The Guru Index›Gurus›Liah 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
30Products
25 yay96% approval rate
1 nayA few she would skip
1 hot takesWhere she breaks from the pack

Liah Yoo, in short.

What does Liah Yoo recommend?

Liah Yoo has reviewed 30 products. Of the ones she gives a clear yes or no to,she approves 96%. The products she rates highest and brings up most are Bloom Effects Royal Tulip Hydrating B-Phase Tonic, Bubble Plus One Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40 and Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick SPF 50.

Which sunscreens does Liah Yoo recommend?

She has reviewed 8 sunscreens and approved 7 of them. The ones she rates highest are Bubble Plus One Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40, Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick SPF 50 and ISDIN Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50.

Which toners does Liah Yoo recommend?

She has reviewed 4 toners and approved 4 of them. The ones she rates highest are Bloom Effects Royal Tulip Hydrating B-Phase Tonic, I'm From Rice Toner and Good Light Moon Glow Milky Toning Lotion.

Which serums does Liah Yoo recommend?

She has reviewed 3 serums and approved 3 of them. The ones she rates highest are Emma Lewisham Supernatural Triple Vitamin A Face Oil.

What does Liah Yoo say no to?

She has skipped 1 of the 30 products she has reviewed. The ones she is clearest about are Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides with Amino Acids, Iron and Protein.

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 30 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
Sunscreen8 reviews
"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."
✓Yay
73%Guru Score
"These are going to be great options to regulate the shininess throughout the day"
✓Yay
73%Guru Score
"This can replace all of your foundations, seriously, it's so stunning. It's actually very tinted so it does offer you decent coverage. If you do have some redness, I think this will just capture and cancel out all the redness. This has zinc oxide only 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."
✓Yay
83%Guru Score
"This has 15 percent zinc oxide. I can't really recognize any SPF booster in the formula so I hope it is SPF 40 but I think it's a decent amount. It has a beautiful antioxidant called capucapu seed butter, it has a high omega-3 profile with lilac extract and raspberry seed extract. This is such a stunning formula. It's so watery, I was so shocked. It doesn't have a cast at all, it's just literally disappears on my skin, living that beautifully bronzed look."
✓Yay
65%Guru Score
"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."
~Mixed
64%Guru Score
"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."
✓Yay
84%Guru Score
"This is such a beautiful formula. I would travel with it on a long travel because this is an easy wash formula. I wouldn't recommend you going into the beach or into the pool with this, but if you have toddlers, I think this is a really great formula for you to apply to them. It's very cushiony, pillowy, melts to your skin right away. It's very comfortable on your skin, it's non-irritating. Illiyoon makes fabulous products, especially for eczema."
✓Yay
84%Guru Score
"It just literally melts into your skin. 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. If you are a fan of that glass skin look or the glowy skin look, this product is the way to go."
✓Yay
66%Guru Score
Toners4 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."
✓Yay
84%Guru Score
"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."
✓Yay
94%Guru Score
"And I've gone through two bottles of this and this is my third one."
✓Yay
75%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
78%Guru Score
Serums3 reviews
"You only need so little, it'll just coat your skin like magic. I've been religiously using this during the colder months and the entire year. I tried a lot of Bakuchiol-containing products and they didn't do anything, but this product really works. I'm almost done with this product and I'm definitely repurchasing. If you are looking for a retinoid product that's encapsulated in an oil, this is something that you should definitely try."
✓Yay
82%Guru Score
"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
85%Guru Score
Cleansers2 reviews
"Makeup Rewind is my favorite product. [...] Use more of that, everybody."
✓Yay
82%Guru Score
"The AXIS-Y Mugwort Pore Clarifying Wash-Off Pack is gentle clarifying and super hydrating, perfect for acne prone skin. It contains 61% buckwheat which not only protects the skin but also revitalizes it and soothes. This mask can be used as a spot treatment for gentle care for the skin or you can apply it to your oily area like your T-Zone for a clarifying treatment. It's an excellent choice for maintaining your skin's health and barrier function."
✓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
68%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
Mists & Essences2 reviews
"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
86%Guru Score
"Skin Food Propolis Enriched Essence, not a stranger, a fantastic choice especially for those with acne-prone skin due to its natural antiviral and antimicrobial properties. It's been my Holy Grail for years, you guys know it. It's especially great for colder months. It doesn't contain any essential oils making it perfect for sensitive skin. It's a key player in replenishing your skin's hydration levels and restoring its barrier."
✓Yay
85%Guru Score
Moisturizers2 reviews
"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
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."
✓Yay
76%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
Masks & Peels1 review
"I love like the age toner the most."
✓Yay
85%Guru Score
Other1 review
"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
Retinoids1 review
"And I've seen some really really brilliant before and afters for that. I'm really proud of this invention because we not only did our retinaldehyde stabilization part, but also sourced carrots [...] from Jejo Island that are abandoned, discarded just because it doesn't meet the beauty standard for grocery stores. [...] So we're trying to help waste less from all these farms. And it's extracted and bottled in this beautiful retinaldehyde serum bottle."
✓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
Tools1 review
"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

This week's top beauty news, in your inbox.

A weekly read of the takes worth catching up on: the raves, the splits, the ones the gurus won't shut up about. Free, no spam, unsubscribe whenever.

Subscribe to the digest

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.