Round Lab released one of the most popular sunscreens for Western customers, but in 2025, Round Lab decided to create a new sunscreen which you probably don't even know exists. I've tested Round Lab Camellia Deep Collagen Firming Sun Serum, a sunscreen that combines sun protection with the power of antioxidants.
What's UV?
UV stands for Ultraviolet, it's nothing but the selected range of frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum. UV rays are not visible to humans, but that doesn't mean that they don't exist. Each type of UV - UVA, UVB and UVC has different wavelengths and different properties.
UVA, UVB and UVC - what do each of them do, and where can you meet them?
I'm sure you know about UVA and UVB, but UVC or the difference between UVA2 and UVA1? Let's start from the shortest wavelengths - UVC (100nm - 280nm) exist in space and is absorbed by the ozone layer, it can kill bacteria that's why on Earth you can find it in germicidal lamps - you might ask me, but these lamps are usually visible to a human - it's because they are made in a way that makes them safe for you and other people - you shouldn't enter the room when the UV lamp is on and make people aware that the lamp is on we add other substances so the lamp has a blue/purple colour when it's on. This technology is used, for example, in labs and hospitals. We all remember UVB (280nm –315nm) because it is said that B in UVB stands for BURN. Indeed, this UV length is responsible for sunburns, but it also helps with the synthesis of Vitamin D - a vitamin which we all need because lack of it can lead to osteoporosis. UVB is focused on the epidermis, aka the outer layer of the skin, while UVA (315nm –400nm) can penetrate through the epidermis and dermis, so it penetrates your skin deeper. A in its name stands for Aging. The bad news is that UVA can penetrate glass, and both UVA and UVB cause lots of damage, including skin cancer and oxidative stress.
Should I wear sunscreen at home?
We already know that UVA penetrates through the glass, so do we need to use sunscreen at home? Yes, especially if you spend lots of time working near the window, then it's better to put on a layer of sunscreen in the morning and have any type of protection at home as well. But you can also use window films to reduce the risk. The choice is left to you, but what I do is keep my blinds on the window during the entire morning, and when the sun is not that intense, because my windows are situated on the Eastern side, the light usually starts to fade in the afternoon - usually by afternoon I already have sunscreen on, a few times reapplied.
What's the difference between mineral and chemical sunscreen?
It depends on which side we look at this topic. Mineral sunscreens are sunscreens that don't contain any carbon atoms - this automatically makes them inorganic sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens contain carbon atoms, which makes them organic substances. The main difference is that mineral sunscreen usually leaves a white cast, and it's better if we use both Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide for a broad spectrum of UV protection. Chemical sunscreens don't leave a white cast, and they have more sophisticated formulas. Both are amazing. In some cases, PIH (hyperpigmentation), mineral sunscreens, and natural pigments can make a good layer of protection from UV rays.
Sunscreen reapplication
The majority of brands recommend reapplying sunscreen every 2-3 hours. The reason behind this is simple - we are active, we are sweating, we wear clothes, or we touch our faces. All these things can remove a layer of sunscreen from the skin. We react differently to the same amount of UV radiation - my skin might react badly to 5 minutes of sun without protection, and my skin might need 10 more minutes. That's why, on average, we say that reapplying sunscreen every 2-3 hours is the best.
What do you mean by Western users?
The thing is that the brands that are popular in the Western market and sold as Kbeauty are created by Korean brands, but not all of them are for the Korean market - some products are not available in Korea, or they are available, but not as popular as they are in the United States or Europe. On the other hand, not every Korean brand sells its products outside of Korea. Some time ago, Odile Monod - a beauty marketer & senior art director working in Korea, shared a ranking of the most popular sunscreen brands in Korea created by the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute. You can see that some of the most popular brands are Dr.G, Hera, Cell Fusion C, and AHC, aka my favourite brand of eye cream, but there are also brands like Lancome, Kiehl's and Nivea which belong to European companies. There are some Japanese companies like Anessa and Nivea as well - I made a review of Nivea's sunscreen and how different Japanese and European sunscreens are. In this context, when you check Nivea's website for the Korean market, the sunscreens sold in Korea are the same as the ones in Europe. But there are brands like Shingmulnara or Elroel - okay, maybe Elroel is a bad example since I see even in Poland this brand has some products available, and lately it started to get super popular, but these brands are not as popular outside Korea as Missha, Skin1004 or Beauty Of Joseon.
Skin1004 has a flagship store in Seoul, Beauty Of Joseon became popular outside Korea, and now this brand is available at Olive Young, but many brands are popular outside but not in Korea, or they start outside and then try their local market. Round Lab is trending on apps like Hwahae, but it's also popular outside.
