Is KraveBeauty Beet The Sun SPF 40 Sunscreen Worth Your Money? Read Before You Buy

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KraveBeauty Beet The Sun SPF 40 PA+++ is one of those sunscreens that made me stop and look twice. It combines the lightweight, elegant feel I usually associate with Korean skincare with a U.S.-compliant sunscreen formula, and that combination immediately caught my attention. What really made me curious, though, was the story behind its reformulation and the brand’s decision to start over rather than simply tweak the original product.

My skin is combination, slightly dehydrated, and prone to sensitivity, especially when I overload it with strong skincare products. I also have enough post-breakout marks that I am very serious about daily sunscreen. I want strong UVA and UVB protection, but I don’t want a thick, greasy layer sitting on my face all day.

So, after spending time looking closely at what Beet The Sun offers, my biggest question became simple: does the beautiful cosmetic experience justify the $20 price tag?

Packaging & Design

Beet The Sun comes in a 50 mL (1.69 fl oz) squeezable tube with a narrow dispensing nozzle. I personally love this kind of packaging for sunscreen because I can control how much comes out instead of fighting with a pump that sometimes dispenses far too much.

The tube is made with 76–90% post-consumer recycled plastic, while the cap is made from 100% recycled polypropylene. The outer carton uses 100% recycled FSC-certified paper, so the packaging isn’t just designed to look minimalist—it also puts a meaningful emphasis on recycled materials.

The opaque tube is another thoughtful detail. Since certain chemical sunscreen filters, including avobenzone, can be sensitive to prolonged exposure to light, the opaque construction helps protect the formula before it reaches my skin.

The tube is soft enough that I can squeeze it flatter as I use it, which should make getting the last bit of sunscreen out much easier. My only minor complaint is that I can’t see how much product remains, so I have to judge by the tube’s weight and how easily it squeezes.

Sun Protection & Formula

This is where I think Beet The Sun becomes much more interesting than a pretty skincare product.

It uses a chemical sunscreen filter system rather than mineral filters such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. The formula contains 10% Homosalate, 5% Octisalate, 3% Avobenzone, and 3% Octocrylene, creating a combination designed to cover both UVB and UVA wavelengths.

Key Ingredients

• Homosalate 10%: Primarily absorbs UVB radiation and also helps dissolve avobenzone within the formula.
• Octisalate 5%: Adds additional UVB protection and contributes to the formula’s film-forming properties.
• Avobenzone 3%: Provides important UVA protection, including coverage through the longer UVA1 range.
• Octocrylene 3%: Provides UVB/UVA2 absorption and helps stabilize avobenzone.
• Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene: Works as an additional photostabilizing ingredient to help maintain avobenzone’s performance.
• Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Extract: Provides antioxidant support against oxidative stress associated with environmental exposure.
• Hyaluronic Acid: Helps attract and retain water, making the sunscreen feel more comfortable on dehydrated skin.
• Bisabolol: A soothing ingredient that can help calm the appearance of irritation and redness.
• Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract: Included for its soothing properties.
• Vitamin E: Adds antioxidant and barrier-supporting benefits.

I was particularly interested in the beet extract because it would be easy to assume that the name is mostly clever marketing. In reality, Beta Vulgaris root extract does have an antioxidant role in the formula, although I would still consider the UV filters the real stars of this sunscreen.

The SPF number is also worth understanding. Testing produced SPF results of 42 and 43, which were conservatively labeled as SPF 40, while the UVA testing supported a PA+++ rating.

That gives me considerably more confidence than simply seeing an SPF number printed on the front of a tube.

One important limitation: this is not a water- or sweat-resistant sunscreen. It is intended primarily for everyday urban protection rather than swimming, beach days, or prolonged outdoor sports.

Texture & Finish

The texture is one of the strongest reasons I can understand why someone would become attached to this sunscreen.

It has a lightweight hydro-cream/fluid texture that spreads easily with very little dragging. Once applied, it settles in roughly 45 to 60 seconds and leaves a hydrated, dewy, skin-like finish rather than a heavy layer.

There is also no white cast, which makes a huge difference for me. Because the formula doesn’t contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, it goes on transparent across different skin tones.

I was slightly nervous about the dewy finish because my combination skin can become shiny around my forehead and nose. Thankfully, this doesn’t feel like putting facial oil on my skin. It looks hydrated rather than greasy, although anyone who strongly prefers a matte sunscreen may find the finish too luminous.

Another major positive is the low tendency toward pilling. The formula uses a polymer-stabilized emulsion with humectants such as propanediol, pentylene glycol, and hyaluronic acid, while avoiding heavy waxes that can contribute to balling up.

Scent

If you dislike heavily fragranced sunscreen, this is a refreshing one.

Beet The Sun is free from added synthetic fragrance and essential oils, and the scent is essentially imperceptible once it is on my skin. There is a small amount of clove bud extract, but it functions primarily as a supporting antioxidant and antimicrobial ingredient rather than as a perfume.

For me, this is exactly what I want from facial sunscreen. I don’t need my SPF competing with my moisturizer, makeup, perfume, or hair products.

