The History of Whoo Sunscreens: A Comprehensive Guide for Ageless Skin **

The original Fresh Sun Cream impressed me with its elegant, weightless formula, exceptional skin barrier support, and perfect hydration balance for dry skin. Its versatility was remarkable, allowing for seamless layering or standalone use on busy days. For those with dry skin, finding a single product that effectively replaces a full routine is a game-changer. The Fresh Sun Cream achieved this by providing the right amount of moisture in one go. It felt invisible yet never left my skin feeling tight or deprived of moisture, unlike many ultra-lightweight Korean sunscreens. It gave me a glimpse of how my skin would feel with a healthy, robust barrier. I finished two tubes and would have repurchased if the new version hadn't been released.

The new Essential UV Protective Cream retains the original's beloved qualities, boasting a weightless cream formula that melts into the skin for a soft, silky finish. Whoo enhanced this version with arginine and glycoproteins, providing additional skin barrier support and stimulating skin regeneration. While maintaining the original's elegance, the Essential UV Protective Cream is even more effective at smoothing skin texture, making it ideal for dry, flaky skin. Its adhesion is impressive, staying put even in warmer temperatures, though it's not waterproof. As a hybrid sunscreen, combining organic and inorganic filters, it's completely invisible upon application.

My only complaint, which I also had with the Fresh Sun Cream, is the fragrance. It smells remarkably like Nivea Cream. While not unpleasant, it's not a scent I associate with a luxury brand. Thankfully, it's faint and dissipates quickly, so it's not a deal-breaker. I still would have preferred something more refined.

Despite its incredibly lightweight formula, the Fresh UV Protective Cream delivers ample skin barrier support for oily and combination skin. It also combats visible signs of aging caused by external aggressors. The formula incorporates soothing herbal remedies used in traditional Korean medicine, including Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract (Prickly Pear), Centella Asiatica, and Licorice. These ingredients provide a cooling sensation upon application and alleviate redness and irritation associated with a compromised skin barrier.

The Fresh UV Protective Cream has a silky, lightweight texture that blends effortlessly, leaving a dry-touch, matte yet hydrating finish. While not waterproof or sweatproof, it holds up well in hot, humid weather and doesn't transfer easily. Like the Essential version, it's a hybrid sunscreen that’s completely transparent upon application.

The fragrance is a fresh, ozonic scent reminiscent of Dolce & Gabbana's Light Blue. While not groundbreaking, it's a definite improvement over the Nivea-esque scent of the Essential cream.

Compared to the original, the new Anti-Wrinkle UV Protective Cream feels more tightening upon application and leaves skin smoother and softer. The texture is similar, but it adheres better, offering greater resistance to heat and friction. It's another hybrid sunscreen, but this one leaves a very sheer white cast, barely noticeable on fair skin tones.

The fragrance is a multi-layered experience, opening with romantic peony notes and developing into warm hints of suede, reminiscent of Jo Malone's Peony & Blush Suede. While I'm not typically drawn to florals, the contrast between the peony's freshness and the suede's sensuality makes this fragrance intriguing.

This sunscreen replenishes hydration, controls sebum, smooths texture, and minimizes pores. With its incredibly lightweight, watery texture, it blends seamlessly, leaving a smooth, matte finish. The silica in the formula absorbs oil and sebum, making it ideal for oily skin but potentially drying for those with dry skin. It has excellent staying power, even in humid climates. However, its PA rating is only +++ as it's an older formula, so it might not be sufficient for intense sun exposure. For daily urban use, it's perfectly adequate.

This hybrid sunscreen doesn't leave a white cast on my skin tone. However, the silica can sometimes appear ashy on very dark skin tones. The fragrance is a fresh, powdery scent reminiscent of clean laundry.

This multifunctional sunscreen brightens, protects against hyperpigmentation, and creates a luminous complexion. It's enriched with brightening ingredients to fade existing hyperpigmentation. Two iron oxide pigments shield the skin from visible light, preventing new dark spots. Finally, fine pigments neutralize dullness and create an instantly brighter appearance.

I'm usually wary of tone-up sunscreens, but this one surprised me. It has a weightless cream formula that melts into the skin without stickiness. The light peach tint disguises sunspots, minimizes dark circles, and adds brightness. The finely milled pigments blend seamlessly for a natural effect, making it perfect as a makeup base or for no-makeup days. It dries down to a soft, velvety finish.

The fragrance is a classic white floral, blending jasmine and white musk, similar to Gucci Bloom. While not particularly original, it's faint and inoffensive.

This multifunctional sunscreen complements the Cheongidan line, protecting against UV rays while tightening skin, smoothing texture, minimizing fine lines, and reviving dullness.

This hybrid sunscreen has a light rosy hue out of the tube but applies completely transparently. It incorporates finely milled micro-shimmers from crushed oyster shells, adding dimension without emphasizing imperfections. The finish is similar to Tom Ford's Illuminating Primer, creating a stunning lit-from-within radiance. It smooths texture beautifully without feeling heavy or silicone-y. The formula is so thin and weightless; it barely feels like sunscreen.

Honestly, I wanted to dislike this sunscreen due to its price, but it's truly a beautiful formula. The fragrance is opulent and aromatic, evoking a Turkish bath. It features jasmine and saffron top notes, drying down to a musky amber, reminiscent of Penhaligon's Hammam Bouquet. This fragrance can be polarizing, with some finding it decadent and others perceiving it as an "old lady" scent. I personally love woody, Middle Eastern fragrances, but it's something to consider as it's quite prominent.

This concludes our exploration of The History of Whoo's sunscreen collection. I hope this comprehensive guide helps you find the perfect sunscreen to protect and enhance your mature skin.