Update 1/20/2021: Klairs has suspended sales of all its sunscreens in light of the Purito controversy. The band is in the process of testing the SPF on all its formulas. Read about that and more in this post.
The Klairs Soft Airy UV Essence is a beloved sunscreen among many in the skincare community. You can include me in that contingent!
Naturally, I was excited when Klairs announced a brand new sunscreen last month. I lucked out when Wishtrend gifted me a tube of the Klairs Mid-Day Blue UV Shield to try as part of the Wishtrend Beauty Tester Program.
After a month with this sunscreen, I’m ready to share my thoughts on it, as well as an answer to the burning (HAHA) question: Will this be replacing the Purito Green Level Unscented Sunscreen as my all-time favorite SPF?
What’s in the Klairs Mid-Day Blue UV Shield?
The ingredients list is as follows:
Water, Cyclohexasiloxane, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Caprylyl Methicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Betaine, Magnesium Sulfate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Inositol, Aluminum Hydroxide, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Octyldodecanol, Guaiazulene, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Tocopherol, Fragrance
Pin-Pointing the UV Filters
I’ve bolded the UV filters above: Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. These are mineral (or physical) UV filters, which absorb UVB rays while reflecting UVA rays. To sum it up in simple terms, the Klairs Mid-Day Blue UV Shield is a mineral sunscreen.
The opposite of mineral filters is chemical filters, which absorb all rays across the UV spectrum. These filters either turn UV rays into heat or they change in structure altogether. Both the Klairs Soft Airy UV Essence and Purito Green Level Unscented Sunscreen have chemical filters and are thus known as chemical sunscreens.
(This is where I step in to let you know that chemistry is a glaring weakness of mine, so I am going to direct you toward this fabulous post from Kind of Stephen about the actual differences between mineral and chemical UV filters. Enjoy!)
Other Stand-Out Ingredients
- Guaiazulene (azulene): A constituent of chamomile oil, guaiazulene has a blue tint and is known for its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties. It can be found in Klairs’ Midnight Blue line of products.
- Fragrance: Like the Soft Airy UV Essence before it, the Mid-Day Blue Shield has an added fragrance. To me, it smells like baby powder. It’s not overbearing, but anyone with an allergy or aversion to synthetic scents in their skincare may want to pass.
Wearing the Klairs Mid-Day Blue UV Shield
The Texture
I must say, I am impressed with the texture of this sunscreen! Many mineral sunscreens, in my experience, tend to be gloopy, sticky, and impossible to spread. Klairs’ mineral sunscreen is very similar to its chemical counterpart in that it’s lightweight and easy to work into the skin.
In the photos above, you can see how the Klairs mineral sunscreen looks compared to Purito’s unscented chemical sunscreen.
The Application
The Mid-Day Blue UV Shield has a light blue hue to it, likely due to the guaiazulene. When I rub the cream into my skin, the tint gradually fades away. Once absorbed, there is very minimal, if any, white cast.
(Bear in mind that my skin tone is very pale. If you’re interested to know how this sunscreen appears on a darker skin tone, please check out this review from Adeola Ash.)
The Feeling
If I could sum up the feeling of this sunscreen in two words, it would be mattifying and powdery.
Here’s the thing: I have combination skin. This time of year, with all of its glorious heat and humidity, is when my sebaceous glands typically go into overdrive. Yes, typically.
Chalk it up to some bad habits or the fact that I’m indoors much more often these days, but lately, my skin has been very dry.
Unless I remember to put on a moisturizer in the AM (and I normally don’t), my face feels tight and uncomfortable shortly after applying this sunscreen.
It’s not all bad news here, though! Layering a moisturizer underneath helps mitigate that powdery feeling. I also had a day in which I spent a few hours doing yard work in 90-degree heat. I slathered the Mid-Day Blue UV Shield on my face (no moisturizer beforehand) and didn’t feel too gross and sweaty when I was finished.
As for playing nice with makeup? Thanks to its mattifying effect, the Klairs mineral sunscreen serves as a decent primer.
Final Verdict
The Klairs Mid-Day Blue UV Shield is a mineral sunscreen in chemical sunscreen’s clothing in terms of texture and consistency. It’s really pleasant to work with!
But will this be replacing the Purito sunscreen on my shelf? No.
That’s not to say the Klairs mineral sunscreen is bad by any means, but what I love about the Purito formula is that it serves as a 2-in-1 product: sunscreen and moisturizer. As someone who prides herself in having a minimal (read: lazy) AM routine, a sunscreen that can also moisturize is my preference.
I can see myself reaching for the Klairs mineral sunscreen when I’m extremely oily or planning to spend extended time outdoors. (Like doing yard work, going to the beach, or sunbathing on a luxury yacht…but most likely the yard work.) In either of those scenarios, I’ll want something mattifying to save my complexion from getting too shiny.
The tone-up effect Klairs touts is lost on me a little bit. I personally don’t notice much of one after application but that doesn’t mean it’s not capable of such on other people. However, I appreciate how easy it is to rub this formula into my skin, with little to no white cast to be seen.
If you’re on the oilier side and either can’t or prefer not to use a chemical sunscreen, then consider giving the Klairs Mid-Day Blue UV Shield a try. (That’s provided you/your skin can also handle fragrance.)
Drier skin types who are keen to try this sunscreen may be able to withstand it with a healthy layer of moisturizer underneath, but the mattifying effect may eventually leave your face feeling uncomfortable. Proceed with caution, or look elsewhere.
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I am not a professional. All opinions are my own.
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