They’re everywhere on TikTok and Instagram: sleek, photogenic blue tubes of Korean makeup that influencers smear on with glowing skin results. But scroll down a bit and you’ll see the confusion. “Is this a sunscreen or a primer?” “Why does it feel like skincare but looks like makeup?” “What’s even inside that blue tube?”
If you’ve ever spotted a minimalist Korean beauty product in a sky-blue or cerulean tube and had no clue what it was—you’re not alone. These viral “blue tube” items are some of the most misidentified and misunderstood products in the K-beauty world. And while their packaging is soothing and chic, their purpose isn’t always obvious—especially to non-Korean users.
In this post, we’ll break down the most popular blue-tube Korean makeup products, what they actually do, and how to use them without wasting a drop.
Why So Many Korean Makeup Products Come in Blue Tubes
Let’s start here: blue packaging is a common design choice in Korean skincare and makeup because it evokes hydration, cooling, clarity, and sensitivity-safe ingredients. Unlike the West, where color can signal boldness or branding, Korean beauty often uses packaging to hint at function:
- Light blue = hydrating, dewy, cooling
- Pale or powder blue = calming, gentle, often sensitive skin-safe
- Bright aqua or ocean blue = sun protection or marine-based ingredients
Unfortunately, that means many products look alike—so users often misapply them based on assumptions.
🔹 1. Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen (SPF 50+ PA++++)
The Mistake:
People think it’s a lightweight daily moisturizer or primer.
What It Really Is:
One of Korea’s most beloved sunscreens—hydrating, fast-absorbing, with no white cast.
Why It’s Confusing:
The blue-tinted label and hydrating feel make it look and feel like skincare. It applies like a moisturizer, but it’s a powerful SPF.
Best For:
Dry, combo, and sensitive skin types. Works well under makeup, which adds to the primer confusion.
How to Use:
Apply as the last step of skincare in the morning—after moisturizer, before makeup.
🔹 2. Espoir Water Splash Sun Cream (Fresh) – Blue Tube Edition
The Mistake:
Users think it’s a highlighter or hydrating cream.
What It Really Is:
A glowy finish sunscreen-meets-primer hybrid with strong UV protection.
Why It’s Confusing:
Its dewy finish mimics the effect of a glass-skin primer. Plus, it comes in a radiant aqua-blue tube, with subtle English labeling.
Best For:
Dry and dull skin that needs brightening. Also excellent for makeup prep.
How to Use:
Use in place of both sunscreen and primer before makeup for that luminous, Korean skin glow.
🔹 3. 3CE Back to Baby Pore Velvet Primer
The Mistake:
Mistaken for moisturizer or sunscreen.
What It Really Is:
A pore-smoothing primer with a powdery matte finish.
Why It’s Confusing:
It comes in a simple, soft-blue tube that resembles many lotions. The “Back to Baby” branding is vague for new users.
Best For:
Oily or combo skin looking to minimize texture and shine before foundation.
How to Use:
After skincare and sunscreen, dab it on areas with large pores or oiliness before base makeup.
🔹 4. Dr. Jart+ BB Beauty Balm (Blue Tube Edition)
The Mistake:
Assumed to be a daytime moisturizer.
What It Really Is:
A BB cream that combines SPF, light coverage, and skincare in one.
Why It’s Confusing:
Dr. Jart+ has a reputation for science-forward skincare, and the BB cream’s blue tube version isn’t labeled clearly. Many think it’s a day cream.
Best For:
Those wanting sheer coverage, redness correction, and SPF in one step.
How to Use:
Skip foundation—this can replace it. Apply a dime-sized amount after sunscreen or as your last step.
🔹 5. Torriden DIVE-IN Low Molecule Hyaluronic Acid Serum
The Mistake:
Used as primer or BB cream.
What It Really Is:
A deep-hydrating serum with five types of hyaluronic acid.
