Round Lab Skincare Guide: Dokdo Toner, Birch Sunscreen and What to Buy

Round Lab is a South Korean skincare brand made by Seorin Company, which was founded in 2017 and bought by Goodai Global in a deal reported complete in December 2025. It is known for the 1025 Dokdo Toner ($17 for 200 ml), the Birch Juice sunscreen and the Birch Moisturizing Cream ($36), all built around simple hydrating formulas. Start with the Dokdo Toner for normal or oily skin, or the Birch line if your skin runs dry.

Before you buy, you can scan a product's barcode or label with the ingredient scanner in Pori to check it against your skin type. Pori reads the ingredient list for you; it does not diagnose skin conditions.

This guide covers who owns Round Lab, what is in its bestsellers, which line suits which skin type, what to skip, and how its sunscreen changed for the US. We compared published ingredient lists, brand claims and listed prices; we did not test these products on skin. Prices are regular list prices on roundlab.com, the brand's US store, as of November 2026; the site was running holiday sales when we checked. For more Korean brands, see our K-beauty hub.

Who owns Round Lab?

Round Lab is made by Seorin Company, founded in 2017 by Lee Yong-hak and Jung Seo-rin. Investment firms Calypso Capital and Meritz Securities bought the company in 2022. In December 2025, BeautyMatter reported that Goodai Global, the group that also owns Beauty of Joseon and SKIN1004's maker, had acquired Seorin Company. Round Lab's US sunscreen labels on DailyMed still list Seorin Company as the labeler.

Our overview of Korean skincare brands shows how the big groups fit together.

What is Round Lab known for?

Round Lab names its lines after Korean places and plants, and each line has a cleanser, toner, serum or ampoule, cream and sometimes a sunscreen:

• 1025 Dokdo: deep sea water from near Ulleungdo, for gentle hydration and light exfoliation. The brand's best-known line.
• Birch Juice: birch sap and hyaluronic acid, for dry or dehydrated skin, plus the brand's best-selling sunscreen.
• Soybean Panthenol: a richer barrier line for dry and sensitive skin.
• Pine Calming Cica: pine leaf extract and centella, for irritated and breakout-prone skin.
• Mugwort Calming and Vita Niacinamide: soothing and dark-spot care.

Most single products cost $17 to $38 at list price.

Is the Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner worth it?

For a short, unscented hydrating toner with very mild exfoliation, yes. The full list is water, butylene glycol, glycerin, pentylene glycol, propanediol, Irish moss (Chondrus crispus) extract, sugarcane extract, sea water, 1,2-hexanediol, protease, betaine, panthenol, ethylhexylglycerin, allantoin, xanthan gum and disodium EDTA. The protease is an enzyme, which Round Lab says helps remove dead skin cells. There are no acids, alcohol or fragrance.

Round Lab lists it at $10 for 100 ml, $17 for 200 ml and $34 for 500 ml, and says it suits every skin type. The brand suggests wiping it on with a cotton pad. Expect smoother-feeling skin and no visible peeling; for stronger exfoliation see our guide to exfoliating acids for beginners, and our what does toner do guide if you are unsure you need one.

Which Round Lab cleanser should you use?

The 1025 Dokdo Cleanser ($17 for 150 ml) is a creamy foaming cleanser with a pH of 5 to 6, built on sodium cocoyl isethionate and other mild surfactants. It adds hyaluronic acid, panthenol, allantoin and ceramide NP. It also lists chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) flower oil, which is gentle for most people but can bother those allergic to plants in the daisy family. Round Lab sells matching cleansers for its Birch, Soybean, Pine Cica and Mugwort lines at the same price. Our guide to types of face cleansers covers other options.

Is Round Lab Birch Juice sunscreen FDA approved?

The US version is. Round Lab's Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen sold in the US carries a Drug Facts label with three FDA-listed filters: 2.7% avobenzone, 13.5% homosalate and 4.5% octisalate. Round Lab lists it at $28 for 50 ml.

