Can This Kosas Sunscreen Upgrade Your Makeup Routine?

HANITRA’S REVIEW

• Skin type: Oily and acne-prone

• Skin tone: Medium tan

I like a fluid SPF that blends in easily, something like Ultra Violette Fave Fluid SPF 50+ Lightweight Fragrance Free Skinscreen, N/A or Supergoop! Every.Single.Face Watery Lotion SPF 50, N/A. I always lean toward chemical formulas (preferably factor 50) as I’ve always experienced a white cast from mineral sunscreens I’ve tried in the past.

I never skip SPF – on lazy days it’ll be the only skincare step in my routine. I like to use exfoliants or retinol in the evening, so it’s important I protect my skin during the day after to avoid any damage. Plus, as I’m acne-prone and pigmentation is one of my top skin concerns, I want to prevent those spots from getting any darker. Together with vitamin C, sunscreen is one of the best ways to combat my pigmentation.

I expected the texture to be more liquid or fluid. The consistency is quite thick, but the applicator makes it easy to apply and measure how much I’m applying. I like that Sunlit has a bronzy tint to it – this makes it the first mineral SPF that works for my skin tone. When you first squeeze it out, the texture looks grey, but you just need to blend it in for the pigments to be released and turn bronzy.

Compared to my usual sunscreens, I had to rub it in a little more to make sure it was well blended into my skin. The finish is glowy but doesn’t look oily, which is important for me as I tend to get shiny throughout the day.

The finish is really nice; it gives the skin a lovely glow that lasts all day. I’ve been enjoying wearing it on ‘no makeup’ days. I can definitely wear this on its own, but I don’t think it replaces my makeup base on days I want coverage. I still found that my pigmentation was peeking through when I would wear just this product.

Overall, I don’t think it really changed my skin, but I like that it’s formulated with ceramides and peptides. It’s great to use on its own when you're feeling lazy and don’t want to use too many serums that would usually contain these ingredients. Also, my skin didn’t feel any oilier than usual, which is a big bonus for me as sunscreens can be quite oily.

When I first applied it, I found it worked really well with my skincare and makeup. But, as the day went on, I noticed some pilling around my hairline. It wasn’t too noticeable, but to avoid any issues in the future, I’ll probably avoid this sunscreen on days when I’m wearing a lot of makeup. It’s unfortunate I experienced some pilling, otherwise this could have become a go-to for me!

KEELEY’S REVIEW

• Skin type: Normal, sometimes dry

• Skin tone: Fair medium

My skin type tends to fluctuate throughout the year, so I often depend on a radiant glow to revive my complexion during the colder months. I opted for the shade Sunlit, which was ideal for those ‘no makeup’ days when I would love a bit of colour on my face. I was instantly captivated from the moment I applied it! It blended seamlessly into my skin and left the most gorgeous radiance.

One thing I’ve absolutely loved is wearing it underneath Kosas BB Burst on days I want some extra coverage. It layered beautifully and gave my finished makeup a boosted glow. In terms of wear, overall, I felt this product lasted very nicely. I often find myself touching my face throughout the day, but I didn't notice any transfer or signs of wear at all.

I will absolutely be incorporating this product into my daily routine. I must admit I’m not the best at wearing my SPF daily – but what I can say is that this will be my new choice purely due to the fact that it’s made my skin look so healthy. Since using it, I’ve received a lot of compliments on my skin, and I felt confident when wearing it. I can see this being a long-term favourite of mine!

SHAWNEE’S REVIEW

• Skin type: Dry/combination

• Skin tone: Fair neutral

Once upon a time I did not use SPF – however, it’s now an integral part of my skincare routine. As someone with sensitive, breakout-prone skin, I find it quite hard to find something that offers strong protection while also providing me with a beautiful finish and working well with my makeup. With this formula I now have something that combines my love for skincare AND makeup!

