Dear, Klairs Soft Airy UV Essence: What the Brand's Own Clinical Testing Returned
Last updated September 13, 2026
Dear, Klairs commissioned four clinical institutions and published the results itself — a range of SPF 12.4 to 25 against a label of SPF 50+ — then discontinued the product and offered full refunds.
These figures are the brand's own. In April 2021 Dear, Klairs published a results table covering three of its sunscreens, including two that fell short of their labels and one that did not. That is unusual enough to be worth saying plainly: the numbers below were disclosed by the company that sold the product, not extracted from it.
What was tested
Four clinical institutions commissioned by Dear, Klairs measured SPF 12.4 to 25, 30 April 2021
Four clinical institutions commissioned by Dear, Klairs measured SPF 12.4 to 25 against a label of SPF 50+. In the body's own words:
(*The clinical trial SPF is based on a range of test values following various criteria, including the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Notice Act, ISO24444:2010 and ISO24444:2019 standards.)
Method, as Four clinical institutions commissioned by Dear, Klairs states it: Testing at four clinical institutions against several criteria, described by the brand as including the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Notice Act, ISO 24444:2010 and ISO 24444:2019. The published figure is a range across those institutions rather than a single value: 12.4 to 25.
What the brand said
The publication is itself the brand's statement, and it is unusually direct.
We take full responsibility for the lack of action on our end to verify the SPF of our products before launching.
What happened next
- 30 April 2021 — Dear, Klairs discontinued sales of the Soft Airy UV Essence and Mid Day Blue UV Shield and offered a full refund. Dear, Klairs official statement.
Market status: withdrawn by the brand, per the statement linked above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who measured these figures?
Four clinical institutions commissioned by the brand. Dear, Klairs published the resulting range itself. No consumer-testing organisation and no regulator published a measured figure for this product.
Why is the result a range rather than one number?
Because the brand published a range across four institutions and several criteria, which it describes as including the MFDS Notice Act, ISO 24444:2010 and ISO 24444:2019. The figures are reproduced here exactly as the brand printed them.
Was the product withdrawn?
Yes. The brand discontinued this product and the Mid Day Blue UV Shield and offered a full refund.
SPF List did not test this product. The results on this page were published by the named test body or regulator; quotes and links go to the original publication. Brand responses and later developments are listed where they were published. Formulations change; a result applies to the batch and date tested.