Fans of a matte finish and those who live by dewy moments will both appreciate the best BB creams on the market. These lighter alternatives to full-coverage complexion products are basically what would happen if foundation and skin care had a baby. “A BB cream, which can stand for a beauty balm, is a multi-use product that acts as a primer, foundation, moisturizer, and sunscreen,” says Los Angeles-based makeup artist Brandy Allen.
In addition to hydrating and evening out skin tones, BB creams stand out from the average foundation because they also treat your skin to hydrating, brightening, blemish-eviscerating, and fine-line-filling ingredients like antioxidant vitamin C, according to New York City-based makeup artist Jamie Dorman. There’s a reason their monstrous popularity put Korean beauty on the map once word got out about their popularity back home.
When you want to appear as if you actually drink eight glasses of water a day, treat your skin to a BB cream since they tend to offer all the complexion-evening benefits of a light-to-medium foundation in a speedier formula that also protects you from the elements. They do double duty to work skin care into your makeup routine so you can more efficiently do both — how clever.
As if BB creams didn’t have enough benefits, they’re also extremely easy to apply. Both Allen and Dorman agree that you can use just about any of your favorite tools to smooth these effortless formulas onto your skin — even if the said tool is your hand. “You can use a sponge, foundation brush, or your fingers, and gently dab the product for a natural, skin-like finish,” says Allen.
If you’re ready to switch over to more breathable complexion products with skin-care benefits like broad-spectrum sun protection, then a BB cream (which can also be labeled as a blemish balm, by the way) is in your near future. Below, check out a variety of the best BB creams for any skin type and budget.
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