Klairs Soft Airy UV essence SPF 50 PA++++ review

Klairs has become one of my favourite Korean brands after I started using their toner and the Midnight Blue Calming cream.

But their previous blue sunscreen didn't do a great job for me because of the obvious white or bluish gray cast it had. 

Getting a sunscreen to work for your skin type and skin colour is such a tough job even in 2018. Sigh.

So, coming to this sunscreen, I saw the name - Soft Airy UV essence, and I immediately wanted it. So I bought this product to add to my ever growing list of sunscreens.

Before seeing about the texture and the performance, let us see the ingredients list.

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butylene Glycol, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Silica, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Panthenol, Beta-Glucan, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluornate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil

We will look into some of the ingredients below, as there are many. Important ones are in blocks.

Dicarpyl Carbonate is an emollient and obviously the base for this sunscreen.

Butylene Glycol is a well known humectant found in many skincare products from sheet masks to serums.

Dibutyle Adipate , a diester is probably here as a solvent.

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate - is the sunscreen agent. As a chemical sunscreen it offers UVA protection.

Glycerin - as a humectant, it helps in retaining the moisture.

Niacinamide - the brightening or pore benefiting amide derived from Vitamin B3, Niacin. The actual percentage of it is not given. And it is the 11th ingredient and so it may not be in that high percentage.

Ethylehexyl Triazone - a sunscreen agent offering UVB protection.

Panthenol - it is a form of Vitamin B5 and it helps in better penetration of the other skincare ingredients.

Citrus Junos fruit extract - This is a fruit originating from China and called as 'Yuzu' in Japan and 'Yuja' in Korean. (Skin Food, a Korean brand has a whole range called as Yuja Line and the toner from that range was amazing)

Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate - Good for moisturizing and retaining moisture.

Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil - It is Chamomile oil. Has soothing properties.

Hippophae Rhamnoides oil - Seabuckthorn oil. Has good Vit-C content.

Tocopherol - Vitamin E. Another good antioxidant

Cirus Aurantilum Dulcis(Orange) Oil - Vitamin C

All the oils are probably there for the fragrance, which is common among Klairs products. If you are someone who gets is sensitive to essential oils, you must keep away from it or do a patch test before using.

About the product:

Now we have seen the ingredients and by now, you will know that this is a chemical sunscreen. But it offers both UVA and UVB protection. 

When you use sunscreens, it is wise to select one with both UVA and UVB which are generally called as broad spectrum sun screens. 

This sunscreen has SPF50+ which means it has a UVB protection of 50 and the + indicates that it is more than 50 but not tested for higher levels. It has PA++++ which indicates UVA protection. As for now four plus is the highest UVA protection available.

The product comes in a beautiful carton with a holographic picture in the front. The tube is a squeezable one and comes with a twist on cap.

It contains 80ml(2.7fl.oz) of product and that is not bad. It will last me for quite a while.

The sunscreen is not pure white but a little off-white in colour. It is like a thick serum in consistency. It has a very mild citrus smell.

How it worked?

The sunscreen is very easy to apply and gets absorbed like a dream. It is not heavy or thick on the skin after applying. Also it doesn't have any sort of tackiness.

Some sunscreens give you the weird feeling of having a layer over your skin. This doesn't have that.

Also it doesn't leave any shininess like the Biore UV essence. Also no white cast. 

Absolutely. I have a combination skin with a dusky skin tone, and it worked so well for me.

Also this didn't make my skin heavy or oily after a few hours and even when I was out in the sun, it remained the same, which is very cool.

A comparable sunscreen from what I have used before is the Neogen Daylight sunscreen. But the Neogen one was a bit more moisturizing and it was 30USD for 50ml when you buy during the non sales period. But with Neogen, you don't have to bother with skincare especially if you are in a hot and humid climate, you can just wear that and you will be good to go.

One more similar product is Etude House Mild Watery Light. But it was a bit heavier and made me sweat during summer. So good for winter. And it is around 11 USD for 50gm.

Final Verdict- I love this! If I could grab this during sales.

Cost- 23 USD for 80 ml. ( I bought this from Wish trend. I haven't seen them for sales anywhere else)

Pros
- Light and not heavy on the skin
- Has both UVA and UVB
- Suits my Combination skin perfectly
- No white cast

Cons
- 23 USD is still pricier for me for something that I will be in need to buy quite often because I use sunscreens daily.

But since this is one of the best I have tried so far, I will be glad to buy this during sales.

My rating - 9/10

The product I have reviewed is purchased by me from my own money. And all the opinion stated here are entirely my own.