Product photo

Let me be blunt: most "matte finish" sunscreens are liars. They promise a velvety, shine-free finish and deliver something that is either greasy within an hour or so dry it feels like you painted your face with chalk. So when Purito — a brand that has had its share of sunscreen controversies — announced the Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen with a legitimate matte claim, I was skeptical. Aggressively skeptical. But after fourteen days of wearing this through humid mornings, air-conditioned afternoons, and one very sweaty outdoor market trip, I am ready to eat some of that skepticism. Not all of it, but enough to say this: Purito may have finally made the matte chemical sunscreen that oily-skinned folks have been waiting for.

What Is It, Exactly?

The Purito Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen is a chemical sunscreen offering SPF50+ and PA++++ protection — the highest UV ratings available in the Korean system. It is explicitly formulated for oily and combination skin types, and Purito has made no secret of the fact that this is their answer to the persistent complaint that Korean sunscreens, while elegant, are often too dewy for people who already produce enough shine on their own. The product comes in a 60 mL tube with a sleek, minimal design that feels appropriately premium for a product in the $18–22 range.

What makes this sunscreen different from the sea of K-beauty SPF options is its texture. Purito calls it a "soft touch" finish, and that description is more accurate than most marketing language. The formula goes on as a lightweight cream — not a gel, not a fluid, but a true cream with a slightly whipped consistency — and sets down to a matte, velvety finish that genuinely controls shine for several hours. It is not powdery. It is not cakey. It is not that weird rubbery feeling that some matte primers leave behind. It is simply... soft.

Quick Facts

The Ingredient Story: Five Ceramides and a Whole Lot of Sense

The ingredient list for the Daily Soft Touch is where this sunscreen separates itself from the pack of matte SPFs that simply soak up oil and call it a day. Purito packed this formula with five — count them, five — different ceramides: Ceramide NP, Ceramide AS, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NS, and Ceramide EOP. If you are not deeply versed in skincare chemistry, ceramides are lipid molecules that naturally occur in your skin barrier. They are the mortar between the bricks of your skin cells, and when they are depleted — which happens from sun exposure, harsh cleansers, aging, and just living life — your barrier weakens, leading to transepidermal water loss, irritation, and sensitivity. Putting five different ceramides in a sunscreen is not a gimmick; it is a genuine attempt to repair the barrier while you protect it.

The formula also includes cholesterol, which works synergistically with ceramides to restore barrier function. This is a detail that matters. Many products include a single ceramide and call it a "barrier cream," but the skin's lipid matrix is composed of ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids in roughly a 1:1:1 ratio. Purito including both ceramides and cholesterol shows they understand the science rather than just checking a marketing box.

Centella Asiatica Extract (cica) and Panthenol (Vitamin B5) provide the soothing side of the equation. Centella is one of the most well-researched botanical ingredients in Korean skincare, with documented anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. Panthenol is a humectant that also supports barrier repair and reduces irritation. Alpha-Bisabolol, derived from chamomile, adds another layer of calming. Together, these three ingredients make this sunscreen surprisingly gentle for a matte formula — matte products often rely on alcohol and absorbents that can be irritating, but Purito has balanced the oil-control with genuine skin-soothing ingredients.

The UV filter system is robust and modern. Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (Uvinul A Plus) provides strong UVA1 protection, Ethylhexyl Triazone (Uvinul T 150) offers efficient UVB absorption, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine (Tinosorb S) is one of the most photostable broad-spectrum filters available, and Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol (Tinosorb M) adds both UV absorption and some physical scattering. This is a genuinely modern, high-quality filter combination that provides real broad-spectrum protection. There is no reason to doubt the SPF or PA rating here — these are the filters that formulators trust when they need serious UV defense.

Notably, the formula is fragrance-free. Given that this is a product targeted at oily and potentially sensitive skin, the absence of fragrance is a thoughtful decision. Fragrance is the most common contact allergen in cosmetics, and its exclusion here makes the formula accessible to a wider range of skin types.

Texture and Application: Where Soft Touch Earns Its Name

The texture of the Daily Soft Touch is where the experience lives or dies for a matte sunscreen, and I am happy to report that Purito mostly nails it. The cream squeezes out of the tube as a lightweight, slightly whipped cream that spreads easily across the skin. It is not as fluid as a gel sunscreen — you will not mistake this for the Isntree Watery Sun Gel — but it is far from heavy or thick. The consistency reminds me of a lightweight moisturizer more than a traditional sunscreen.

Application is straightforward. The two-finger rule applies, and the cream spreads evenly without dragging or pilling. There is a brief window — maybe thirty to forty-five seconds — where the product feels slightly creamy on the skin, and then it sets. And when it sets, it sets. The finish is a true soft matte: not flat, not powdery, not dry-looking, but genuinely matte with a subtle velvety texture that feels pleasant to the touch. If you have ever used a silicone-based makeup primer, the finish is similar but lighter and more natural.

On my combination skin, the matte finish lasted about four to five hours before I noticed any shine coming through on my T-zone. On particularly humid days, that window shortened to about three hours. That is not exceptional, but it is genuinely better than most chemical sunscreens I have tried that claim a matte finish. The key advantage is that the shine, when it does come through, is a natural-looking glow rather than an oily slick — there is a difference between "I applied sunscreen and it melted" and "my skin is producing oil through the sunscreen," and this product falls into the latter, more forgivable category.

