The Guru IndexGurusLiah Yoo
Liah Yoo
Skincare expert

Liah Yoo.

Liah Yoo built her channel around making skincare feel less overwhelming, focusing heavily on sunscreen coverage alongside ingredients and routine advice. Her time developing products at L'Oréal, followed by founding her own brand KraveBeauty, means her analysis tends to come with real formulation context behind it.

Why Is She A Guru?
Former L'Oréal product development professional and founder of skincare brand KraveBeauty, with firsthand cosmetic formulation experience.
Founder · Krave Beauty
33Products
26 yay96% approval rate
1 nayA few she would skip
1 hot takesWhere she breaks from the pack

What they review most.

Liah Yoo's hot takes.

Products where their take diverges from the rest of the gurus.

Liah Yoo: Nay vs gurus 67% Yay
The vital proteins collagen, the main supplier of this is divorcing the Amazon rainforest in Brazil so I would probably not go with that. I would also look for hydrolyzed collagen for better absorption and better digestion.

Every review.

All 33 products Liah Yoo has reviewed, grouped by product type. Click a product to see the full guru consensus.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Against the gurus
Sunscreen13 reviews
"I love the original Relief Sun but some people find that to be a little bit glowier. It's very moisturizing, it is still lightweight but very moisturizing, and then it has a titanium oxide in there and that's the insoluble chemical filter so it's not going to dissolve so therefore it can leave a white cast on deeper skin tones. Really this is stunning, bias aside, objectively the finish and texture of this are really really nice. This basically gives that glow that you get from another sunscreen in a more oily skin friendly way. It really is aqua fresh. I've seen a lot of deep skin creators try this and it just looks stunning on them. It's like almost flat, and the minute that this was launched it kind of reminded me of those like Japanese sunscreens. It does give that vibe. I will say and it's alcohol free. I believe it's also niacinamide free, don't quote me on that one, so if you have sensitivity to alcohol or niacinamide, gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous option."
Yay
92%Guru Score
"One beef that I have with any sunstick that I've tried is they are very oily, they tend to be almost like a lip balm on your face. But this product is the only one that I can comfortably apply on my face because it doesn't give me that like lip baliness all over my face. It actually feels like there's no shininess or glow to it because this is also made for oily skin in mind. It gives that beautiful kind of powdery finish but it's very comfortable on your skin. I've been really enjoying this. During the development process I was like I need it more matte and they're like you have oil soluble actives in here that are making it oilier so we took those out. There's a lot of powder mattifiers in there but if you have deeper skin those powder mattifiers can leave a white cast if you don't rub it in afterwards. And part of the incentive of a sunstick is you don't have to rub it necessarily, so that is something to note. It's not the most white cast free on very deep skin."
Yay
72%Guru Score
"I actually did a whole roster ranking of super goop dupes and to me this one was number one. It is water resistant and only $8, but to me it's one of those where it feels like it's only $8. It gets the job done."
~Mixed
82%Guru Score
"This is one of my favorites. It's a mineral tinted sunscreen with 21.7% zinc oxide, so that's generous. It's SPF 40 and has 80 minute water and sweat resistance. I like these because they're like a really light thin texture. You can see on my skin tone it's like a little bit neutral cool but they also dry down pretty matte. There's the slightest amount of mica or shimmer reflective pigment in there. It has a thinner texture, more matte finish, and more neutral tone compared to other options."
Yay
75%Guru Score
"This is such a beautiful elegant matte sunscreen option. This is the European formula, and in the US they did launch an oil control version that [...] was not matte and not oil control, so if you want this specific version you have to get it from Europe. [...] I found it interesting because normally a lot of the oily and matte finished formulas are in a fluid or gel type that feels super powdery, but this is like a traditional sun cream. As you apply it, it actually feels like you're applying a moisturizer. It is very nourishing and moisturizing at first, then settles down to a very semi-matte to matte finish. You can definitely feel the oil control property throughout the day. If you have really extremely shiny oily skin, I think this will take care of you throughout the day. I like that it doesn't have that instantly drying feeling. There is alcohol in there, which is part of the reason why it sets down and is such a good oily skin formula. I love alcohol in a sunscreen because the humectants, occlusives, and film formers in a sunscreen basically counteract any negative impact of the alcohol."