This is just a little information to keep in mind that not every product promoted as popular in Korea is popular there, but does it mean that the product is bad? No, but we have to remember that some products like tone-up creams are more popular in East Asia, and they won't get as much popularity in the USA. So the top 3 sunscreens popular outside are not the same as the top sunscreens in Korea.
Round Lab Camellia Deep Collagen Firming Sun Serum - Packaging
Round Lab Camellia Deep Collagen Firming Sun Serum comes in a paper box. The tube of this sun serum is plastic with a delicate tip that makes the product easier to apply.
Round Lab Camellia Deep Collagen Firming Sun Serum - Texture & Scent
Round Lab Camellia Deep Collagen Firming Sun Serum has no scent. The texture is quite liquid, it looks pink, but it's not a tone-up formula.
Round Lab Camellia Deep Collagen Firming Sun Serum - SPF & PA protection
Round Lab tested its products, the UVB protection (SPF) is 58.8±8.6, so it really is SPF50+. THE UVA protection is 16.7, so it proves that this sunscreen has PA++++.
Round Lab Camellia Deep Collagen Firming Sun Serum - Additional information
Round Lab Camellia Deep Collagen Firming Sun Serum is a UV protection functional cosmetic.
Round Lab Camellia Deep Collagen Firming Sun Serum - Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Dibutyl Adipate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Niacinamide, Tromethamine, C11-13 Alkane, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Methyl Trimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polysilicone-15, Silica, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Cetearyl Olivate, C13-16 Isoalkane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Sorbitan Olivate, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Dimethiconol, Arginine, Dehydroxanthan Gum Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Methylpropanediol, Polyether-1, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Adenosine, Cyanocobalamin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Octadecane, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Inositol, Soluble Collagen, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Quercetin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum
Water hides in cosmetic products under names such as Aqua or Eau. It's a solvent, but it's not your regular drinking water. Water in skin care needs to fit some standards. It should be clean and free from minerals, microorganisms, or other substances. Usually, water makes up the majority of the product's content. Propanediol, also known as natural glycol, is an alternative to propylene glycol. It is a solvent with additional moisturizing properties, making the product smooth. It can even improve the effectiveness of active ingredients. Butylene Glycol is a common ingredient in products. It's not only a solvent. We use butylene glycol because it helps penetrate active ingredients, protects products from drying, and moisturizes skin and hair. This ingredient can prevent hair loss and strengthen hair. Ethylhexyl Triazone or Uvinul T 150 is a sun-protecting agent. It covers the UVB range (280-320nm). Its peak is at 314 nm.
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid is a long name, that's why you probably know this ingredient as Mexoryl SX or ecamsule. Mexoryl SX was patented in 1982 by L'oreal, so when we talk about other brands, we stick to the name Ecamsule. This sunscreen protects your skin from UVA radiation (315–400 nm) and peaks at 345nm. It's a chemical sunscreen with high stability. Dibutyl Adipate is an oily emollient. This oil-soluble ingredient dissolves in oils. It creates a hydrating film on the surface of the skin to prevent the skin from dehydration. You can see it in sunscreens as a solvent. Diisopropyl Adipate is a dry emollient. It creates a delicate film on the surface of the skin to prevent the skin from TEWL. It works in products as a solvent. You might see it in haircare products, too. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient. It's a synthetic substitute for squalane. It leaves a delicate film on the skin, which prevents the skin from dehydration. C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emulsifier and emollient. It prevents skin from TEWL (transepidermal water loss), it makes skin soft, and it prevents the product from being too oily. It's useful in UV-protecting formulas.
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 - a vitamin soluble in water. It helps with problems like wrinkles, acne, skin texture, and enlarged pores and promotes collagen synthesis. Niacinamide makes the skin barrier stronger. It might be handy in cellulite treatments. Do you want to fight pigmentation or uneven skin? Try to mix niacinamide with Kojic Acid, Arbutin, Vitamin C, Tranexamic Acid or Retinol. Tromethamine is a synthetic pH adjuster. Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate or Uvinul A Plus is a sun-protecting agent. It covers the UVA range (320-400 nm), and its peak of protection is 354 nm. Methyl Trimethicone is a volatile silicone, a type of silicone that evaporates right after product application. It works as a solvent in the products. Polymethylsilsesquioxane is a silicone that protects your skin from dehydration by creating a film on the surface of the skin. Silicones have a positive meaning to your skin - they make products easier to spread, make the formula more elegant or even protect skin and hair.
