If you haven’t already joined the BB cream bandwagon (its a pretty great one too, FYI) then this blog post is for you! I’m sure you’ve probably all heard of or used BB Cream at this point, but if you haven’t gotten the chance to really find out what it’s about, and what the difference between BB, CC, and DD creams are (yes, we’ve already reached DD creams), then stick around!
So, what is BB Cream anyway?
BB stands for Beauty Balm and first gained popularity in Asian countries, particularly Korea, and has since revolutionized the beauty world. BB creams go beyond your average tinted moisturizer and foundation to offer you ligh weight coverage jam-packed with benefits like mineral pigments, antioxidants, SPF, all while minimizing the look of pores, evening your skin tone, brightening your complexion and, of course, hydrating your skin.
There are a variety of BB creams out there, ranging from $10 to even $100. If you’re on a budget, just drop by your local drugstore to browse their selection – it might surprise you how many options you have. If you’re willing to splurge, Sephora can definitely hook you up with some higher end BB creams (not to say that they are necessarily better than drug store – make sure you do your research online and find out which formulation will be best for your skin type).
BB creams are generally much lighter than your regular foundation, and a tad heavier than tinted moisturizers. The only real issue I can think of is the lack range when it comes to skin tones. Most brands offer three: light, medium, and dark. If you’re lucky, there might be light, light/medium, medium, medium/dark, and dark. The higher end lines tend to come in more shades, so definitely keep that in mind if you’re considering making the switch!
These babies are the Beyonces of the beauty world, and definitely worth getting excited over!
What’s the Difference between BB Cream’s and other products like CC Cream and DD Cream?
In my experience, there isn’t really THAT much of a difference between CC Creams and BB creams. In a nutshell, CC Cream stands for Color Correcting, are more focused on helping your skin with any redness or sallowness. According to most beauty guruss, CC creams are lighter than BB creams. Ultimately, it comes down to what you are looking for in your skin product. If correcting redness is at the top of your list, then check out a CC Cream at your local drugstore or Sephora!
DD creams
I’m surprised there isn’t an EE or FF cream somewhere on the outskirts of the beauty world! Or maybe I’ve spoken too soon.
DD creams stands for Daily Defense. Similar to CC creams, there is a general consensus in the beauty world that DD creams aren’t much different from BB creams. Here’s a fun fact; DD creams were first developed for specific areas of your body, like hands and feet, and have only recently transitioned into the beauty world!
My Take on BB Creams
Overall, I’ve had a pretty good experience with BB creams. My favorite has got to be Garnier’s Skin Renew BB cream! Part of the reason why I chose this brand is that it doesn’t make my wallet cringe every time I buy it, and the medium/dark shade matches my complexion perfectly. The coverage is also pretty good! Here’s what it looks like:
If you’re curious about some other BB cream brands, here’s a swatch of Maybelline’s, Rimmel’s and Marcelle’s, along with their prices!
As you can see, even though these shades are all in “medium,” the exact colour differs between brands. I found Maybelline’s Dream Fresh BB Cream to be a tad runny, and the size of both Maybelline and Rimmel’s BB Creams on the smaller side. I would say that you’re better off paying around $20 or $15 (if it’s on sale) for a larger tube than buying these smaller tubes.
While BB creams tout a lightness that allows pores to breath and multiple sin benefits, keep in mind that you don’t want to wear them at night time before bed (because it’ll rub off on your pillowcases, on top of clogging pores!). I find that applying BB creams with a make up sponge like you would a foundation creates an even application and keeps your hands free from any mess. A key thing to remember with the lovely weather we’ve been enjoying so far is that though most BB creams have sun protection, you shouldn’t rely on your BB cream alone. Add a little sunscreen underneath before applying and your skin will thank you for it!
Welcome to the BB Cream bandwagon!
Photo Sources:
http://www.rantchic.com/2014/02/26/what-the-heck-is-bb-cream/
http://theberry.com/2014/08/05/seth-macfarlanes-ex-girlfriend-roster-is-…
http://modernmouseradio.com/tag/prince-eric/
http://feminspire.com/what-is-cc-cream-exploring-the-next-generation-of-…
http://www.beautylish.com/a/vcimn/what-is-bb-cream
http://www.jamspreader.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/snicker-karenljuj3…
http://www.marcelle.com/en/bb-cream-anti-aging-spf-20
http://au.rimmellondon.com/products/face/bb-cream-matte
http://www.teen.com/2014/08/13/movies/high-school-movies-on-netflix-fall…