BB Cream (Blemish Balm Cream) was originally developed in Germany and used by dermatologists to help laser surgery patients recover, but has since become an international phenomenon. The craze started in Korea, where it was revealed that famously perfect skinned Korean actresses have been using BB Cream as a part of their daily regime.
It’s no wonder cosmetics companies saw the business potential of the cream and began making it available for the wider public. With that boom came many improvements and modifications, and now dozens of companies have their own version of BB Cream. This is of course a good thing, but finding the right product for your skin gets more complicated.
So what exactly is BB Cream?
Blemish Balm Cream can be briefly described as a All-in-One Skincare product. It offers effective moisture and provides natural coverage and sun protection. It actively seeps and blends into your skin helping to achieve a naturally flawless look in less than one minute.
Unlike foundation, BB Cream will not block up your pores and cause acne. Instead, BB Cream contains natural ingredients which actively kills the bacteria that cause acne and soothes your skin from any kind of irritation.
Due to its Korean heritage, many BB Cream products carry the explicit term “whitening,” which can have a very negative connotation in the western world. What it really does is that it evens your skin tone by correcting blemishes like sun spots, acne scars and uneven patches.
A typical BB Cream before and after.
BB Cream also:
- Provides a natural and flawless look.
- Provides perfect coverage just like a foundation but without clogging pores or damaging the skin.
- Conceals all types of pigmentation, discoloration, acne and marks.
- Has healing properties which soften, smooth and refine skin.
- Encourages skin regeneration to create and maintain youthful skin.
- Provides UV Protection for healthy skin.
- Sometimes (read descriptions) have additional features such as wrinkle improvement, whitening functions, etc.
How to apply BB Cream properly
Many first time users make a very common mistake when applying BB Cream. They treat it as a moisturizer/foundation and apply too much. When this happens it will start to look like a very thick and heavy foundation.
To properly apply BB cream, get an appropriate amount of BB cream onto the back of your hand. Apply it onto your face in five dots to the forehead, nose, two cheeks and chin. Use a gentle patting motions to spread the BB Cream and rub in a circular motion to blend it into your skin. Continue to blend until it becomes invisible. To cover imperfections dab a little on affected area and repeat the above step to blend.
If you find the patting motion too tedious, you can use your fingertips to gently blend it with outward stroke. When you reach the eye area, remember to gently pat the BB cream at the core part and around your eyes area. This will prevent the fine lines and wrinkles as dragging motion may strain the sensitive skin around eye area.
BB Cream vs. liquid foundation
Some highly-recommended liquid foundations, such as the Revlon ColorStay foundation, only have SPF 15 compared with upward of 50 SPF of some BB Creams. Additionally, most liquid foundations have a very fluid texture which makes it less messy to apply with sponges or brushes rather than finger tips.
BB Cream on the other hand tends to be thicker and creamier than liquid foundation and is said to be waterproof. Most BB creams are also made of botanical ingredients, hence the healing properties that liquid foundations do not have. Also, foundations are famously known for blocking up pores and causing acne, while BB Cream has the exact opposite effect.
Finding the perfect BB Cream
Finding the perfect BB Cream is not an easy task. It is always best to do your research before buying anything, especially with cosmetics products. Below is a checklist for BB Cream newcomers who wish to find the perfect BB Cream.
Research the manufacturer
There are a lot of fakes out there. Buying from eBay or from abroad is not recommended and can be dangerous. Even if they say their products are genuine, they could be fake, so always buy from a reputable company.
Research the BB Cream you are interested in or ask for advice about it
Different BB Creams have different properties and color, so it’s best to find the one that matches your skin tone and type.
Always read reviews on the BB Cream you are interested in purchasing
The same BB Cream can react differently to different skin types. To avoid disappointment, read reviews of the BB cream that you are about to purchase.
BB Cream recommendations
We’ve gone through the most highly recommended BB Creams by customer feedback and ratings. Here are the results.
COVERGIRL Smoothers Lightweight BB Cream delivers all-day hydration to keep your skin feeling luxuriously soft and smooth. The lightweight, sheer coverage blends effortlessly with your skin tone, covering imperfections while letting your natural radiance shine through. Plus, it has broad-spectrum SPF 21 to keep you protected from the sun’s harmful rays.
Maybelline Dream Fresh BB cream 8-in-1 skin perfector is the 1 step wonder for a good skin day, everyday. Get 8 skin benefits in 1 simple step, blurs imperfections, brigh10s, evens skin-t1, smoothes, hydrates, enhances, protects with SPF 30, and contains 0% oils and heavy ingredients.
L’Oréal Paris Magic BB Cream is formulated with Beautifying Beads: color-transforming pigments that counteract redness. This hydrating, ultra-light lotion delivers 4 beautifying actions in 1: neutralizes the look of redness, corrects skin color for a healthy looking even complexion, hydrates for all day moisture and perfects to hide imperfections.
The famous Skin79 BB Cream range, which runs the gamut of skin types and benefits, receives glowing reviews all around and is worth a try.
Have you tried BB Cream? What is your favorite type?