Yay
70%Guru Score
"This is from Bubble, this is their Plus One Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40. The big advantages for this is that this is 100% mineral, there's no I believe there's no SPF boosters in here, zinc oxide only, yes 15% zinc oxide in there, and the tint is really nice."
Yay
66%Guru Score
"These are going to be great options to regulate the shininess throughout the day"
Yay
73%Guru Score
"This is a sunscreen that you actually want to apply every single day because it doesn't feel stuffy or greasy or chalky on your face. [...] It's their Isle Glow Face Lotion SPF 45, [...] a tinted chemical sunscreen. The whole idea behind it is it gives your face that nice, glowy, illuminated primer finish so you can wear it by itself and have a good glow or it's a nice primer for makeup. [...] The glow comes from effect pigment or interference pigment, which basically just helps to bounce off the light and give that pearlescent effect. The main active behind it is they use a lot of algae derived ingredients which really help to hydrate the skin and give some extra protection. Daily wear to me just means it's not water and sweat resistant, it's not heavy, heavy duty, so this is like on the way to work, on the way to school."
Yay
72%Guru Score
"It's one of my all-time favorite sunscreens and also one of my favorite launches of this last year. It has that Super Goop Unseen Sunscreen vibe, similar family of texture and finish, but this just got the texture and the finish more finessed for a better price point. It has a silicone gel texture that's completely transparent, [...] really does give that primer finish. [...] If you have a sensorial issue where high silicone feel bothers you, this has that, but to me it has more structure to the formula to give it more of that gel vibe. It dries down like matte, perfect for priming. [...] This one's 80 minute water and sweat resistant as well. It has that traditional vanilla coconuty Sun Bum smell, very traditional to their products, but I think much more subdued. [...] I ranked it number one among Super Goop dupes because it [...] gives me that sensorial feeling of being more plush, more velvety."
Yay
88%Guru Score
"It applies like a really hydrating tinted moisturizer that disappears into my skin right away. It doesn't really have any cast on my skin tone, and unlike other tinted mineral sunscreens that rely heavily on silicone, this doesn't have dimethicone or any popular silicone oils. This is an absolutely stunning formula. Because this is developed by a dermatologist, there's an ingredient called phytolis, which is an innovative ingredient encapsulated in liposome that helps improve sun-induced damage while helping to calm and soothe the skin. There's also niacinamide, which is another great antioxidant with squalene, which is a really lightweight oil, and lingonberry, which is really rich in polyphenols and a really potent antioxidant. It's a really rich tinted mineral sunscreen, and it is absolutely amazing."
Yay
84%Guru Score
"When I first applied it again I didn't know this was a mineral sunscreen because it was just so weightless. This is a very beautiful formula if you do want a very demi matte or velvety finish. It can replace all of your foundations, seriously, it's so stunning. It's actually very tinted so it does offer you decent coverage, so if you do have some redness I think this will just capture and cancel out all the redness. This has zinc oxide only as well at 10.7 percent but this is a very classic silicone formula that has a lot of lightweight silicone oils, especially with alcohol in it. I think it's going to be perfect for those who have oilier skin. This contains their own proprietary technology called DNA repair systems which basically reverse the existing sun damage, so if you are looking for an anti-aging product I think this is a really great one. It is 70 dollars for a hundred mil but if you convert that into 50 ml or price per mil it's very comparable to a lot of sunscreens."
Yay
76%Guru Score
"This is a beautifully creamy nourishing formula I would say this is for those who have drier skin as well because it tends to be really greasy just because they pack so much of the UV filters so it's definitely going to lean towards the greasy side. So whenever I use this it does leave me a really greasy shine afterwards that's a little bit uncomfortable for my skin so what I do is I let it sit and then I would apply one ply of tissue and then just blot it gently so that your skin doesn't look like it just came out of the fryer. This also has a large proprietary complex that looks like B3 Shield which is basically a combination of antioxidants and niacinamide so if you are a fan of niacinamide this is a really great addition. Overall I think this is a really decent one especially when I hate all the other Anthelios series for some reason they just burn my eyes and irritate my skin but this guy right here I think it's stellar."
~Mixed
60%Guru Score