Skin Type & Compatibility

I think this sunscreen makes the most sense for dry, dehydrated, sensitive, and combination skin types that appreciate hydration without a heavy texture.

The combination of hyaluronic acid, propanediol, and pentylene glycol helps support hydration, while bisabolol and willow bark extract provide soothing support. The lightweight isohexadecane-based emollient system also avoids the heavy, waxy feel I sometimes associate with richer sunscreens.

For acne-prone skin, I appreciate that the formula is designed without heavy mineral oils and pore-clogging waxes. That said, “non-comedogenic” or lightweight does not mean every individual acne-prone person will love it, so I would still patch-test if your skin is particularly reactive.

For pigmentation and melasma concerns, the broad-spectrum SPF 40 and PA+++ protection are the features I would prioritize. Sunscreen cannot erase existing pigmentation, but consistent UVA/UVB protection is essential if you are trying to prevent dark marks from becoming more noticeable.

Wearability & Daily Life

This is where Beet The Sun feels especially practical.

I can see it working beautifully underneath makeup because the hydrated finish creates a smooth base without the usual sunscreen pilling drama. The formula is also transparent through facial hair and stubble, so there is no chalky residue collecting around the hairline.

Another thing I appreciate is the absence of mineral particles. That means no obvious white flashback in photographs, which is a small detail until you’re taking pictures outside or using flash.

Reapplication is also reasonably straightforward. The product is light enough to press gently over the skin, including with a beauty sponge, although I would still prefer to reapply on clean skin whenever possible.

Once it has settled, transfer to a smartphone screen should be relatively low. And because this isn’t designed as a water-resistant sports sunscreen, I would absolutely switch to a water-resistant formula for swimming, intense workouts, or extended sweating.

Size, Lifespan, & Practicality

The 50 mL size looks small, but that is fairly standard for a facial sunscreen.

At the recommended facial dose of approximately 1.25 mL per application, or roughly the two-finger amount, one tube provides about 40 facial applications. That works out to around five to six weeks with once-daily morning use, or approximately three weeks with twice-daily use.

Of course, real-life usage varies. If I apply enough sunscreen to my face, ears, neck, and other exposed areas, I will go through a tube considerably faster.

The 1.69 fl oz size is also TSA-compliant, which makes it an easy travel companion. Just remember that its lack of water resistance makes it better suited to sightseeing and everyday travel than beach vacations where swimming is part of the plan.

Brand Reputation & Ethics

This is probably the part of KraveBeauty’s story that surprised me most.

The original sunscreen, The Beet Shield, was voluntarily removed from sale during the sunscreen-testing controversy of 2020–2021, and customers were offered refunds. The brand subsequently spent around 10–12 months developing a new U.S.-compliant formula, reportedly going through nine variations before settling on the current version.

I actually appreciate that history because it makes the current product feel less like a rushed relaunch and more like an attempt to rebuild trust through transparency.

KraveBeauty is also a Certified B Corporation, participates in 1% for the Planet, and maintains Climate Neutral and Plastic Neutral certifications. The sunscreen itself is 100% vegan and PETA-certified cruelty-free.

No brand gets a free pass simply because its ethics page looks good, but these commitments do add value for shoppers who consider environmental and animal-welfare practices when choosing skincare.

Price, Value, & Availability

Beet The Sun is priced at $20 for 50 mL, which works out to approximately $11.83 per fluid ounce.

At first glance, I don’t think $20 is outrageous for a facial sunscreen with this cosmetic elegance. However, sunscreen is a product I need to use generously and consistently, so the cost becomes more meaningful over time.

The duo pack is $34, bringing the price down to $17 per tube and approximately $10.06 per fluid ounce. There is also a subscribe-and-save option that reduces the single-tube price to $18.

It is available through KraveBeauty’s website, Sephora in the U.S., and the brand’s official Amazon U.S. store. Direct website purchases have a 30-day refund window, subject to the brand’s stated return conditions.

Overall Rating

I would give KraveBeauty Beet The Sun SPF 40 PA+++ an overall rating of 8.2 out of 10.

Tips & Recommendations

My biggest tip is not to let the beautiful lightweight texture trick you into applying too little. Sunscreen only provides its labeled protection when applied at the appropriate amount, so I would stick to the two-finger method for the face and make sure exposed areas such as the ears and neck aren’t forgotten.

I would also give it about a minute to settle before applying makeup. The formula reaches its settled finish in roughly 45–60 seconds, and allowing that short window gives the sunscreen time to form an even film before I start layering cosmetics.

If you’re heading to the beach, swimming, running outdoors, or doing anything that involves significant sweating, choose a water-resistant sunscreen instead. Beet The Sun is best thought of as an elegant daily facial sunscreen rather than an all-purpose outdoor sports SPF.

And finally, if you’re someone who has avoided chemical sunscreens because you expect them to feel greasy, sticky, or heavy, I think this is one worth trying. KraveBeauty Beet The Sun SPF 40 +++ isn’t perfect, but it successfully turns sunscreen from something I tolerate into something I actually enjoy wearing—and for a product I am supposed to use every single day, that matters a lot.