Polysilicone-15 might sound like a normal ingredient, but the other name of this ingredient is Parsol SLX. You're right! It's a sun-protecting ingredient. It protects your skin from UVB radiation (290-320 nm), and its peak is around 310 nm. It makes a great pair with Avobenzone. It's quite common in hair care products. Silica is a mineral, a natural ingredient. It's popular in makeup and skincare. It can absorb sebum or thicken the texture. Pentylene Glycol is mostly a solvent and stabilizer, but it has great moisturizing properties. Hydroxyethyl Urea is a derivative of urea. It's a water-soluble humectant. Higher amounts of this ingredient might be exfoliating. Olivem 1000 is a combination of Cetearyl Olivate and Sorbitan Olivate. It's a natural emulsifier, and beauty companies use it to create an oil-in-water emulsion. Worth mentioning, it's a biodegradable formula. C13-16 Isoalkane works in cosmetics as a solvent.
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine is quite a hard name to remember, that's why you can find people talking about this ingredient by calling it Tinosorb S. It's one of the newer types of sunscreen agents and one of the strongest ones. It's a chemical sunscreen that protects skin from UVA (315-400 nm) & UVB (280-315 nm), and its peak is high. It's a stable sunscreen that works with other sun-protecting substances to protect them from early photodegradation. Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate stabilizes the emulsion. Behenyl Alcohol might sound scary, but it's a fatty alcohol. This type of alcohol is beneficial for the skin since it works as an emollient and helps with the texture of the product. Hydroxyacetophenone is an antioxidant that is supposed to help preservatives in the formula. Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer is a synthetic powder that absorbs sebum. You can usually find it in makeup for its flawless finishing. Not every oily skin will enjoy it.
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate is a polymer and emulsifier. Dimethiconol is a silicone polymer. It works as an emollient and moisturizer. Dimethiconol leaves a film on the skin, which makes your skin soft. In hair care, this ingredient is amazing for damaged hair since it makes it smoother. Arginine is an amino acid. It helps with protein biosynthesis in adults. According to research from 1964, a lack of arginine might raise your chance of getting an HSV infection. Dehydroxanthan Gum is a thickener. It's a product obtained in the process of dehydration of xanthan gum. It can create a delicate film on the surface of the skin. Glyceryl Stearate is an emollient with emulsifying properties. Sodium Hyaluronate, or the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid. It's a form of hyaluronic acid and naturally occurs in the skin. Sodium Hyaluronate has strong water-binding properties. Sodium hyaluronate, combined with elastin and collagen, is like a scaffolding for the skin. It has hydrating properties and leaves a hydrating film on the skin, but sodium hyaluronate prevents skincare products from drying.
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an oil-in-water emulsifier. Methylpropanediol is a solvent with antimicrobial properties. Polyether-1 is a thickener. Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a thickener, it helps create elegant, non-sticky formulas. Adenosine naturally occurs in the skin. One of the roles of adenosine in our bodies is that of a neurotransmitter. In skin care, we use adenosine for its anti-wrinkle properties. Adenosine is an anti-inflammatory ingredient. It can boost collagen production. At the same time, it speeds up the healing process. Adenosine can have positive effects on reducing redness. In hair care, adenosine can help with hair loss. Cyanocobalamin is nothing but vitamin B12. It's a water-soluble antioxidant. It's an ingredient which you can find in products for wrinkles and pigmentation, since this vitamin can help with both. Vitamin B12 is important for hair as well - it might help with dandruff, hair loss and hair breakage. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is a combination of coconut oil and glycerin. It's a notable emollient that is quite common in skincare. It leaves a protective film on the surface of the epidermis to save your cutis from dehydration. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride has a significant role in skin care products - it makes the application process effortless. Some people might experience pore-clogging after using Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, but pore-clogging and skin reactions to ingredients are individual. What works for you might not work for someone else.
Dimethyl Isosorbide is a solvent that promotes the transport of active substances. Camellia Japonica Flower Extract is an antioxidant. Camellia Japonica has a long history of use in beauty. It's a source of gallic acid, superoxide dismutase and Camellioside A - a triterpenoid. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate is also known as Granactive Retinoid or HPR. It's one of the newest ingredients used in skincare products that belong to the retinoid group. It's an ester that's powerful, but the irritation of the skin is lower than in the case of Retinol or Retinal because it doesn't require a conversion to retinaldehyde. HPR binds directly to retinoid receptors (RAR) in the skin. You can see this ingredient more often in Korean skincare, especially in products focused on anti-aging and pore care.
