens a third of this size. Rating: 2/5—I’ll wear it while gardening or when I’m not seeing anyone. Where to get it: Planning a zombie gathering? I bought mine from Jolse when it was scarce elsewhere, but now it’s available on: Amazon | eBay | Jolse | Vuty Design Repurchase: Hahahaha no. It’s a pleasant sunscreen to apply; I just can’t wear it in public.
Ingredient breakdown
Let’s assume you’re going camping or gardening, or you simply don’t mind looking like your entire face is highlighted with matte powder (ba-dum-tish! Flatly? Matte? I’ll show myself out…), so here are the ingredients:
| | | | | | | What exactly is Annuus Seed Oil “Unsaponifiables”? I know saponification, but this? |
Key ingredients include Zinc oxide and Titanium dioxide as UV filters. Alcohol is present, though I don’t notice it, which could bother some users. It features an attractive blend of plant extracts (Moringa oleifera, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Plant extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus ferment, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil). However, since ingredient order on Korean lists isn’t regulated, it’s unclear if enough of any extract is present to benefit the skin.
Swatches on NC10 and NC30 skin
Since I can tolerate a bit of white cast (and sometimes use it intentionally as a primer to color-correct base makeup), I often recruit my spouse, who is around NC30/35 when tanned, for swatch testing. We just bought a house (renovations are nearly done, yay!), so he’s been mowing a lot of lawn lately. That’s not a metaphor—we really have big yards. I… I’ll stop now. The camera doesn’t capture the obvious difference on my skin, but even if it’s less dramatic than on Dr. Mr. The Pear, it’s definitely visible to me in person.
| | | | | | | Me and my reluctant swatch model, showcasing the white cast of this sunscreen. |
Have you seen kpop idols using very light base makeup with pink or even blue/lavender tones to “correct” their skin? (That’s how it’s translated in subtitles—i.e., “color correcting makeup.”) That’s what happened to my face: it seemed to cancel all yellow tones, making me look very pink and like a half-hearted goth. I wore it out once, and my husband couldn’t stop glancing at me and commenting, despite his general lack of makeup awareness. At one point, he helpfully suggested, “Maybe it won’t be so bad in the shade? Nope, still bad.”
It might work for others, though. Midway through this post, I searched for other reviews and found one by the lovely Evelyn of Korean Beauty Dream, who managed to work with the white cast. While I hadn’t read her review until after writing the first three-quarters of this post, she seemed to share the exact same general thoughts about the sunscreen. Great minds, or shared universal sunscreen suffering…?
| | | | | | | The small nozzle allows easy control of the amount dispensed |
My next purchase instead
Unsurprisingly, I’m sticking with the original: the Goodal Mild Protect Natural Filter Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++. Despite missing the extra PA rating, it has the least noticeable white cast of any SPF50+ PA+++ all-physical/inorganic sunscreen I’ve tested. I sent a decant to the lovely @labellevie245, who is an NC25. She quite liked it:
[S]he reported that while the white cast is more obvious on camera, it’s not visible to the naked eye and instead appears ‘brightening’. She also warns that the ‘brightening’ effect lasts only about 20 minutes before fading. That’s actually good, because it means the white cast isn’t hopeless. Now that I’ve seen it ‘disappear’ (at least to the naked eye) on my husband’s skin, I’m more confident warning people that it might look odd in photos without base makeup over it, but it’s less likely to be an issue in person.
If you don’t wear makeup or plan to take pictures, the Sun Cream might still cause issues. But for daily wear, it’s more practical. A new version has emerged, which I haven’t tested, so if you’re picking it up, try to get the original.
Where to get the Goodal Mild Protect Natural Filter Sun Cream: eBay | ClubClio | TesterKorea | Bisou Beauty Bar
Closing thoughts & why I’ll finish the bottle
Even though this sunscreen isn’t suitable for public appearances, it remains a super comfortable, lightweight, high-protection (PA++++) option that’s easy to apply. I have plenty of gardening and renovation plans that keep me outdoors, so I’ll need to slather on sunscreen even in our backyard.
Another benefit of a sunscreen with a terrible white cast: it’s easy to see if you’ve missed a spot! Silver lining, I suppose. It also came in a pretty box—too bad the contents didn’t live up to the packaging’s promise.
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**Disclaimer: All products reviewed in this post were purchased with my own money. This blog contains both affiliate and non-affiliate links. Clicking the former before shopping means this blog may receive a small commission to help support itself. Please see my Contact Info & Disclaimer policy for more information.
