What On Earth Is BB Cream?
With BB, CC, DD and now EE, we’re finding it hard to keep up. Firstly, we’ve been sceptical about whether these creams actually do what they promise or if they were just invented for the sake of alliteration and an easy marketing pitch.
“Beauty balm” is a bit vague, “colour correcting” is getting there, “daily defence”… really? Is that the best you could do?
But in the name of simplifying our daily beauty routines, we thought we’d give these multi-tasking miracle creams a shot… starting at the very beginning with BB.
And let’s just say it didn’t take long to get us hooked.
Let us shed some light on our newfound friend, the BB cream – unlike your standard tinted moisturiser, a BB cream works double-time to protect skin while giving a sheer, natural coverage. This means you can cut down on the number of products you’re using every day (foundation, SPF, serum) because the BB acts like an all-in-one.
What’s not to love? It’s subtle, sheer, natural, offers longterm benefits and saves us time and space in our beauty bags.
Click through to discover six that definitely live-up to the hype.
By Carmen Hamilton.
Best matte finish – Bobbi Brown BB SPF 30
Bobbi Brown’s BB has a slightly creamier texture with light to medium coverage, but two layers will build it up to be more foundation-like. It has a built-in SPF 30+ and dries semi-matte, so it’s great for those who don’t do ‘shiny’ skin.
Best all-rounder – Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45
Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm has a built-in SPF 45+, giving it maximum protection without the greasiness of most sunscreens. The rich, luxurious formula feels creamy and intensely nourishing on the skin and has a radiant yet semi-matte finish. Infused with white gold, this BB also has anti-ageing and brightening properties.
Best on warmer skin tones – Diorskin Nude BB Creme
Dior’s BB feels a lot creamier than most, and dries almost completely matte with a sheer finish. It has a light SPF 10, and is infused with mineralised floral water which gives it a beautiful scent. The available shades have quite warm , though, so this one is best for those with pink undertones over yellow.
Best for a glow – MAC Prep + Prime Beauty Balm SPF 35
Light to medium coverage with a seriously dewy finish. MAC’s Prep + Prime Beauty Balm BB is extremely lightweight so it glides over the skin and blends easily while giving your skin a big moisture boost.
Best for dry skin – Estée Lauder Double Wear All-Day Glow BB Moisture Makeup
The creamy formula has a sheer finish but leaves the skin feeling soft and deeply hydrated. It has light coverage but can be built-up when needed, and has moderate protection with a built-in SPF 30.
Best for imperfections – Shu Uemura Stage Performer BB Perfector
Shu Uemura’s Stage Performer BB Perfector glides on over the skin easily and diffuses imperfections without feeling too heavy. It dries semi-matte and translucent, but still gives skin a luminous finish.
Clockwise from left: Bobbi Brown in ‘natural’, Dior in ‘003’, Dr. Jart+ in universal shade, MAC in ‘light plus’, Shu Uemura in universal shade and Estée Lauder in ‘5.0’.
