A Tale of Three BB Creams

My review of three BB Creams.

BB Cream is short for “Beauty Balm” Cream. It was perfected in the Asian market as the be all and end all in women’s beauty products that has become the catch word phrase for women’s make-up in Canada and the US. Everything is coming up BB or CC (color correcting) or even DD (dynamic do-all). For the last eight months I have been playing with three BB creams by three different brands: L’Oreal, Garnier, and Maybelline.

L’Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream Features and Opinion

I was really taken in by the commercials for L’Oreal’s Magic Skin Beautifier which according to their packaging primes, perfects, hydrates, corrects. I picked up a tube in fair — it was the first BB cream I purchased and I immediately hated it.

Right from the beginning I was not impressed with this one. It came out of the tube whitish grey looking and needed to be worked before it went on my face. I found if I did it on my face it absorbed really quickly, too quickly to really blend in properly. Their lightest color was really too dark for me and I don’t know if it was a reaction to the product but after an hour it turns orangey on my skin. I paid full price for this one from Walmart which was about $16 for a 30 ml tube.

A Few Images of the L’Oreal BB Cream

I like the control of the tube tip which is narrow and pointed. It really has a no mess spout. This cream has little specks of color in the cream when it comes from the tube.
A dab of L'Oreal's BB Cream on my hand.

As I begin to blend it turns milky white.

As I begin to rub in cream it turns milky white at first.

Then the color starts to form.

With continued motion the cream begins to take on color.

I would not call this color fair and it is already starting to take on the orangey hue I mentioned — out of all things the color is my biggest complaint. I feel like it sets in before I can properly blend it.

Their cream darkens as it sits on my skin.

Garnier BB Cream Features and Opinion:

Garnier started the BB trend in Asia and so my interest in trying the leader of the concept was high. Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream boasts itself as a “tone perfector” and all-in-one product that renews, brightens, evens, and hydrates.

It is my favorite of all three. It smooths on easily and a little goes a long way — a little goes a long way — I can easily layer it over trouble spots if I need too i.e. red cheeks, without it building up too quickly but still providing coverage. It leaves me with a nice glow and even texture. As the day progresses I do find it becomes a bit greasy (I have oily/dry skin to begin with) but it blots really well with a tissue. I bought my tube on sale at Shoppers Drug Mart for $13 which may seem like it is pricey but it is a 75 ml tube and it lasts a long time — a little goes a long way!

A Few Images of the Garnier BB Cream

The Garnier tube has an attached flip cap and is indented so it tends to get gunky and I have to wipe it out often. Out of the tube it looks like a regular foundation.

Garnier's BB is thicker and creamier when it comes out of tube.

But on contact you see how incredibly light it is and that a little goes a long way. I obviously put too much on my hand for this demo.

A little goes a long way.

It blends in like a lotion.

As you can tell by this photo it  is easy to over do.

I feel like I can actually spread it all over my face before it sets. It is light feeling on the skin.

It blends in really well.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream Features and Opinion:

After seeing a video review by Sara Bartlett (Bombshell Beauty) I decided I needed to try this Maybelline’s Dream Fresh which falls into the more affordable area of drugstore brands. I have been having a good go with Maybelline products this year for some reason. This brand boasts being an 8 in 1 product which includes: SPF 30, blur imperfections, natural glow, smoother, compliments skin tone, hydrates all day, feels fresh, oil free.

Maybelline cream is runnier than Garnier but has a thicker coverage. It is runnier than L’Oreal but has a thinner cover. It’s light sheer color was still disappointingly darker than what I want but I could get away with it in the summer because I had a natural summer glow. As my winter pale starts to show I am finding it on the darker side of pale. That Maybelline’s comes with sun protection and is oil free is a bonus. I bought on sale for $7 at Shoppers. The tube is 30 ml.

A Few Images of the Maybelline BB Cream

The tube is has outie tip with a separate cap and I find both tend to get goupy and need to be cleaned often because the cream is so runny. Because it is runny I find I can spread it easily.

Maybelline is a little runnier.

As you can see I need to use a little more to get more coverage but it does not soak in super quickly which makes it nice for blending.

A little goes a long way but I don't feel like it needs to be layered.

I find I have to work quick though because once it is absorbed it is hard to move.

Takes a little more to blend.

As you can see from the streak still visible.

Still not perfectly blended but ok coverage.

You can have a closer look at the consistency in my mini review video:

To sum things up. Of the three, Garnier is my favorite for color, consistency and coverage — it doesn’t feel like make-up. Followed by Maybelline which is an affordable tint with darker coverage but still feels like make-up. Followed by L’Oreal which I dislike mostly because of the color and dryness.

What BB creams have you tried?

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Topic Links
* BB Cream from Garnier
* BB Cream from L’Oreal
* BB Cream from Maybelline