Under makeup, the Daily Soft Touch performs admirably. It functions almost like a primer, creating a smooth, slightly grip-like canvas that helps foundation adhere without sliding around. I tested it with three different foundations — a matte liquid, a satin-finish cushion, and a sheer tinted moisturizer — and experienced no pilling with any of them. The one caveat is that you need to let the sunscreen fully set for about a minute before applying makeup. Rush it, and you risk disturbing the film and creating uneven patches.

Two-Week Wear Test

I wore the Purito Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen exclusively for fourteen days, replacing my usual morning SPF with this product and keeping everything else in my routine the same. Here is what happened.

Days 1–3: The immediate impression was positive. The matte finish was noticeable from the first application — my skin looked calmer, more even, and significantly less shiny than it does with my usual dewy-finish sunscreens. I did not need to blot my face at all during the first three days, which is unusual for me by mid-afternoon. No irritation, no stinging, no breakouts.

Days 4–7: I started noticing that the matte finish was less dramatic on days when I applied a richer moisturizer underneath. The sunscreen was still matte, but the combination of a hydrating moisturizer plus the Daily Soft Touch created more of a satin finish than a true matte. This is not a criticism — it is useful information for anyone who wants to customize their finish. Skip moisturizer and you get full matte. Layer a hydrating one and you get a healthy satin. The ceramide content also started to show its value — my skin felt noticeably less tight at the end of the day compared to other matte sunscreens I have used.

Days 8–10: The real test came during a Saturday trip to an outdoor market in 85°F weather. I was sweating, walking, and in direct sun for about three hours. The sunscreen held up remarkably well — no dripping, no stinging eyes, and no visible sunscreen migration. I did reapply once after about two hours, and the second layer went on just as smoothly as the first over my slightly sweaty skin. I came home with no sunburn and no irritation, which is the baseline expectation for a sunscreen but still worth noting because many "cosmetically elegant" sunscreens fail under real-world conditions.

Days 11–14: By the end of the two weeks, I had developed a genuine appreciation for this product. It is not the most exciting sunscreen in the world — it does not have the luxurious, serum-like feel of the Isntree Watery Sun Gel or the innovative texture of the Skin1004 Hyalu-Cica Water Fit Sun Serum. But it does exactly what it promises: it provides solid sun protection with a matte finish that actually lasts. My skin did not break out. My barrier did not feel compromised. I did not develop any sensitivity. And on the days when I was too lazy to apply a separate moisturizer, the ceramides in the formula kept my skin feeling comfortable enough.

The Good

The Not-So-Good

Who Is This For?

If you have oily or combination skin and have been searching for a chemical sunscreen that does not make you look like you dunked your face in cooking oil by noon, this is your product. The Daily Soft Touch was built for you, and it shows. The matte finish, the ceramide barrier support, the fragrance-free formulation — every decision in this product points toward someone who is tired of dewy-finish sunscreens that look great on normal skin but turn into a grease slick on oily skin within an hour.

Combination skin types will find this versatile enough to use year-round, potentially with a lighter moisturizer underneath in summer and a richer one in winter. Dry skin types should look elsewhere — the matte finish will emphasize dry patches, and the formula simply does not have enough hydrating horsepower to compensate. Sensitive skin types will appreciate the fragrance-free formula and the soothing ingredients, though the chemical filters mean it is not a universal option for the most reactive skin.

Price and Where to Buy

The Purito Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen retails for approximately $18–22 USD for a 60 mL tube, which is a fair price for a sunscreen with this level of formulation complexity. Five ceramides, modern UV filters, and a thoughtful soothing complex at this price point is genuinely competitive. You can find it at Olive Young, YesStyle, Stylevana, and directly from Purito's website. Amazon also carries it, though I always recommend checking the seller to ensure you are getting an authentic product.

Comparison Notes

vs. Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel: The Isntree is lighter, more hydrating, and has a dewy finish. The Purito is more matte, more barrier-focused, and better suited for oily skin. If you are normal to dry, go Isntree. If you are oily to combination, go Purito.

vs. Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics: The BOJ is a richer, more moisturizing formula with a dewy-to-satin finish. The Purito is lighter in terms of skin feel but heavier in terms of finish — it is matte where the BOJ is dewy. The BOJ is better for dry skin, the Purito is better for oily skin.

vs. Skin1004 Hyalu-Cica Water Fit Sun Serum: The Skin1004 is a fluid, serum-like sunscreen with a natural finish. The Purito is a cream with a matte finish. The Skin1004 is more innovative in texture, but the Purito is more practical for shine control. Both are excellent — the choice comes down to your finish preference.

The Verdict

The Purito Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen SPF50+ is the rare matte sunscreen that actually delivers on its core promise. It is not the most exciting or innovative sunscreen on the market, and it will not make you gasp at its texture the way the Isntree Watery Sun Gel does on first squeeze. But it does something arguably more important: it provides reliable, broad-spectrum sun protection with a matte finish that genuinely lasts, and it does so while treating your skin barrier with five ceramides and a thoughtful soothing complex rather than just soaking up oil and hoping for the best.

For oily and combination skin types, this is one of the best chemical sunscreens available at this price point. It is not perfect — the shine returns eventually, the texture is slightly thicker than the lightest gel sunscreens, and the brand's history still gives some people pause. But in terms of what it promises versus what it delivers, the Daily Soft Touch is remarkably honest. A matte sunscreen that is actually matte. What a concept.