Glycerin or Glycerol is a humectant. Depending on the product, its origin can be natural or synthetic. It protects TEWL (transepidermal water loss), which naturally occurs in the skin. It's one of the NMFs and a natural moisturizing factor. It's practical in hair care. Glycerin won't clog your skin or irritate it—it actually protects your skin from irritation. Hydrolyzed Collagen is a humectant with a smaller molecular weight than Collagen. It binds water to prevent TEWL (transepidermal water loss). It makes hair easier to detangle. Inositol is a substance called "Vitamin B8", I want to make you aware that it's incorrect since inositol can be synthesised in the human body. Vitamins are not synthesised in the human body, but inositol is, since it's not a vitamin. It has hydrating properties, and it's a key to healthy hair!
Soluble Collagen is a protein. Collagen usually leaves a moisturizing film on the skin since collagen molecules are quite big. Some people believe that collagen in skin care products will automatically boost the amount of collagen in your skin, but it's not how it works. Soluble collagen helps with the moisture of the skin by preventing TEWL (transepidermal water loss). This ingredient is not cruelty-free since it's usually derived from fish or cows. Caprylyl Glycol is an oily emollient and humectant that leaves a moisturizing film on the skin's surface. Ethylhexylglycerin is a preservative with subtle moisturizing and antimicrobial properties. Quercetin is a flavonoid with antioxidant effects. You can find it in onions, grapes or berries. It's an anti-inflammatory ingredient that's popular in products for acne-prone skin and sunscreens. 1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic solvent and preservative. It protects products from microorganisms by boosting other preservatives. At the same time, it can moisturize the skin and has no unpleasant effects on the epidermis. Carbomer is a synthetic thickener. Xanthan Gum is a polysaccharide that works as a thickener.
Read more about: Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++
How does Round Lab Camellia Deep Collagen Firming Sun Serum work?
I had positive expectations towards Round Lab Camellia Deep Collagen Firming Sun Serum, and I wasn't disappointed. As usual, let's start with the details about this product.
Round Lab Camellia Deep Collagen Firming Sun Serum is not a typical sunscreen. It's a lightweight formula with no scent. It has no white cast, but at first I thought it's a tone-up sunscreen because this formula has a beautiful pink shade. Round Lab used in this formula invisible microcapsules that melt once you start to apply. These capsules include cooling ingredients that can be helpful if you want to reduce heat. As you can see in the texture photo, you can't even notice these microcapsules.
Round lab this time decided to go for patented solutions. UV-Aging Barrier™ is Round Lab's unique solution that protects skin from UV-induced damage and irritation. This sunscreen was tested on a real group of women, it's not weird. It's a regular practice for functional products, so when you choose K-beauty, you might want to search for products that are labelled as functional, even if they can be tricky to find. These products need to get MFDS approval to label products as functional.
Another unique solution is Camellia Collagenol™, which is a combination of antioxidant camellia flowers, quercetin and inositol. This combination is designed to enhance skin elasticity and stimulate collagen production. This sunscreen is designed to create a blurred effect through the use of ultra-fine priming particles. Is it a good makeup base? I know better products for a base, but as a sunscreen, it's a great choice.
I'm positively surprised by how lightweight this formula is. It's probably my favourite SPF from Round Lab, and yes, I'm saying it. It's even better than the Birch Juice series. I know that this sunscreen might be more attractive for the 30+ group, especially when we check the ingredients used in the product and the fact that it has "firming" in the name.
I was surprised by Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate in this formula. It's one of the newest ingredients from the retinol family. It won't be enough to throw away your retinol serum, but adding a bit of this ester to the product won't mess up your routine.
If you search for a non-sticky and delicate formula, then it's a great choice for you. I don't think it's an equivalent of makeup base, but it's definitely one of the most interesting sunscreens released in 2025.
How much does Round Lab Camellia Deep Collagen Firming Sun Serum cost, and where can you get it?
I got the Round Lab Camellia Deep Collagen Firming Sun Serum set (50 ml + 7 ml) from Olive Young*, and it currently costs around $33. You might want to grab double set at Olive Young*, double set costs $39. You can use my code BETWEEND0 to save on your order.
Another place where you can get Round Lab Camellia Deep Collagen Firming Sun Serum is YesStyle*. A single tube currently costs $12.70. You can use my referral code BETWEENDOTS to save on your order.
Overall, Round Lab Camellia Deep Collagen Firming Sun Serum is one of the best sunscreens I've tried in 2025, and I hope that this one will get more recognition.
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