Suddenly drugstore shelves and department store beauty counters are advertising the latest and greatest BB Cream will be your beauty savior. But where did it come from and what is in it? BB Cream was developed in Asia and gained popularity almost overnight. The craze quickly spread across Europe and has arrived in the US with a bang. It is essentially the new superhero of skincare, if it lives up to the hype.
First off, BB stands for Beauty Balm or Blemish Balms. This new balm is an entirely new category of skin care and beauty products because it has nearly every type of skin corrector and protector rolled into one. BB’s contain wrinkle reducers, moisturizer, suncreen and foundation. It even contains antioxidants, hyaluronic acid and age spot reducing capabilities. Depending on the amount of coverage you prefer, it may be used as a primer or foundation. This product is mainly marketed as a tinted moisturizer, but it’s so much more. Add in the benefits of small doses of peptides, niacinimide, vitamins C and E, sunscreen, and you have a lovely product that improves the health of your skin while giving a nice blend of coverage.
How to pick the right BB cream is a tough choice. First, determine if it’s even an appropriate product for you. For older women with signs of aging, don’t expect it to work miracles. It’s going to be more of a small slight improvement beginning at about 8 weeks. The improvements reported in various reviews state a slow and gradual, but noticeable improvement in evenness of skin tone and a more radiant glow in general. Expect to need and additional boost of antioxidants for more damaged skin or an additional layer of sunscreen for those who have sun exposure year-round. Dry skin may need an additional layer of moisturizer applied before the BB product. As far as damaged skin, you’ll probably need a stronger serum or retinoids to get the improvement you’re looking for.
Despite arguments over the original Asian formulas’ superiority over the US version, the US products are showing promise and reviews on the less expensive drugstore brands are looking positive. So much so, I’m getting the L’Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier and I’m excited to test it.
This product is best suited for those who need minimal correction but could certainly benefit from the highly desirable list of ingredients. Nearly every skin care and beauty line is carrying it. Estée Lauder, Dior, Smashbox, as well as more affordable lines such as Garnier, Loreal and Maybeline all have a new line of BB Cream products offered in various skin tones. Using a BB product certainly beats using nothing at all and the all-in-one simplicity coupled with affordable pricing cannot be beat.
