Review: Krave Beauty

I have a review for you today and I am really excited about this one! In today's review, I will be talking about the new line for Youtube star Liah Yoo. I met Liah back when I used to post videos on Youtube and I can tell you, she is the sweetest person in the world. Fast forward a handful of years to today and although I do not do Youtube videos anymore, I am on Instagram and have reconnected with Liah. When I found out she had launch her own skincare line, I jumped onto the computer and ordered it! I knew that Liah had issues with her skin for years and like me, her skin tends to be more sensitive. I knew that if she developed a skincare line, it would be good for sensitive skin. If you want to read my review of her first two product, the Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser and Kale-lalu-yaha Exfoliant keep reading.


The Claim:
Cleanser:
This claims to be an antioxidant rich, low pH cleanser that cleanses the skin without disturbing the skin's natural lipid barrier while hydrating the skin.

Exfoliant:
This claims to exfoliate dead skin cells to reveal healthier skin. With regular uses, this claims to fade discoloration and sun damage plus helps blur the appearance of fine lines.


My Skin Type:
I always like to start my reviews by stating my skin type and conditions at the time of the review. If you follow me on Instagram, you will know that my skin can get sensitive and I am currently battling perioral dermatitis. I am also acne prone however, with the incorporation of treatments like Differin seen here, my skin seems to be less prone to breakouts but more easily dehydrated and flaky. My review will reflect how these products work for my personal skin type and condition and as a disclaimer, your results may vary.

Patch Testing:

Every product I use goes through a very detailed patch testing period. I always patch test and I recommend patch testing to everyone. Although there is an argument out there that patch testing doesn't actually work seen here on The Beauty Brains, patch testing has saved my skin from some pretty serious negative reactions. Although I do agree with TBB (and love this podcast btw) that patch testing does not work against evaluating whether a certain product will cause breakouts, patch testing will help determine if your skin is allergic to the ingredients and/or the formulation. This type of negative reaction is seen in the form of itching, stinging, intense flushing, burning, rash or hives.

I introduce new skin care products to my easily irritated skin by patching testing. Patch testing can look different for everyone but for me, I test products in stages. First, I applied to my more sensitive areas like around my neck, chest and behind/in front of my ears. I would apply a product twice within a 24 hour period. If all goes well, I begin to use the product on half of my face and then work up to 

Packaging:
Cleanser - This comes in a sturdy plastic squeeze tube 120ml / 4.05 fl. oz. 
Exfoliant - This is in a sturdy clear, plastic bottle 200ml / 6.76 fl. oz


Full Ingredients:
Cleanser:
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Water, Glycerin, Coco-Betaine, Methyl Gluceth-10, Ethoxydiglycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Chloride, Butoxydiglycol, Diglycerin, Glycereth-26, Xanthan Gum, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Diethoxydiglycol, Coco-Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Decyl Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Butylene Glycol, Octanediol, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium PCA, Disodium EDTA

Exfoliant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Water, Butylene glycol, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf (Kale) Extract, Glycolic acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Spinacia Oleracea (Spinach) Leaf Extract, Carum Petroselinum (Parsley) Extract, Chlorella Minutissima Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit (Green apple) Extract, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Betaine Salicylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil/Glucose/Yeast Extract Ferment Filtrate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Bacillus/Folic acid/Soybean ferment extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Malachite Extract, Polysorbate80, Disodium EDTA

Thoughts on ingredients:
Cleanser:
This cleanser doesn't have much of a scent which I love and contains some really awesome, skin loving ingredients. First, this contains matcha which is a potent antioxidant that helps protect the skin while hemp seed oil hydrates. Hemp seed oil is also high in linoleic acid and full of amino acids that heal, plump and protect the skin. Other ingredients include Vitamin B5 & Sodium PCA are skin strengthening ingredients that also help to hydrate. The cleansing agent in this formula is the coco-betaine, coco-glucoside & decyl glucoside which are a group of surfactants that are gentle at cleansing the skin without over drying & protects the lipid barrier. I did pH test this and it tested about a 6.

Exfoliant:
This smells like a typical acid product, similar to Paula's Choice 2% BHA. This contains 5.25% glycolic acid as the exfoliating agent which is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) derived from sugar cane. AHA's are water soluble which means that they work on the surface of the skin. AHA's do not penetrate very deep into the skin and are best suited for removing dead skin cells that build up on the skin's surface. This also contains kale and other dark leafy greens which are potent antioxidants that are full of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Hyaluronic acid, Vitamin B5, Allantoin and Aloe keep the skin hydrated and soothed. I did pH test this and it tested about a 4.5.


Results:
Cleanser:
If you read my post on Instagram, you will know that cleansing is one of the most important steps in any skin care routine. So, if you haven't guessed, I have tried my fair share of cleansers and I have to say, this cleanser is absolutely fantastic. This is a slightly foaming, gel cleanser that cleanses the skin thoroughly without stripping and leaves my skin incredibly soft and hydrated. It is also pretty concentrated, so you don't need to use very much. I am super impressed with the formulation and how well this works on my skin. I also love that this retails for $16 so it is extremely affordable. This has quickly replaced my former HG (holy grail) cleanser and I will keep repurchasing because it's just that good!

Exfoliant:
So the pH is around 4.5 which is a little high but can still exfoliate the skin. I personally think that this formula would be best suited for those with sensitive skin or those sensitive to acids. Also, this would be a great option for those just starting to get into using acids regularly. Since the pH is slightly high, this isn't going to be super strong, which I like because it doesn't cause any negative reaction on my sensitive skin. To use, I saturate a cotton pad and swipe my face, neck and upper chest and leave it on, no rinsing required. This does tingle which means it's working but dissipates quickly as it drys. Like the cleanser, this is very concentrated so a little goes a long way. After using this 3x per week for the past month, I can report that this is indeed a gentle exfoliating liquid that has kept my skin smooth, soft, a little more even toned and I have noticed by pores are less clogged. Although this isn't a BHA (an oil soluble exfoliant) that exfoliates the gunk that gets trapped inside the pores, keeping the surface clear of dead skin does help keep the pores from collecting that gunk in the first place. I hope that makes sense :) Again, this is a very gentle exfoliant and is a good intro for those new to chemical exfoliants. I would definitely repurchase!



Where to Purchase:
$16 Cleaners
$25 Exfoliant  

You can find both of these products at Krave Beauty