Numbuzin No.5 Glutathione Tone-Up Sun Serum Review - Sun & Make-up in One

Already warm weather is hitting Australia (despite only being in the beginning of spring) and it's already so important to start picking up your sun protection habits. From long sleeves, hats and full-body sunscreen, what else can we do to keep our skin protected, clear and bright. 

Numbuzin has offered one product that really caught my eye; a sun serum, moisturizer and make-up primer all in one that promises a tone-up effect, gentle powdery base for make-up and protective antioxidants.

The Numbuzin No.5 Glutathione Vitamin Tone-Up Sun Serum offers a delicate balance of sun protection and protective antioxidants that help keep your skin bright and glowing. It advertises SPF+50 protection, whilst also having a gentle powder base that helps reduce blemishes on your skin and create a smooth, glowy base for make-up (or can be used on its own if preferred).

So, how is it in effect? We put it to the test for longevity, compatibility with oily and acne-prone skin and see the tone-up effect for if this one is worth the add-to-cart.

Hippophae rhamnoides water: famous berry 'sea buckthorn' forms the base of this sun serum, enriched with brightening vitamin C, hydrating vitamin E and revitalizing vitamin A for an unparalleled glow. 

Titanium Dioxide: powerful mineral sunscreen that forms a reflective surface that helps bounce harmful radiation away from your skin cells for protection. 

Ethylhexyl Triazone, Terephthalyidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine: these 4 are the chemical UV absorbers present in the sunscreen, forming a critical protective barrier that absorbs harmful UV radiation before it can reach your skin. 

Niacinamide: brightening and refreshing vitamin B3 that helps reduce dark spots and even skin texture for a refined, glowing finish.   

Hippophae rhamnoides oil: sea buckthorn oil for concentrated, vitamin-rich treatment that helps reduce dark spots and scars for smoother, clearer skin. 

Adenosine: powerful, hydrating molecule that stimulates collagen production, enhances the natural skin barrier function and helps produce dewy, elastic skin texture.   

Glutathione: natural skin lightening agent and antioxidant that lifts pigment from skin cells as they regenerate and prevents formation of new pigment. Also hydrates skin and helps balance skin texture.   

Vitamin C: plumping and healing antioxidant that helps protect the skin barrier, improve fine lines and induces a gentle radiance. 

Cyanocobalamin: soothing vitamin (also known as vitamin B12) that helps cool red, itchy patches of skin, repairing and stimulating skin regeneration for deeply refresh and revitalized skin texture.   

Panthenol: hydrating and soothing vitamin B5 that helps boost skin moisture, calm redness and inflammation and skin flaking.   

Vitamin E: soothing antioxidant that helps clear cell damage and improve skin healing, whilst reducing redness, inflammation and skin flaking. 

Ubiquinone: potent antioxidant that helps restore cellular energy, protect against UV radiation and refresh cell metabolism for renewed skin energy.   

Snow Mushroom extract: powerful hydrating and soothing extract that helps smooth and moisturize skin texture. 

The words “tone-up” should warn you that this sun serum is very likely to have a white base, meaning it will leave a slight cast to your skin. This does make it a little less suited to darker skin types (a problem that plagues a lot of Korean beauty). 

This serum is also ideal for oily and acne-prone skin, but will be potentially too dry for dry and flaking skin - so perhaps aim for a more hydrating, dewy sunscreen if you have dry skin.

This sun serum is specifically designed for oily and acne-prone skin that needs evening or ‘toning up’ to create a smooth canvas on its own (or for underneath make-up).

This was a fascinating serum to test out. I was in need of some sun protection (for the coming warmer and bright, sunny days in Australia) and also wanted to trial out the tone-up effect to help even up my pale (post winter) skin tone. 

A serum infused with with vitamin C and brightening glutathione seemed like an excellent addition to help even out uneven textures I was experiencing, especially on my cheeks and the bridge of my nose (I was underestimating how strong the sun was getting me on my short drives to-and-from work).

I wanted something that was light, easy to use daily, wouldn't trigger my acne and able to help reduce this pigment. It seemed like a picky list, but Korean sunscreen has gotten so high-tech, I had belief that Numbuzin could do it!

The strangest (and first impression) was why is sunscreen in a serum bottle? The serum is thick like a creamy K-beauty sunscreen, but trying to apply it with the little glass applicator is possible the only big downside to this sun serum (it really should be in a little squeezy bottle for ease of application).

This sun serum is incredibly lightweight, and you blend it into your skin similar to a foundation, buffing easily into pale skin. It does have a slight white cast (as by design), but when blended correctly helps easily cover blemishes and dark spots up, creating a smooth even base that looks natural and cute. Above you can see on the left my natural skin before application, then the gentle tone-up effect of the sun serum on the right (smoothing skin and reducing blemish texture).

After two weeks of using, I was interested to see if they helped reduce pigments (with all those brightening agents), so I watched spots on my nose closely.

There was a good reduction in the nose pigment, which was actually really surprising. I was really excited by how holistic this sun serum was and the levels of benefits I could unlock (whilst also keeping my skin hydrated and more protected from the sun). 

I would absolutely only recommend this kind of cosmetic sun serum for daily use, when you are not expecting lengthy direct sun exposure (especially in Australia, where the sun is basically a death ray). For day-to-day office work, an outing with friends or your daily commute - I would absolutely recommend~!

It's lightweight, seamless and helps tone up your skin as you use it for brighter, more uniform skin texture.

If your skin type is oily, acne-prone and pale (wanting a little tone-up effect), this is an amazing little sun serum. It is so incredibly light, like a foundation/serum mix, and also helps gently lighten existing pigment on your skin as you use it. 

It's less useful outside this specific skin type (as Numbuzin creates specific skincare lines for unique skin needs, so maybe check out the rest of their skincare to find the perfect match for you ~💛

Want to become an expert in how to blend your make-up and sun protection seamlessly? Check out our blog ‘How to Guide' to applying SPF+ with your make-up routine. Or check out our review of the Beauty of Joseon Sun Serums (for the most popular in K-Beauty).

What are the main benefits of the Numbuzin No.5 Glutathione Tone-Up Sun Serum?

 It combines high sun protection (SPF 50+) with powerful antioxidant brightening agents like glutathione, Vitamin C, and niacinamide. It acts as a sunscreen, lightweight moisturizer, and makeup primer that smooths skin texture and offers a subtle tone-up effect.

Is this sun serum suitable for oily and acne-prone skin?

 Yes, it is ideal for oily and acne-prone skin. It features a lightweight, non-greasy formula with a soft powder-like finish that helps blur blemishes and control excess shine without clogging pores.

Does the Numbuzin No.5 Sun Serum leave a white cast?

Because it is designed as a "tone-up" product with titanium dioxide, it provides a slight brightening white base to even out skin tone. It blends seamlessly on fair to light skin tones, but it may leave a visible white cast on darker skin tones.

Can I use this sun serum as a makeup primer? 

Yes, it functions as an all-in-one sunscreen and makeup base. Its smooth texture helps blur uneven skin tone and blemishes, creating a soft, radiant canvas for makeup application.