The product has changed more than once. Korea JoongAng Daily reported in 2025 that Round Lab released a US-only SPF 45 and discontinued its Korean SPF 50+ PA++++ version in the US. A newer US label filed on DailyMed in April 2026 lists the same three filters at the same strengths as SPF 50 Broad Spectrum, and roundlab.com now sells it as SPF 50. You may see both SPF 45 and SPF 50 boxes in stores for a while. Korean-market tubes sold by third parties use filters the FDA has not approved and lack a US label.

Two more things to know. The label makes no water-resistance claim, so reapply after swimming or sweating. And its inactive ingredients include Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) flower oil and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) leaf oil, so sensitive skin may do better with the mineral version. The Birch Mild-Up Sunscreen SPF 50 ($24.99 for 50 ml) uses 17% zinc oxide as its only active ingredient on the US label, and its inactive list includes the same two plant oils in small amounts. Our best Korean sunscreen roundup compares other US-labeled options.

Which Round Lab moisturizer should you choose?

• Birch Moisturizing Cream ($36 for 80 ml) is a light cream with birch sap, glycerin, panthenol and hyaluronic acid. It is unscented and the brand says it suits all skin types.
• Soybean Panthenol Cream ($38 for 80 ml) is richer, with squalane, betaine, soybean seed extract, panthenol and ceramides. It suits dry, sensitive skin.
• 1025 Dokdo Cream ($36) and Pine Calming Cica Cream ($31) round out the other lines.

For a fragrance-free gel alternative for oily skin, see the shelf below or our moisturizer shelf.

Which Round Lab serum or ampoule should you use?

The Pine Calming Cica Ampoule ($25) is a watery, unscented ampoule with pine leaf extract, centella and hyaluronic acid, aimed at irritated, breakout-prone skin. The Vita Niacinamide Dark Spot Serum ($31 for 30 ml) pairs niacinamide with tranexamic acid for uneven tone. Newer launches include an Azelaic Acid Serum ($20.99), which suits redness and bumps; our azelaic acid guide explains what to expect.

What should you buy from Round Lab for your skin type?

Which Round Lab products should you skip?

• Korean-market sunscreen tubes from third-party sellers. They use filters the FDA has not approved and have no US label.
• The Birch sunscreens, if you react to essential oils. Their lists include small amounts of chamomile and pine oils.
• Bundles you do not need. One cleanser, toner and cream from the line that fits your skin is plenty.

How do you build a Round Lab routine?

Pick one line and stay with it at first. A simple start is the 1025 Dokdo Cleanser, the 1025 Dokdo Toner, the cream that suits your skin and the US Birch Juice sunscreen in the morning. Round Lab suggests applying the Dokdo Toner with a cotton pad; patting it on with your hands is gentler if your skin is sensitive. Add an ampoule or serum after two weeks, once you know the basics agree with you.

Introducing one product at a time makes it easy to tell what causes a reaction. Patch test the sunscreens and the Dokdo Cleanser first if you react to plant oils. Our guide to introducing new products explains the timing, and our how much sunscreen to use guide covers the amount that gets you the SPF on the label.

Where can you buy Round Lab in the US?

Round Lab sells at roundlab.com, at Ulta Beauty, which added the brand in February 2025, at Target and on Amazon. Buying from these channels lowers the risk of counterfeit or old stock. Ordering straight from Korean shops now adds import costs, because the US ended duty-free entry for low-value packages on August 29, 2025. Our Korean skincare routine steps guide shows how the steps fit together.

Is Round Lab worth it?

Yes, especially the 1025 Dokdo Toner and the Birch creams, which are short, unscented and fairly priced. The US Birch Juice sunscreen is one of the easiest Korean sunscreens to find with a proper US label, though the essential oils in its base will not suit everyone. If you want more options in the same style, compare Anua and COSRX.