Hi lovelies!
Another week, and another instalment :) So this week, I've decided to do a review on Western BB creams that rival some Asian BB cream brands. It is so difficult to find a BB cream that actually does what it's meant to, as well as 'perfecting' our skin to make it flawless. The colours, the ingredients, and the SPF quality always plague our minds when buying a Beauty Balm. So here are my reviews on the products and hope it helps you to find one just perfect for a perfect you! Of course I don't have all the BB creams, but below are just some pointers you should be looking out for.
Fun Facts on BB creams:
- BB creams are short for beauty balms of blemish balms.
- It is considered an 'all in one' product which makes your skin feel smoother without a too much of the thick consistency of foundation. Many of them claim that they will 'beautify' your skin, to make it better over time. BB creams treat your skin and can contain:
- Vitamins A, E and C as well as peptides and antioxidants
- Moisturising elements such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin
- Light reflecting Mica to give skin a luminous finish
- Silicone based ingredients which could act like a foundation primer
- ingredients such as licorice and arbutin that help even out skin tone
- Many women use this all in one beauty balm to replace the zillions of products they need in their beauty regime.
(L to R: Garnier, Nude by Nature, Natio, Maybelline, Loreal)
(L to R: Natio, Garnier, Nude by Nature, Loreal Paris, Maybelline New York) - BB creams.
Maybelline Dream Pure BB, 8-in-1 BB Cream (For Oily Skin) - Light
Pros:
1. One of the first BB creams that contains 2% Saliclyic Acid which fights against acne, and redness on the skin.
2. The consistency is not too thick or too runny, so when you apply the product it feels like a moisturiser that sinks into your skin. It gives a relatively flawless finish, that is nicely dewy.
3. It is for Oily/Combination Skin so it doesn't dry out your skin.
4. Contains SPF15 which is one of the highest in BB creams.
5. The light colour complements lighter skins without a yellow tinge that some foundations and BB creams contain.
5. Does not flake off the skin, and feels again much like a moisturiser.
Cons:
1. Some people say that the light colour, although not yellow, makes your skin look grey. This has yet to happen to me, but on those days that your skin is extra pale I wouldn't recommend using this BB cream.
2. It is not very long-lasting on the skin, so it would be better used as a primer under foundation for long-lasting finish.
3. Not a great range of colours - Light, Medium and Dark. It is hard to find a good colour for every skin type.
3. Not suitable for dry skin - You might want to try the older version Dream Pure BB cream with pink writing!
4. Even though it claims to fight against acne, it doesn't really but does hide redness and blemishes.
Rating: 4/5
Loreal Paris Nude Magique BB Cream 5-1 (Bare Skin Beautifier) - Light Skin Tone
Pros:
1. Contains SPF12 and 24 hour hydration - Suitable for Dry Skin
2. It has smart pigment capsules. It comes out as white and blends into the skin in the 'light tone' skin colour. These beads also make the skin feel very soft!
3. It has a dewy glow as opposed to the Maybelline's Dream Pure BB cream which gives are more matte and 'dull' finish. It is also quite long-lasting
4. Light Skin Tone colour has a yellow tinge - suitable for those with more 'yellow pigmented' skin.
5. Gives flawless skin and colours up all the redness even though the product is quite light in consistency as well.
Cons:
1. For those who want a natural look, this BB cream results in a more foundation like look.
2. Since it takes a lot of effort to blend the beads in, if you're not careful you may not get even coverage as it claims. Sometimes when you're in a rush you might have patches all of your face. (Has happened to me a couple of times!
3. After a while, the product itself gets leaky and doesn't feel as nice on the skin anymore.
4. Can't use a makeup brush with this BB cream - only your hands.
5. It seems to look like a layer of foundation on the skin rather than sinking into the skin and beautifying it that way.
Rating: 3/5
Nude by Nature BB 5-in-1 Miracle Cream - Medium
Pros:
1. Contains Natural Sunscreen (Zinc Oxide) so in flash photography, you would get less of a 'white' face than those above.
2. Unlike the two above, it contains more product (50ml as opposed to 30ml)
3. The colour is quite nice for lighter skin as it blends well into the skin. The Medium colour is good for fair skin, but the lighter one is too 'pinkish'.
4. Long lasting, with good coverage.
Cons:
1. The smell is strong. It smells like a eucalyptus kind of foundation which may be annoying when blended into the skin.
2. It has a thick consistency which feels heavy on the skin - less of a moisturiser and more of a foundation.
3. Good coverage, but not so flawless. It flakes when you touch it, even straight after you apply it. Has a quite 'cakey finish.
4. Only contains natural sunscreen, and not SPF so it wouldn't give you as much UV protection.
5. It has a very dewy finish and doesn't blend in well with the skin - you're left with a sticky layer of BB cream.
Rating: 2/5
Natio Pure Mineral Skin Perfecting BB Cream - Fair
Pros:
1. It is a pure mineral BB cream. Minerals and nutrients are needed for your skin because it oxidises your skin, giving it 'air to breathe'. It is also 'light reflecting', so gives you a radiant glow.
2. Contains SPF15.
3. Gives you lasting hydration - because it contains Vitamin E, Jojoba and Shea Butter. Good for Dry Skin
4. Contains Green Tea and Chamomile to soothe the redness on your skin.
5. It has good coverage which you can replace your heavy foundation with. It is long-lasting.
Cons:
1. It has a very strong foundation smell that is quite off-putting.
2. It covers well but when you look closely, it sinks into the 'lines' of your skin and look like you are wearing foundation.
3. Also gives you a 'sticky' finish on your face after you finish, and doesn't absorb well into your skin
4. The colour selection again isn't wide, and some of the colours are quite light. Even medium is light on the skin
Rating: 3.5/5
Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector - Light/Clair
Pros:
1. Contains SPF15
2. Recommended for drier skin because it leaves an oily finish.
3. Gives you a natural skin glow, and glides along the skin well.
4. Lightweight on the skin, which is good because the chemicals used do not sink into the skin
5. The colour is quite nice because it is so lightweight, blends with your skin-colour
Cons:
1. Because it is so light, it is not as long-lasting as other BB creams.
2. Like the Nude by Nature, it is quite cakey and flakes when you are in more humid/hot weathers.
3. There is a certain smell to it that might be off-putting.
4. It is quite oily/greasy on the skin, not dewy like other products, so it not recommended for Oily/Combination skins.
5. Many people say that this product breaks them out, probably due to the lack of minerals like Natio's BB Cream.
Rating: 3/5
My top picks: Maybelline's Dream Pure BB 8-in-1 BB cream and Natio Pure Mineral BB Cream!
Have a lovely weekend!
Toodles,
Janie.
