I’ve been a fan of Youtube beauty influencer Liah Yoo for years and her minimalist skincare brand, KraveBeauty, could not have come at a better time! I love that the line is fairly minimalist, not only in its product offerings, but also in its branding and design. The two products that I’ve tried and used up are the Great Barrier Relief (skin barrier repairing serum) and The Beet Shield (antioxidant day fluid). What’s great about these products are that they are not only effective, but they are also at an affordable price point! I love that beyond the brand’s Insta-worthy aesthetic, every product is thoughtfully formulated and designed to make skincare simple and easy again. These products are often sold out online and after finishing them up (yes, this is also an empties post!), I can see why.
Great Barrier Relief (Retail: $28 for 40 ml/ 1.35 fl. oz.) is a serum designed to soothe the skin by helping to restore your damaged skincare barrier. It’s pretty much designed for anyone that has problematic skin including those with dehydrated skin, constant redness and patches, sensitive skin, aging/mature skin, and hyper-pigmentation. This is one of the most popular KraveBeauty products and it was actually sold out for awhile before I was able to pick one up. It has many rave reviews online and I’m happy to report that it is worth the hype! This serum is really soothing and calming for the skin and also very lightweight. I have sooo many serums, facial oils, and moisturizers in rotation, but I often reached for this serum because it was just so pleasant to use and my skin loved it! I also really love the packaging because nothing is more convenient and hygienic than a pump dispenser.
According to the KraveBeauty website, some key ingredient highlights include:
Tamanu Oil
An oil that research shows has remarkable skin-regenerative properties and was traditionally used to heal wounds and cure various skin problems and ailments. According to Liah Yoo, this oil has eliminated most of her hyperpigmentation (sunspots, acne scars, other discoloration) far more effectively than any retinol or vitamin C ingredient.
Safflower Oil & Rosehip Seed Oil
Two incredible plant-based oils that have amazing skin-nourishing benefits and are higher in linoleic acid than oleic acid. Countless studies demonstrate that oils rich in linoleic acid help restore damaged skin-barriers. The infusion of these two oils results in a high linoleic acid concentration that creates a light consistency, which melts right into your skin without the greasiness.
NMF + Ceramides, Phytosterol*, Squalane
A cocktail of ingredients that is meant to mimic a healthy skin barrier. These elements are naturally found in your skin when it is not compromised and in a restful state of zen. When life gets too stressful and your skin is put on edge, these super ingredients escape from your skin and leave it vulnerable.
*Phytosterol is an ingredient similar to cholesterol found in plants.
Niacinamide
Also known as Vitamin B3. Highly effective for barrier reparation, anti-aging, skin-brightening, and even acne prevention. It’s also one of the most gentle active ingredients that delivers great skin benefits without any skin irritation, making it accessible for all skin types.
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The Beet Shield (Retail: $20 for 50 ml) is described as a “gentle, antioxidant-rich day fluid that protects your skin from harsh environmental stressors. The Beet Shield is a lightweight, non-white cast leaving formula that’s charged with beet root extract and antioxidants to fight against the free radicals so you don’t turn beet-red.” It is the same formula as KraveBeauty Beet The Sun SPF 50+ PA++++ , which is available in Korea. However, since the SPF rating has not yet been approved by the FDA, it is not currently marketed as a sunscreen in the US.
The Beet Shield is probably the most talked about product out of the entire KraveBeauty line and it is really so easy to use! It has a milky consistency and it feels like a light moisturizer in comparison to traditional facial sunscreens that can sometimes feel thick and heavy. It absorbs into the skin easily and blends like a dream! It doesn’t leave a white cast and after using this product, you will not want to go back to using other traditional sunscreens. I think if you’re familiar with other K-beauty sunscreens, then this product may not be as revelatory but it’s definitely still worth checking out if you’re in the market for a new sunscreen. The only downside to The Beet Shield is the small product size. I wish it came in a bigger size as I feel like I went through this bottle fairly quickly. 😦
Here are some ingredient highlights according to the KraveBeauty website:
Beetroot extract
An underrated yet amazingly antioxidant-rich vegetable, the beetroot holds skin enhancing properties like preventing signs of aging, reducing pigmentation and blemishes and moisturization! A true underdog superfood.
Allantoin
Allantoin soothes skin and relieves skin irritation. This is an absolutely wonderful ingredient which brings both moisturizing and soothing relief to a sensitive, inflamed skin.
Vitamin C, Resveratrol, EGCG
This powerful tag team of antioxidants is proven to shield skin against external stressors and neutralize free radicals.
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I love skincare brands that also emphasize their philanthropy efforts and KraveBeauty is also committed to improving their carbon footprint by finding ways to improve their packaging, so that it can recycled and be more sustainable. If you browse their website, you’ll find a comprehensive recycling guide for each product, which is something I really appreciate. All the ingredients used by KraveBeauty are also 100% vegan-friendly and cruelty-free. All products are made in Korea.
In addition, every purchase of Great Barrier Relief helps protect the Great Barrier Reef. 2% of all sales from Great Barrier Relief will be donated to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. So, you can feel good about supporting a small woman-owned business and give back to the environment at the same time.
Final Thoughts: It’s rare that I finish up a product so quickly, but thankfully, I already have a back-up Great Barrier Relief serum in my skincare cabinet. I plan to repurchase another Beet Shield once it comes back in stock. 🙂
Have you tried Krave Beauty? What are your favorite products from the brand?
jessmeandering 