So, I bought the Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Stick because of how often it was popping up on TikTok, in Olive Young hauls, and YouTube “Holy Grail SPF” videos. I’m talking nonstop hype.

And to be fair, it is a nice product… for a certain skin type. Just not mine. Let me explain why I personally wouldn’t repurchase:

Yes, the texture is smooth. I’ll give it that. It glides on easily, doesn’t pull at your skin, and has this almost melty balm-like consistency that feels kind of luxurious at first. But after a few uses, it started feeling like… too much.

My skin type is combo-oily, and within 30 minutes, I could see visible shine—not the good kind. My T-zone looked and felt like I had applied a layer of Vaseline on top.

The weird part is: it doesn’t feel heavy at first, but over time, it builds up. Especially if you reapply (as you should), it starts to feel like your face is coated in something. Not sticky, but just… too much hydration.

This finish was a huge miss for me. On dry areas of my face (cheeks, jawline), it was fine. But on the nose, chin, and forehead? It left this film that never truly “set.” Even powder didn’t fully fix it, and my skin looked shinier and oilier than I’m comfortable with.

I also noticed that it caught on textured spots or small dry flakes, which is ironic considering how moisturizing it claims to be. Maybe it just sits on top of the skin instead of sinking in.

This was my big test: can I use it under or over light base makeup? Under makeup, it made my skin feel too emollient, almost slippery. Cushion foundation applied over it would slide and settle into pores. 

Over makeup? It didn’t fully disrupt my base, but it did start to cake up around the nose and cheeks. Not flattering.

I trust the SPF50+ PA++++ rating—Korean sunscreens are pretty reliable—but I found myself not wanting to reapply this due to the heavy feel. If you don’t reapply, then that defeats the purpose of using a stick in the first place.

🙃 General Thoughts

This isn’t a bad product. I can see why people love it:

• It’s gentle, no fragrance

• Portable and mess-free

• Hydrating for dry skin types

But for combo or oily skin, especially in warmer weather? It’s honestly too rich. I’d recommend this to someone with dry skin who needs a boost of moisture during the day.

For me? It’s a pass. I’ll stick to something with a more matte finish or a gel-type sunscreen instead.