In this Round A’Round sunscreen review, we’ll discuss all the things you need to know about this available-on-Amazon Korean sunscreen.
Just like my Elta MD sunscreen review, this post is based on my own curiosity. Even though I’ve used this product for months now, I have never taken a close look at the ingredients list. In this post, I plan to do just that and answer the question: is Round A’Round sunscreen a good product worth purchasing again and again?
My Background with Round A’Round Sunscreen
I’ve been using this sunscreen for about 4 months now. My 10,000 foot take on the product:
- it’s lightweight
- easy to apply
- and smells sort of citrusy (which is subtle and nice)
Some cons include, the sunscreen gives off quite the white cast and can be on the thinner side. So, in terms of longevity of wear, I do wonder about how it stands up against other similar facial sunscreens.
Sun Lotion vs. Sunscreen
The fact this product is marketed as a sun lotion vs. a sunscreen may have something to do with it being a Korean product. In essence, the terms sun lotion and sunscreen can be used interchangeably.
Sun lotion with a high SPF like the Green Tea Cica Sun Lotion is an adequate sun protection product that is equal in protection to that of sunscreen.
It’s just a different term for the same thing (aka a synonym).
Typically, sun lotions are formulated with more hydrating ingredients compared to regular sunscreens. The Round A’Round sunscreen is formulated with green tea leaf extract and cica, both touted as hydrating properties.
Suntan lotion, on the other hand, is a substance used to accelerate getting a tan and typically offers little to no protection (because the goal is to get as tan as possible).
And since we’re here, the term sunblock is often used to describe mineral sunscreens, which block harmful rays with mineral compounds. Meanwhile, sunscreen is a term typically used to describe chemical formulas that function to neutralize harmful rays.
Round A’Round Sunscreen Ingredients + EWG Score
Since the bottle has a Korean label, I had to pull the ingredients list from Amazon. And let me tell you, it is not a short list!
Here’s the deal, I’ve organized each ingredient in order of how it appears on the back of the bottle. Next to it, is an EWG score (EWG is a third-party nonprofit company that rates the safety and toxicity of cosmetic products and ingredients).
It is safe to say this Cica sun lotion is not EWG-approved. However, of ALL those hard-to-pronounce ingredients, most of them rank in the safest zones (between 1-2 EWG scores).
The few that rank higher are naturally occurring plant oils that have some history of causing skin and eye allergies, hence the higher irritant rating.
Let’s get into it.
| Ingredient | EWG Score | ||
| Zinc Oxide | 1-3 (this ingredient is safe so long as it’s not in spray form. It is the most popular mineral sunscreen ingredient) | ||
| Cyclohexasiloxane | 1 (cyclic silicon-based polymer) | ||
| Butyloctyl Salicylate | 5 | ||
| Propylene | 3 (glycol is a small organic alcohol commonly used as a skin conditioning agent. It can cause reactions if the concentration is over 2%) | ||
| Propylheptyl Caprylate | 1 | ||
| Dicaprylyl Carbonate | 1 | ||
| Isododecane | 1 (safe used as a solvent ) | ||
| Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone | 1 | ||
| Caprylyl Methicone | 1 (siloxane polymer) | ||
| Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer | 1 | ||
| Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract | 1 | ||
| Centalla Asiatica Extract (10 ppm) | 1 (extract of the leaves and roots of the medicinal plant Gotu Kola) | ||
| Camellia Sinesis Leaf Extract (7.8 ppm) | 2-4 (green tea leaf extract. it is rated 2-4 due to allergy and immunotoxicity) | ||
| Mentha Aquatica Extract | 1 | ||
| Madecassoside | 1 | ||
| Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil | 4 (labeled as a volatile oil) | ||
| Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) oil | 7 (Primarily labeled as such due to the allergy and immunotoxicity associated with this product. Irritation to skin, eyes, or lungs is high) | ||
| Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) oil | 2 | ||
| Sodium Hyaluronate | 2 | ||
| Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil | 2 | ||
| Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil | 2 | ||
| Disteardimonium Hectorite | 1 (a naturally occurring clay mineral used as a thickener) | ||
| Magnesium Sulfate | 1 | ||
| Triethoxycaprylylsilane | 1 | ||
| 1,2-Hexanediol | 1 | ||
| Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate | 1 | ||
| Polymethylsilsesquioxane | 1 | ||
| Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polymethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone | 1 | ||
| Glyceryl Caprylate | 1 | ||
| Caprylyl Glycol | 1 | ||
| Ethylhexylglycerin | 2 (an ingredient used as a weak preservative or a skin conditioning agent) | ||
| Butylene Glycol | 1 (organic alcohol used as solvent and conditioning agent) | ||
| Tocopherol | 2 (naturally occurring chemical compound related to vitamin E) | ||
| Limonene | 4-6 (depends on usage. Products that are in spray aerosol form present a higher risk. Limonene is a scent ingredient and solvent naturally occurring in the rind of citrus fruit. Upon storage and exposure to sunlight and air, limonene degrades to various oxidation products which act as skin and respiratory irritants and sensitizers) | ||
| Linalool | 3 (linalool is defined as a terpene, which is a naturally occurring compound found in some plants and some animals.) | ||
| Citral | 1-2 (depending on use. Citric acid is naturally found in citric fruits and juices, providing the characteristic acidic taste.) |
Round A’Round Sunscreen Chemical or Mineral?
The green tea cica sun lotion is formulated to offer SPF 50 broad-spectrum protection. This means you’ll get protection from both UVA and UVB harmful sun rays.
Since the main ingredient in the Round A’Round sunscreen is Zinc Oxide, this product can be classified as a mineral sunscreen. Zinc Oxide is a unique ingredient because it protects against UVA, UVB, and even UVC rays. It is also considered reef-safe, which is important if you’re looking to swim in the ocean without damaging coral reefs.
Contrast this with the ever-popular Octinoxate ingredient used in chemical sunscreens. Octinoxate has been shown to have a high absorption rate in the body. In addition, Octinoxate poses environmental risks to things like coral reefs.
Final Thoughts
Despite the ingredients list for this Round A’Round sunscreen being a little scary to tackle, I am overall pleasantly surprised by the results. Most ingredients score in the 1-2 EWG range with little to no concerns surrounding their use.
The ingredients that rank a little higher are almost all naturally occurring plant extract ingredients that can potentially cause some irritation. The fact this sunscreen contains an essential oil for a little fragrance by default places it in a more irritating product range than similar non-fragrant products.
I can report that I have had no issues with the fragrance irritating my skin. The smell is extremely faint and actually quite nice and fresh smelling.
If you’re looking for a solid, lightweight, moisturizing mineral sunscreen, check out the Round A’Round Green Tea Cica Sun Lotion. With an SPF rating of 50, you’ll get great coverage and a good price at that (around $27 on Amazon).
