Review: A B C's of BB creams

image source:beautyblitz.com

Blemish Balms or Beauty Balms (BB), whatever you want to call them, are the latest buzz product in North America and I am asked about them all the time.  First, just a little bit about them. They have been around the beauty industry in Asia via Germany a number of years ago as a skin treatment/protector with the ability to cover and an alternative to heavy foundations.

Skip to now, where Western beauty companies stretched the term BB Cream to their versions. I say versions because they are not quite the same as their Asian counterparts. Not to say they are not fantastic products, but let's call them what they are - a repackaged and re-marketed tinted moisturizer. As aforementioned, true BB Creams are a skin treatment with coverage and the Western versions also "treat" the skin, ish.  For instance, most prime, moisturise, cover, and protect. All of which have done in the past/present by tinted moisturisers. With that said, the newest bunch have started to include such ingredients as vitamin c and hyaluronic acid. Making them closer to the Asian versions. Some of the BB Creams on the market include:

• Maybelline Dream Fresh BB- sheer to light coverage, SPF 30, oil free, moisturising, five colours,good for combo skin
• L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB- granular,very sheer radiance, moisturizing, four colours, dry skin
• L'Oreal Youth Code BB Cream-  SPF 15, two colours, light coverage, normal to dry
• Marcelle BB Cream- sheer to light coverage, moisturising,radiance, two colours, dry skin
• Marcelle Anti-Aging BB Cream-  SPF 20, two colours, medium coverage, hydrating, radiance, normal to dry skin (My favourite)
• Garnier BB Cream Skin Renew- light coverage,Vitamin C,  moisturizing, two colours, combo skin
• Gosh BB Cream- liquid/runny, sheer to light coverage, moisturizing,four colours, dry skin
• Annabelle BB Cream- SPF 15 medium coverage, moisturising, two colours,normal to dry skin
• Clinique Perfecting BB Cream- light coverage, three colours (very pink), moisturising, radiance, combo skin
• Stila HD 10-in-1 Beauty Balm- one colour, sheer, hydrating, oil free, paraben free, normal to dry.
• Smashbox BB Cream- SPF 35, tacky, light coverage, five colours, dry to combination skin
• Lancome Renergie Eclat Multi-Lift BB Cream- more anti-aging ,poor blendabilty, moisturizing, illuminates, three colours, mature dry skin
• Vichy Pro-Even BB Cream- SPF 20, two colours, moisturising, normal to dry, medium coverage, Vitamin C and E, hyaluronic acid
• Vichy Neovidol BB Cream- one colour, mature skin, dry, anti-aging

As for the Asian BB creams most are Korean such as Dr. Jart, Missha, Lioele, and Skin Food. These lovelies fight blemishes, have anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory ingredients. Why didn't I buy them when I lived there?!!!

This isn't to say that North America doesn't have a BB Cream... it just doesn't call itself that. In Canada, Cover FX is such a product and is put in the category of a Cosmeceutical - cosmetics that heal, protect and treat the skin, thus a traditional Asian BB Cream.  It contains vitamins F, A, C and E and was developed at Sunnybrook Hospital for those who had scars, rosacea, and burns. Fantastic company and products. I use them on brides and they photograph beautifully.

I apologise with the length, but as a consumer, especially in the beauty industry, it can be overwhelming. Therefore, clarification, information and suggestions are definitely needed. So, now that we have a clearer understanding of these guys, companies are now introducing the CC cream- colour and correct, or colour and care. They one upped the BB cream. The two I have heard about are from Chanel and Oil of Olay.

Whatever you choose, they are a fabulous alternative to foundation and easy to use. Let me know which BB Cream you like.

Take Care,
xo Megs

Loving Now: Estee Lauder

My foray into Estee Lauder was my mother. Traumatized and intimidated by Youth Dew and the old, ornate gold lipstick packaging, many my age and younger, associate the company with a more mature generation. Something Estee Lauder is acutely aware of as evidenced by having Tom Pecheux at the helm of creating gorgeous colour stories and collections appealing to a broader range of consumers.

I ventured into the cloud of White Linen and little brown bottles, to discover a gun metal coloured lipstick/luminizer, metallic creamy eyeshadows and a vampy autumn collection. The Pure Colour Gelee Powder eyeshadows were calling me the most. I wanted to try them all, however two decidedly caught my eye - cyber teal and cyber lilac. Both are begging to be used in a smokey eye and can be best described as a metallic smokey teal and lilac. Pure and simple. The formulation is not new, as Estee Lauder launched it last year and we have seen it at M.A.C.  They are creamy, yet  powdery. They blend beautifully and last over 12 hours. I would love to purchase more, but they are on the expensive side.

The down and dirty:

• texture: creamy and powdery
• colours: 14, 6 of which are limited edition
• price: $28 Cdn

Oh and I am not done, in another blog post I mentioned the Invisible Fluid foundation. This directly competes with Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua, YSL Touch Eclat, Urban Decay's Naked, and Armani's Maestro Fusion. I have tried all of them and I have to say the Invisible Fluid and Vitalumiere Aqua are my favourite, but for different reasons. Having normal to oily skin, I find the Invisible Fluid allows my skin to show without worry of oil coming through. My skin but better. Vitalumiere Aqua gives my skin a nice natural dewiness without an oil slick. So all in all, I am impressed with Estee Lauder's direction and challenging itself. 

The down and dirty:

• coverage: sheer to light
• finish: semi-matte
• price: $42.50 Cdn

Cheers,
xo Megs