"We incorporated beetroot extract and also a humectant hyaluronic acid. This is going to be a super hydrating. Upon contact with your skin, when you apply this, you would be amazed by how easy it applies and how quickly it disappears on top of your skin. It just literally melts into your skin. So I think this is a really great all-arounder for those who hate applying sunscreen. I have had many success just convincing my friends who never wore sunscreen when I just put this on their hands, their life has changed. One of the best things or the best reviews that we get around this product is the beautiful glowy dewy finish. So if you are a fan of that glass skin look or the glowy skin look, this product is the way to go. This is also really great for acne prone skin, sensitive skin, and if you just literally hate American sunscreens, I think this product is the way to go."
Yay
58%Guru Score
Toners3 reviews
"This is a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, nourishing, hydrating, and also a very calming milky toner that just leaves your skin super glowy and super supple. It has a perfect ratio of 15% oil and 85% water-based ingredients, which is great for normal to dehydrated skin and also great for acne-prone skin as well. The founder struggled with eczema all her life, which is why there's 2% colloidal oatmeal, which is a proven ingredient to soothe and calm down eczema skin, which is also a great ingredient for acne-prone skin. On top of that, there's 2% niacinamide. I appreciate the fact that they upcycle the tulip petals after the tulip season is over in the Netherlands. This has been a staple in my skincare routine in the past few months ever since I discovered it, and it soothes my skin so well and leaves my skin silky smooth."
Yay
84%Guru Score
"I'm From Rice Toner. This product was highly recommended by you guys, which is why I got it in the first place and I loved it. I emptied it. My skin drank it up. And this is a product that I would gladly repurchase as well. It's such a unique product in the sense that the ingredient list is one of the shortest, it's the simplest and also doesn't have fragrance and essential oils which I always appreciate. This is also one of the only products that doesn't have those ceramides or skin barrier repairing serum. So this is staying very true to a brightening hydrating toner with rice bran extract and niacinamide as well. I always love the philosophy of I'm From. I think they do a fantastic job sourcing locally from South Korea, highlighting each individual farm and that's why I love the brand so much. [...] The texture after you mix everything up is still on the thinnest side. [...] This is really great for oily skin or oily combo skin, acne prone skin who's looking to just even out their skin tone."
Yay
95%Guru Score
"We're kicking things off with the Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner, renowned as the number one toner in Korea. I personally love layering this toner about two to three layers, especially when my skin feels parched and dehydrated. Inside, this toner boasts deep sea water from Korea and features patented Hatching EXO7 technology to control sebum production, as well as allantoin and panthenol for that extra hydration and soothing properties."
Yay
79%Guru Score
Cleansers2 reviews
"Makeup Rewind is my favorite product. [...] Use more of that, everybody."
Yay
87%Guru Score
"The axis y m word wash off mask is gentle clarifying it's super hydrating it's perfect for acne prone skin"
Yay
84%Guru Score
Haircare2 reviews
"The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density is a very peptide forward serum to promote hair growth. It's a water-based formula which is so easy to use on your scalp. I'm not going to guarantee your hair growth or anything, but definitely in conjunction with some physical stimulation with a scalp brush and these wooden tools would be worth trying."
~Mixed
69%Guru Score
"I think these are worth a try I'm not going to guarantee like your hair growth or anything"
~Mixed
66%Guru Score
Moisturizers2 reviews
"They have hexaeptide 11 and a good blend of ceramide complex. So you're not only getting the skin barrier repairing story, but you're also getting a much more skin firming story. So if you have extremely dry skin looking for peptides and ceramides, I think this is the one. And also, you can't really beat the price for this. The only thing that really bothers me though is a slight odor that I would have to say from the ingredients in the base. I don't know what that is, but it's not like the most pleasant smell on this planet, but that's the only thing. But other than that, beautiful experience. Really, really soothing and skin conditioning. And also very substantially heavier in terms of the body. So you would love it if especially if you're trying to layer multiple different coats of a liquid moisturizer."
~Mixed
79%Guru Score
"This cream is enriched with three types of hyaluronic acid and five multi-ceramides providing essential skin barrier repair. It has a very unique sorbet or sherbet texture that immediately melts into your skin so you don't feel any heavy, greasy, oily film at all, but it still does a great job at holding all the moisture and hydration inside all day long. If you're looking for a more natural semi-matte finish, Tocobo Multi Ceramide Cream is going to be your friend."
