I presumed that most of us have heard of BB creams but does
all of us actually knows what does BB stands for? It is in short for
"beauty balm" or "blemish balm" have been popular among
Korean and Japanese women since the '80s for their multi-purpose benefits. The
craze started in Asia, and at least a dozen brands have launched a BB cream in
the States over the last year -- with many more to come.
Which BB Cream is
Right For You
Most Lightweight:
Olay Total Effects 7-in-One Tone Correcting UV Moisturizer
SPF 15 ($21.99, soap.com); in Fair-to-Light (pictured), Light-to-Medium or
Medium-to-Deep
Olay calls this product a CC cream, the “color
correction”-focused sequel to BBs, but the idea is the same. The swirled,
dual-phase formula is ultra-light, so it might not replace your foundation. It
does give skin a subtle, luminous glow with sheer coverage, and the
neutral-toned Fair-to-Light shade was a favorite among our pale-skinned testers
who found other BBs too dark.
Best For Pale Skin:
Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25 PA++ ($34,
sephora.com); one shade
This cream comes from Korea, where BB is a big deal. Its
corrective tone counteracts redness, making it ideal for fair complexions with
pinkish undertones. The water-based formula soothes skin with a cooling effect
and leaves a pretty, dewy finish.
Best For Dark Skin (and Medium and Light):
Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm Skin Perfector
SPF 30 ($7.44, maybelline.com); in Light, Light/Medium, Medium, Medium/Deep,
Deep (pictured)
This sheer fluid has a smooth texture that makes blending
easy, and the line features one of the darkest BB creams of any we tried. The
Deep shade has a warm, caramel tint that helps counteract gray or sallow tones
on darker complexions. And with five shades spanning the color range, light to
medium skin tones will find a match, too.
Smoothest Texture:
Garnier BB Cream Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector SPF 15
($12.99, drugstore.com); in Light/Medium and Medium/Deep (pictured)
The first drugstore BB to launch in the U.S., Garnier’s
version has enough coverage to stand in for foundation, and its slightly peachy
tone makes skin look sun-kissed. But the biggest draw is its silky-smooth
texture that blends flawlessly and blurs away pores.
Best For Uneven Complexions:
Vichy ProEVEN mineral BB Cream ($32.50, vichyusa.com); in
Light or Medium (pictured)
Not only does Vichy’s new BB cream cover dark spots short
term with its medium coverage formula, the company’s study showed it helps even
out skin tone in four weeks.
Best For Full Coverage:
Dior Hydra Life BB Crème SPF 30 – PA +++ ($56, sephora.com);
one shade
Dior’s BB cream was the most pigmented of any we sampled and
the closest stand-in for full coverage foundation. Medium skin tones seeking to
add warmth to their complexions will do the best with this one; our
fair-skinned testers found it too orange on a pale face.
Best Matte Finish:
Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF 35 ($42, bobbibrowncosmetics.com);
in Extra Light, Light, Fair (pictured), Medium and Medium to Dark
As far as our tester was concerned, this BB cream was just
right—not too thick, not too sheer, and with a refined finish that wasn’t
overly dewy.
Most Intriguing Active Ingredient:
Rodial BB Venom Skin Tint SPF 15 Beauty Balm ($44,
nordstrom.com), in Capri, Hamptons and St. Barts
While we found the shade names confusing (Capri just doesn’t
convey color like “ivory” or “beige”), one feature made this BB stand out: Each
tube is infused with the company’s signature ingredient, Syn-ake, an anti-aging
compound made with synthetic snake venom. And no, it doesn’t sting.
Dewiest Finish:
Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm SPF 20 ($32, sephora.com); in
Vanilla Glow, Cream Glow (pictured), Nude Glow, Beach Glow
This BB’s lightweight formula feels amazing on the skin, but
you’ll need concealer if you crave coverage. Its super-dewy finish leaves skin
looking youthful and glowy.
Best For Oily Skin:
L’Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Magic Skin Beautifier B.B.
Cream ($10.95, lorealparisusa.com); in Fair, Light, Medium and Deep (pictured)
This BB cream is colorless until you blend it into skin,
causing its pigment beads to burst (fun to watch!). If you have oily skin and
can get past the beads’ initial grainy texture, you’ll love the way this
primer-like balm gives a smooth, matte finish.
Have you tried BB creams? Which one is your favorite?
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