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If I’m being completely honest, I’m not a big fan of BB Creams.
I tend to avoid base products with sheer-light coverage. The shade range always sucks, they don’t last as long, and they don’t stand a chance at covering my skin redness. I guess they have their uses; like for days where I don’t want to wear a full face of makeup but need a little something on my skin, or when my skin is feeling a bit drier… but I’d rather just mix my regular medium-full coverage foundation with a little moisturiser.
That being said, I’m also a giant makeup hoarder, and have somehow ended up owning three BB Creams. I thought I’d write about them here for anyone who doesn’t need as much coverage from their base products as me. (I did consider filming reviews of these individually, but honestly, they’re so sheer it’s hard to see the difference on camera.)
The One for Pale Skintones.
I think quite highly of the GOSH BB Cream in Sand* because it was one of the first BB Creams I found that was actually pale enough for my vampire complexion. If you’re paler than me, I’d recommend this one out of the three. The coverage is sheer, but you could build it up to light with a brush (though you’ll have to use quite a bit of product). It also leaves a really nice glow to the skin, which I like in my BB Creams. However, the packaging really lets it down, and I often find excess cream leaking out of the tube. The other two don’t have this issue as they have a nice, fine nozzle to get the exact amount of product you want.
The One I Really Don’t Like.
When I swatched the NYX Bare With Me Tinted Skin Veil in Vanilla Nude* in the shop it looked like a perfect match for my fair complexion with neutral undertones. It wasn’t until I got home and tried it that I realised it has a strong olive undertone to it, so it almost looks a bit green on my skin. The shade below this is much too pale and too pink, so I don’t think this range has a perfect match for me. The finish also isn’t as glowy as the other two BB Creams in this post and just doesn’t do me any favours. I haven’t found a way to make this one work for me, so I rarely reach for it.
The One for Everyday.
I bought the Kiko Daily Protection BB Cream in 01 Ivory* in Italy earlier in the year, and enjoy reaching for this when the GOSH BB Cream was too pale or when I want the extra SPF. (Yes, I know SPF in foundations is completely useless, but sometimes I just like knowing it’s there.) It feels moisturising on the skin, leaves a nice glow, and can be built up to a light coverage. If I’m having a no-makeup day but want to even out my skintone, this is probably the one I’ll reach for.
How I Use Them
I’ll usually reach for a BB Cream or skin tint when my skin is drier than usual, as they feel more moisturising than a traditional foundation. In the above photo I used the GOSH BB Cream* to brighten and even my complexion, then added the Revolution Fast Base Foundation Stick in F1* where I still had some skin redness. The finish is really beautiful and dewy, and perfect for the colder months. It can sometimes take longer than going straight in with a medium-full coverage foundation, but I do really like how it looks when I need my makeup to be a little more forgiving.
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