Beet the Sun to Beet Shield: Krave Beauty Sunscreen Review

Krave Beauty's sunscreen finally became available in the US yesterday so this review could not have better timing!! I was impatient and got it from Korea last month, so I've had some time to test it out.

If you haven't heard of Krave Beauty, it's a brand founded by skincare blogger/ youtuber extraordinaire, Liah Yoo. They launched at the end of last year and have since come out with 3 products-- the sunscreen being the newest launch.

Originally, it was released in South Korea with the name "Beet the Sun." Unfortunately, it could not be released in the US as a sunscreen because of our outdated sunscreen guidelines. We haven't had a new sunscreen filter approved since the 90s!! It's a shame because the rest of the world is putting out lightweight, elegant formulas while we are stuck in goopy, white cast city. Anywho, in order to be sold in the US it is *not* marketed as a sunscreen but it is the same exact product that's sold as a sunscreen in Korea. Capiche?

Size, Price, & Availability

$20.00 for 50 mL via Krave Beauty

Packaging

It comes in a slim, plastic bottle. It has a pointed nozzle and a twist on cap. You squeeze the bottle and it's dispensed. Perks of this packaging: it's not messy, and it's easy to travel with. Downsides of this packaging: you have no idea how much product is left, and it's difficult to cut open the bottle to get the last remnants of product.

Ingredients

Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Dibutyl Adipate, Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Extract, Alcohol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate, Polysilicone-15, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Methylpropanediol, Isohexadecane, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 80, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sorbitan Oleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Resveratrol

Sunscreen Filters

Like I said, legally they cannot sell this product as a sunscreen in the US. That doesn't negate the fact that it is recognized as a sunscreen by the rest of the world.

Listed from highest concentration to lowest concentration, the filters present are diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate (aka Uvinul A Plus), bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine (aka Tinosorb S), isoamyl p-methoxycinnamate (aka Amiloxate), and polysilicone-15 (Parsol SLX).

In total, they provide SPF 47 PA++++ protection.

I'm in no way qualified to look at a sunscreen ingredients list and deem it effective or ineffective because it's a complicated science (as all sciences are.) Its dependent on the other ingredients in the formula, the amount present, the type and amount of UV radiation you're receiving, and more.

All that said, I think there are some *basic* questions we can answer as consumers when purchasing sunscreens. Does it meet my requirements of SPF? How about PA or PPD? Does it contain filters that protect against both UVA and UVB rays (aka is it "broad spectrum")? So let's do that.

Does it meet my requirements for SPF? 

Personally, yes! I aim to use a minimum of SPF 30 daily, because

it is what the American Academy of Dermatology recommends. I generally stick to SPF 50 to be safe, but I don't mind using sunscreens with slightly lower protection. If you're prone to burning or have a family history of skin cancer, you might have a higher standard for sunscreen protection. It's a personal thing. (And even if you aren't prone to burning, still wear sunscreen! Most of the damage done to our skin from the sun is not visible to the naked eye. Melanin doesn't protect you from melanoma.)

What's the PA/ PPD?

While SPF refers to UVB protection, PA and PPD refer to UVA protection. Many Asian sunscreens use the PA rating system which is on a scale of + to ++++. Obviously, the more plusses, the more protection. Again, this is a personal preference but I like to stick to sunscreens with a PA+++ or PA++++ rating.

Does it contain filters that protect against both UVA and UVB rays?

Given that it has both a SPF rating as well as a PA rating is an obvious indicator that it will protect against both, but a quick cosDNA search confirms that it contains filters that protect against UVA and UVB ratings!

Scent

If you peek at the ingredients list, you'll see that there are no essential oils or fragrance. So unsurprisingly, it doesn't have a strong scent.

If you give it a solid whiff, you'll smell the vague scent of alcohol and sunscreen. But if you're not looking for it, it isn't noticeable. And whatever meager scent there is dissipates as you apply it.

White cast?

On my skin tone, it does not create a white cast. While it is initially white, it starts to instantly disappear as I pat it in. I also put it on my dad who is a few shades darker than me, and it didn't create a white cast on him either!

Texture

It's liquidy, runny, white consistency, as are most Asian sunscreens with an alcohol base. It's easy to spread and because of the alcohol, absorbs almost instantly.

How does it feel on the skin?

Nice! I've tried quite a few sunscreens with an alcohol base and about 90% of them do not work with my skin. Some of them irritate my skin, some of them cause red/ dry patches, and some flake on me. Krave's Beet Shield does none of that!

It doesn't leave my skin with a powdery matte finish, but nor do I get that glossy glow from other sunscreens. I would say my skin is pretty normal afterward. There's some shine from my skincare underneath, but it's minimal.

I wouldn't say it's a particularly moisturizing sunscreen. I do have to wear an oil + moisturizer underneath to make sure my skin doesn't get dehydrated midday in the fall. But nor is it a drying sunscreen (ie no dry patches or flaking afterward.)

Pilling?

Nope!! Blessed be the sunscreen without a heavy silicone base. I've worn this with a variety of gels and creams and oils, and haven't had any issues with pilling. I've also worn this on my arms over 0 skincare to see how it fares on its own. Again, it's easily absorbed and doesn't pill.

Under makeup?

Good. Because it isn't shiny or prone to pilling, it's easy to layer makeup on top of it. Although, unlike some more hydrating sunscreens, it doesn't really double as a makeup primer because the finish isn't super dewy so there's nothing for the makeup to "grip" to so to say.

How does it reapply?

Confession: I seldom reapply my sunscreen because I am simply too lazy to do so. Unless it's a scorching hot summer day that I'm spending outdoors, my morning sunscreen application is enough. BUT I like knowing I have the option of reapplying it if I choose to.

Again, because this is so lightweight and absorbs instantly, it's a breeze to reapply. My skin has usually lost its morning skincare glow but the early afternoon, so when I reapply the sunscreen on my face it adds some moisture back to my skin (but like I said up above, I don't find this to be a super moisturizing sunscreen. I would say it's about as moisturizing as a lightweight lotion.)

Final Thoughts

Overall I am a fan of this sunscreen! It provides solid sun protection, absorbs quickly, doesn't dry me out, doesn't pill, has easy to use packaging, and wears well under makeup. It isn't my *favorite* sunscreen ever (that award still goes to the Verdio), but I do like it and recommend it. If I finish it up this winter, I'll probably repurchase come next summer! (I say summer for repurchasing because I think the lightweight formula would work even better when its muggy outside.)

It's a bonus that it looks cute in Instagram photos 😊