In our Klairs Mid-Day Blue Lotion review, we show you how this sunscreen offers wat more than sun protection.
Since I discovered the magic of tone-up products, my morning routine has consisted of sleeping in and running out the door with zero face makeup. But turns out, there is always more to explore in the world of Korean sunscreens, and recently, I came across a sunscreen for sensitive skin types that deserves a spotlight: the Klairs Mid-day Blue Sun Lotion SPF 40 / PA++.
If you know your skin care, you already know that Klairs is the go-to brand for sensitive skin types. But the Klairs Sun Lotion goes far beyond just soothing irritation and providing hefty sun protection. It’s too good to keep a secret, and here’s why.
The ingredients:
The star ingredient in this product is guaizulene, which is an ingredient derived from chamomile. It naturally has a beautiful blue color, and it’s anti-inflammatory, effective in soothing skin irritation and redness. Also on the list is niacinamide, a brightening ingredient that strengthens skin barrier against environmental damage and combats early signs of aging. There’s also Centella asiatica extract, another great ingredient that calms inflammation caused by acne and promotes collagen production for plumper skin.
The texture:
The packaging claims that the color is ‘ice blue’, but to me it basically looks white. If you want to get technical, it’s a very subtle and pale shade of blue, thanks to the guaizulene. It spreads nicely on the skin and feels like a moisturizer mixed with a drop of facial oil, which reminds me of the Neogen Day-Light Protection Sun Screen. But the Klairs Sun Lotion feels more lightweight.
The application:
Since this is a tone-up sunscreen, I first applied it like a foundation, carefully dotting it all over my face and lightly patting it in. But compared to the other tone-up sunscreen I’ve tried (like the My Skin Mentor Dr. G Brightening Up Sun), the Klairs Sun Lotion spreads more easily, which means I can just swipe it on, pat it in, and head out the door. The color immediately blends into my skin, and it doesn’t make my skin look greasy, even after several hours.
Usually, I have noticeable pores on both sides of my nose, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Klairs Sun Lotion made those areas appear smoother and brighter. Of course, it didn’t make those areas completely matte like a mattifying primer would, but it left them noticeably smoother without adding a layer of grease.
It also didn’t settle into the fine lines underneath my eyes. I did have to blend the corners of my mouth, where I tend to suffer from flaky skin and tiny bumps, but it didn’t flake or leave a white steak in my hairline at all, which is where I struggle the most with sunscreens.
The tone-up effect:
The tone-up effect was subtle and natural on me—it looked like I applied some translucent powder with a light hand.
What I loved:
Besides the tone-up effect, what I appreciated the most about this sunscreen is that it actually controls my redness throughout the day. Normally, at around 3pm, I look like a blotchy mess because for some reason, my cheeks decide to flare up and my chin and forehead become dull-looking. But the Klairs Sun Lotion kept my combination skin moisturized without looking irritated, dull or greasy. I still blotted the area between my brows and sides of my nose, which is where I get uncontrollably greasy, but other than that, my face felt moisturized without feeling sticky to the touch.
What I didn’t love:
I don’t have a very acute sense of smell, but the scent is something I noticed right away. It smells to me like sour yogurt mixed with baby powder, which I imagine isn’t a universal favorite. But according to Chanel, the Senior Designer at Soko Glam, it smells perfectly normal, like the scent of a typical bar soap. So whether you find the scent to be pleasant or not will depend on your personal taste. Luckily, I can report that the scent becomes entirely undetectable once I apply it on my face—I’ve asked friends to literally sniff my face, and they did not smell a thing.
Bottom line:
It’s suitable for most skin types, and it’s especially good for sensitive skin. Only if you’re very oily would I recommend going for the Missha Waterproof Sun Milk or the Missha Sebum Zero Sun instead. But if you’re any other skin type and you want something more lightweight than the Neogen Day-Light Protection Sun Screen, then I’d strongly recommend giving the Klairs Sun Lotion a try.
It keeps your skin relatively shine-free while moisturizing dry parts of your face, which is a hard balance to strike. It also evens out your skin tone and calms irritation and redness. If you want a sunscreen that does it all, then this might be the one you fall in love with.
+ What would you say in your Klairs Mid-day Blue Sun Lotion review? Let us know in the comments!