Yay
Notverified
Other2 reviews
"These are Beautyblender Biopure Sponges made with renewable sugarcane fiber and it is a latex free formula. What I love about this is that it's actually much softer and much more bouncy, cushiony and softer than any other Beautyblenders of the same range. I love this because it doesn't really have a lot of texture which means that it goes on really smooth and it has a very streak free finish with your concealer, with your powder and all that. I've been really really loving this which is why I have so many."
Yay
84%Guru Score
"I've been holding out to buy this for years and years and years. Even though I was curious about it, I was like, I'm happy with my curling iron. But no, girl, I have the most fine, straight, and flat hair. So volume is everything. This one is a game changer because it has like all these curling attachments. It makes my hair look super poofy, voluminous, and also these curls last for another 2 days. And with curling irons, my curls did not last even a day. So for this, I'm very happy with my purchase. I shout to all my friends. I shout to all my team members about this Shark Flex Styler. I get a lot of compliments with my curls and my new hairstyles. So I've been really loving it."
Yay
73%Guru Score
Serums2 reviews
"Ola is a unique oil serum that really helps prevent breakouts. And people were seeing crazy before and afters and testimonials. And they were compelled to share it on their own Tik Tok page."
Yay
84%Guru Score
"Great barrier relief from our brand Krave Beauty is a product that really will soothe and nourish your skin barrier. Moisture sandwich it by using a first coat of Great Barrier Relief, add a layer of retinol, then sandwich it with another coat of Great Barrier Relief."
Yay
87%Guru Score
Blush & Bronzer1 review
"I have the Fenty Beauty contouring stick in the shade Amber which is the exact product that the K-pop makeup artist who does makeup for NEWJEANS and BLACKPINK used for my makeup and this has a perfect neutral undertone that's not either too cool or too warm that looks like a bronzer. This has like the exact neutral shade or real shadow that is so perfect and looks so natural. I've been really into this and it has been my staple. It's so easy to travel with and it blends in so well. What I love about this the most is it has a powdery finish which actually is a plus because a lot of sticks can be very sticky and too moisturizing that your hair sticks to everywhere but this doesn't."
Yay
75%Guru Score
Eye Makeup1 review
"You basically need to create any daily eyeshadow eye makeup routine, it has one matte shade, one shimmery shade, and one glittery shade, which is exactly what I actually need to build a three shade eye makeup look. It comes in so handy to just travel and just to use on the go, and it's kind of like a fuss free, you don't need to think about it and you apply it, it looks good. This has been my go-to eyeshadow palette of the year."
Yay
82%Guru Score
Lip1 review
"I have one from Naked Sundays, this is their Glow + Go Lip Oil, and it's completely clear. It goes on beautiful, it's stunning. I always get compliments on this because when it just melts into your lip it has a really nice hyper gloss sheen. My one beef with this is it has this very flat applicator that's so flimsy. I was expecting a chubby, do fit and it's not. I mean it gets the job done and you can just lay it on the lip and slide it, it deposits the product nicely, but I want a chubby do."
~Mixed
70%Guru Score
Masks & Peels1 review
"I love like the age toner the most."
Yay
85%Guru Score
Mists & Essences1 review
"There's a lot of rice derived ingredients, a lot of nourishing emollient and it even has shea butter. It [...] also has sunflower seed oil, meadow foam seed oil as well for that extra nourishment and emollient type of experience. Despite all the ingredients, I wouldn't say this is the heaviest formula. This is definitely still a very fast absorbing, almost like a hydrating serum like formula that instantly just melts into the skin leaving your skin pretty dewy and glowy, but it's not like overly greasy or heavy."
Yay
87%Guru Score
Retinoids1 review
"I've seen some really really brilliant before and afters for that."
Yay
83%Guru Score
Supplements1 review
"The vital proteins collagen, the main supplier of this is divorcing the Amazon rainforest in Brazil so I would probably not go with that. I would also look for hydrolyzed collagen for better absorption and better digestion."
Nay
67%Guru Score

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Liah Yoo is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, The Guru Index. Every quote on this page comes from her public YouTube videos, linked at the timestamp. Verdicts and approval stats are our editorial read of what she said. "Guru" is a title we award, not a sign of any affiliation.