One of the most unique things about this product is the applicator. SPF can be messy: you either end up not getting the right measure or wasting product – however, it's really easy to get the right amount with this product. The formula is hydrating and feels light as air, but the finish is really impactful. I find that this product really helps to brighten my skin tone and makes me look fresh and awake.

The shade OG has a beautifully peachy tone. The pigment isn’t strong enough to drastically change your complexion like a foundation would, however, I found it very complimentary both on its own and underneath my makeup. This Kosas sunscreen offered no interference with my base products, and I think it actually boosted the look of my makeup!

Overall, I’d highly recommend this product. If you’re a long-term SPF lover, this product will offer you an elevated experience benefiting both skin health and aesthetics. I'm already looking forward to transitioning from OG to Sunlit once summer arrives!

VANESSA’S REVIEW

• Skin type: Oily, sometimes dehydrated

• Skin tone: Olive

I’ll be honest – I’m very smug about wearing SPF all year round, and love being that annoying friend that bangs on about the importance of SPF. But when this viral Kosas product landed on our desks, I was genuinely a little confused – it’s not a skin tint, but there are two shades? Is this product necessary?

Well, I’m now eating my initial thoughts – yes, this product is necessary. As someone who’s never worn any form of tinted sunscreen, it surpassed all my expectations – I loved the radiance it gave from the get-go. But most importantly, as someone who has an extensive (or excessive?) skincare routine, and wears makeup most days of the week, I cannot deal with any form of pilling. So, it passed the main test for me – as well as keeping me radiant and protected, no pilling issues were met. What a win!

I did struggle to decide which shade to try. Initially, I went for OG, feeling like my skin is ‘pale’ at the moment after a few months of winter hibernation. Whilst I did like the finish, I eventually decided to try Sunlit too – and I’d say I ultimately prefer this shade. I loved the bronzy effect, and I thought it worked for my complexion’s undertones (which are a little darker than the rest of my body). However, I did also get ‘experimental’ – I mixed both shades and loved this effect; I felt like it made my skin look even smoother and more radiant.

Going forward, I’ll probably just alternate them depending on my mood and how pale or olive I’m looking, although I’ll most likely be gravitating more towards Sunlit come the warmer months (however, I do tend to wear SPF 50 come summer). It’s been such a lovely discovery for me – but I hope there can be more shades made in the future!

BECCI’S REVIEW

• Skin type: Combination

• Skin tone: Light olive

I wear SPF daily, so I knew this would slot into my skincare routine seamlessly. Plus, it was perfect timing as I was heading off on holiday – so a multitasking product with a hint of tint and sun protection sounded like just what I needed.

I chose to test OG – in hindsight, because I was away for 10 days in the Sri Lankan sun and my skin already has warm and olive undertones, I should have probably picked Sunlit. However, it wasn’t a problem as the tint is so light that it creates more of a dewy sheen on the skin as opposed to full coverage.

The first time I applied it I clearly didn’t take it up to my hairline, as I noticed I had a striped, tan mark later in the day – it was a good reminder to ensure I blend the product all over my face and use enough too! It works into the skin really well as it’s a lightweight fluid; it doesn’t feel sticky or heavy. I love the fact that it’s waterproof – a must when you’re in and out of the pool or trying your hand at surfing (I was underwater more than I’d like to admit). It has a gentle suncream aroma which I like as it leant into the holiday vibes – since coming home, I’ve continued to use it to transport me back to sunnier climes.

Despite being on holiday, I did want a touch more coverage to hide my spots and dark circles –so I added some concealer on top and dotted on a liquid bronzer to give my skin a touch of warmth. In these pictures I’ve used it after my morning serum and before my CC cream to give my skin sun protection and hydration, it’s full of hyaluronic acid and ceramides which prevent any dryness.

It definitely lives up to its ‘Beam’ claims – after applying it I always notice my skin has a glow that isn’t shiny, it’s like a healthy gleam. Plus, because it’s featherweight I didn’t worry about it causing breakouts.

As someone who religiously applies SPF, I’ll keep using it under my makeup base. I might try Sunlit once I run out of OG, as I think will suit my skin tone better – especially now that I’m sporting a subtle tan.

