Review: Krave Beauty – Oat So Simple Water Cream

Where to purchase: The Krave Collection is Available on Stylevana (UK): HERE / (US): HERE / (AU): HERE / (CA): HERE / (GE): HERE / (FR): HERE

Price: The Cream Costs $28 but buying it from resellers meant it cost £28 (which is $35)

Volume: 80ml

What is it?: A simple, moisturiser that’s a good mix between water and oil.

What’s good about it?: This has less than 10 ingredients so it’s meant to reduce the chance of irritating skin, and is also meant to be a versatile product i.e. you can mix it with your retinol or serums etc. Krave also state that this is also good for hydrating the skin.

Good for: Sensitive skins, skins in more humid climates and oily skins.

(Note – yes this is lightweight and good for humid climates, but I would say if you’re in hot and humid climates then the cosrx Snail facial cream may be better for you as that is even more water-based and lightweight).

Also, I don’t think very dehydrated or dry skins would find this moisturising/hydrating enough. But for those of you who don’t like wearing moisturisers and who find that they’re too heavy or feel like they’re blocking your pores, I think this would be nice!

Packaging: This comes in a recyclable jar with a screw top lid. The jar is made of glass and the lid is plastic. This also comes with a hygiene tab and a cute little Krave spatula which initially I thought I needed and wanted to just dunk my fingers into, but I’ve found, due to the texture of this product (the way it runs down your fingers because it melts so quickly), the spatula is quite useful, to reduce the chance of this falling off my finger.

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Directions: ”Apply Oat So Simple Water Cream in your moisturizer step, however much you need. No rules. Reach for Oat So Simple Water Cream whenever your skin is craving some good old-fashioned hydration from this water-bursting moisturizer.” (From the Krave Website).

How I use it: I do not apply this cream alone. It is too lightweight/thin to be used alone for hydration/moisturisation BUT it’s good to seal in all the moisture underneath. So I use a toner, a serum, and then apply this cream on top which keeps my skin nicely hydrated and moisturised. I can use this both in the AM and PM because it is relatively light. I use the spatula and dip that into the jar and then proceed to transfer onto my fingers then my face. I use the spatula because the product melts so fast due to body heat, that it has the potential to run down my fingers if I’m not fast enough applying this. I use this at the end of my routine in the PM and before sunblock in the AM. I find that a pea sized amount is enough for my whole face.

Key Ingredients: – Butylene Glycol: Moisturiser/humectant/solvent. – Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride: Emollient. – Squalane: Skin-Identical Ingredient, Emollient. – Avena Sativa (Oat) Meal Extract (Soothing)

Full Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Avena Sativa (Oat) Meal Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin

NOTE: Incidecoder have an Ingredient list Breakdown HERE

As you can see this is a mix between water and more oil/emolliet compounds. Hence why it’s near-watery and melts into the skin.

Texture: Definitely more of a cream than a gel. If you would prefer a gel – I recommend the Cosrx Snail Cream instead. With the kind of bouncy, near-pudding like texture of this product (similar to the Tony Moly Chok Chok Watery Cream), I understand why they provided a spatula. So it’s interesting that it’s encouraged to mix this with serums as I find it quite hard to pick this up with my fingers and sort of manipulate the product easily enough to then mix it with other serums and such (because it ends up running down my hand/melting due to my body heat).

This is a soothing and cooling texture and I do find it relatively lightweight.

This spreads easily and quickly! I think due to having Squalane, this is very similar in texture to me, to The Ordinary’s Squalane Cleanser! And how it melts into the skin! It also really reminds me of the Inkey List’s Hemp Moisturiser!

It disappears into the skin, no weird sticky residue either. It’s not tacky once dried down. And it doesn’t have that velvety, matte silicone feel.

[Video – My Evening Routine – Including Swatches!]

Fragrance?: No added EO or fragrance – it smells mainly of squalane to me.

Good Under Makeup?: Yes! I could use this as a primer.

How long have I been using this?: A month

The Effect?: Hydrated and moisturised skin, I feel like this cream locks in the moisture as well. HOWEVER I can understand why those with dry skins/those who live in dry climates/ those with very dehydrated skins would say that this is not enough and not adequate. But I do think those who like thin, lightweight formulas as I do – would find this satisfactory IF you put a hydrating serum on underneath (like the Niod MMHC – review HERE) or a hydrating toner like the Hada Labo Premium Lotion (review HERE).

What I like:

• No frills! (No unnecessary ingredients)
• No EO or Fragrance
• I like that this has been considered for extremely sensitive skin (making it by logic, suitable for everyone)
• I like that this is more water-based AND YET still has oils (to keep the balance between oil and water in the skin).
• The texture is very lightweight
• Not sticky/tacky
• Layerable (i.ee you can apply 2 layers)
• Hydrates AND moisturises
• Has a sort of cooling effect when applied onto the skin

What I don’t like:

• I do prefer my moisturisers in tube packaging (I don’t like sticking my fingers in and being unhygienic) also it means that I can control how much product I want at any given time without exposing the rest of the product to the air.
• I find the spatula necessary as the product itself can be a bit fiddly using just my fingers to dig out and apply. (The way the texture of this product is (similar to the Tony Moly Green Tea Chok Chok Watery Cream) – it’s not the easiest to pick up with the fingers and manipulate to mix in with other serums.)
• I couldn’t just cleanse, use this and go to sleep. This is not hydrating/moisturising enough on it’s own and does require a toner and a serum before applying for me – but it is really good as it helps lock that moisture in without feeling like I’ve applied a thick heavy cream on top.

Overall Rating and Conclusion: 4/5 – This is a gentle cream, and I like that it’s in the middle between being oily and watery. No this is not a gel cream (I think the Cosrx Advanced Snail 92 all in one cream – post HERE – is something more like a watery/gel cream which I find more watery). I do think that this is lightweight and similar to the Etude House Soon Jung Emulsion (both also contain squalane), but this has more of a watery/cooling effect. As said before, if you have my skin type (see below), you will understand why I appreciate how lightweight this is. This is a good sealant to keep my moisture/hydration locked in. But as said before, I wouldn’t use this on it’s own with nothing underneath.

Dupe?: The Tony Moly Green Tea Chok Chok Watery Cream (Review HERE)

Or if you want a more oil/water mix, then the Soon Jung Emulsion HERE

Would I repurchase?: Yes I would! I genuinely have found this as a nice cream (not my favourite product as I prefer gels), but as a cream, I would put this up there.

My Skin Type: I am acne prone and have combo skin. My skin is usually tight where the cheeks and eye area is and the outer parts of my face. My T zone is oily. My skin isn’t a fan of thick/heavy formulas so I opt for lightweight formulas to prevent it from clogging up. My skin doesn’t like essential oils either and I try to avoid fragrance when I can.

Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.