Why It’s Confusing:
Its minimalist ocean-blue design is sleek and stylish—but nothing about it screams “serum.” Plus, the plumping effect tricks people into thinking it’s makeup-adjacent.
Best For:
Dehydrated, flaky, or tired-looking skin.
How to Use:
Right after cleansing and before moisturizer—layered under sunscreen or makeup to plump and prep.
🔹 6. IUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream
The Mistake:
Often confused with a makeup primer or pore filler.
What It Really Is:
A lightweight calming gel moisturizer with Centella Asiatica for redness and irritation.
Why It’s Confusing:
The blue label and semi-silicone texture make it feel like a smoothing primer. It’s not—it’s calming skincare.
Best For:
Sensitive, acne-prone, or irritated skin.
How to Use:
Use after serum and before SPF. Don’t skip actual primer if you’re doing full glam.
🔹 7. Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics
The Mistake:
Some confuse it for BB cream or tone-up cream due to its creamy texture and glow.
What It Really Is:
A viral sunscreen known for being light, creamy, and invisible under makeup.
Why It’s Confusing:
It applies so smoothly and adds such a glow, people think it’s base makeup.
Best For:
All skin types, especially those who hate heavy or sticky sunscreen.
How to Use:
Generous layer after moisturizer, before foundation or BB cream.
Why Are These Products So Easy to Misunderstand?
Because Korean makeup and skincare often blend categories:
- Sunscreens double as primers
- BB creams offer skincare and tint
- Serums feel like hydrating gels
- Primers are packaged like moisturizers
Plus, packaging tends to be:
- Minimalistic (few or no English instructions)
- Aesthetic-first (pretty > functional labeling)
- Color-coded by feel, not function (blue = cool = ??)
For Western consumers used to overt labeling like “FOUNDATION” or “PRIMER,” these products require a little decoding.
How to Avoid Using the Wrong Product the Wrong Way
Here are smart steps to make sure you don’t mix up your Korean blue-tube favorites again:
✅ 1. Check the Ingredients and SPF
If it has titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or “SPF 50+,” it’s likely a sunscreen—not a moisturizer.
✅ 2. Test for Finish
- Does it leave a cast? Probably sunscreen or tone-up cream.
- Does it blur pores or mattify? It’s likely a primer.
- Does it plump or absorb instantly? Likely a serum or essence.
✅ 3. Use a Translator App
Use Google Lens or Papago to translate Korean text on the packaging. You’ll often discover clues like:
- 프라이머 = primer
- 자외선 차단 = UV protection
- 수분크림 = hydrating cream
- 톤업크림 = tone-up cream
✅ 4. Watch How Koreans Use It
Many K-beauty YouTubers and TikTok creators demonstrate exactly where the product fits into their routine. You can learn a lot just by watching their order of application.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Judge a Tube by Its Color
Korean beauty thrives on innovation, multitasking formulas, and texture over text. That means their packaging often understates what a product does, relying instead on skin feel, formula, and finish.
If a little blue tube has confused you before—good! That means you’re curious. And now, you’re informed.
So the next time a sleek Korean product in pastel blue lands in your cart or on your feed, remember: don’t guess—decode. Chances are, that misunderstood makeup item might just be your new favorite step.
TL;DR — Quick Reference Table
| Product | What It Looks Like | What It Actually Is | Use It For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round Lab Birch Sunscreen | Moisturizer | Hydrating sunscreen | Daily sun protection under makeup |
| Espoir Water Splash | Primer or highlighter | Glowy sun cream | Radiance + SPF base |
| 3CE Back to Baby | Lotion | Pore-blurring primer | Smooth makeup base |
| Dr. Jart+ BB | Day cream | Tinted BB cream | Skincare + light coverage |
| Torriden Dive-In | Primer | Hyaluronic serum | Deep hydration |
| IUNIK Gel Cream | Pore filler | Calming gel moisturizer | Redness and irritation |
| Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun | Tone-up cream | Lightweight sunscreen | Dewy, no-cast sun protection |