OLIVIA’S REVIEW

• Skin type: Oily, sometimes dehydrated

• Skin tone: Light olive

I manage to wear SPF about 4 to 5 days a week. I don’t have a strong preference between mineral and chemical sunscreens, but I try to avoid white-cast SPFs since they tend to counteract the bronzing drops I use as part of my daily routine.

My first thoughts on Dream Beam? I absolutely adore the packaging – it drew me in right away! The applicator tip is one of the best I’ve seen; it doesn’t leak or overflow, and the circular tip makes it easy to apply without accidentally scratching my skin. Application was smooth and easy, but I had to work quickly since it seemed to dry down faster than other SPFs I use. The scent was neutral, with no overpowering fragrance or harsh chemical notes.

The shade looked a little whiter than I expected at first, but it worked almost like a CC cream, adjusting as I blended it out. However, since I tested it without my usual bronzing drops, I did feel a little paler than I would have liked. The finish was just as I’d hoped – it gave my skin a nice tint. However, the texture didn’t feel as hydrating as I expected from a ‘glowy’ SPF, which was surprising given how smoothly it applied.

Right after application, my skin looked smooth and even – but as the hours passed, the dryness became more noticeable. No irritation or breakouts, but I wouldn’t say my skin felt particularly hydrated or ‘glowy’ either. On the plus side, I didn’t get as oily as I sometimes do, which was a nice surprise!

Unfortunately, I experienced pilling with every combination of my skincare routine, and have yet to find the right mix of products to pair it with. I also tried applying it directly after cleansing, but my skin felt quite parched, so I need to find a way to add hydration underneath. Under makeup, it worked well if I kept my skincare layers minimal, but again, the dryness was noticeable.

I love Kosas' formulas, so I really want to make this one work for me. I think it would be perfect for summer and those makeup-free, golden hour evenings. I just need to find the right balance with my skincare routine – unfortunately, I haven’t quite nailed it yet!

THE VERDICT ON KOSAS DREAMBEAM

Overall, our team members enjoyed using the new Kosas sunscreen, calling out the light feel, radiant finish and easiness to apply. “If you're new to SPF, this is a great way to start!” says Shawnee. “Being a makeup-skincare hybrid, it's really easy to work into your daily routine and get you in the habit of applying sun protection.”

• The Pros: As well as not having any reactions, all our testers loved its glow-boosting effects. Shawnee called out how easy it is to use and apply thanks to its applicator, and Hanitra was pleased it didn’t exacerbate any oiliness.

• The Cons: “It would be great if Kosas can come out with more shades of this, as it’s such a nice product,” says Vanessa. Both Hanitra and Olivia experienced some pilling issues, and Olivia found the formula a bit drying. "I’d love if it offered a touch more hydration," she says.

MORE FROM KOSAS

Unsurprisingly, our colleagues think that this SPF makes a great match for many of Kosas’ base products. While Keeley loved pairing it with KOSAS BB Burst Tinted Gel Cream, N/A, Hanitra mentions one of her favourite concealers. “If I want to go for a light makeup look, this would work well with KOSAS Revealer Concealer, N/A on the areas where I want more coverage,” says Hanitra. “I recommend using this alongside KOSAS Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25, N/A and KOSAS Cloud Set Setting Powder, N/A,” adds Shawnee. “This combination will give you a dreamy, soft glow base that will last all day.”

We also love the super pigmented and hyaluronic acid infused KOSAS Blush is Life Baked Dimensional + Brightening Blush, N/A – it’s a gorgeous pop of colour for the cheeks. Live for brows that are always on point? You can team KOSAS Air Brow - Tinted Volumizing Treatment Gel, N/A and KOSAS Brow Pop Nano, N/A together. Finally, for a luscious, dewy lip look, why not pair KOSAS Hotliner Hyaluronic Acid Contouring Lip Liner, N/A with KOSAS Wet Lip Oil Gloss, N/A?