Best and Worst BB Creams

A year ago, we'd never even heard of BB creams and then, much like Jennifer Lawrence, BB creams were all anyone could talk about. And while you may now be spotting BB creams on the shelves of your local drugstores and specialty beauty boutiques, not many of us really know what this suddenly-trendy product promises to do.
The "BB" stands for blemish balm in Asia, where this multi-tasking product first gained popularity, but in the States "BB" stands for beauty balm.  BB creams are touted as do-it-all products that promise to replace a host of items on your vanity; think foundation, serum, moisturizer, primer, and SPF. Plus, you can pair a favorite BB cream with tinted moisturizer or powder for additional coverage.
But before you head out, determined to come back a BB cream devotee, take my advice and pick one of theses BB creams



Love it! L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB creamSurprisingly good describes Magic Skin Beautifier BB cream best. This four-in-one cream primes, perfects, hydrates and corrects skin. Available in a variety of hues chock-full of encapsulated pigments that cover skin imperfections, this BB cream also acts as an ultra-light lotion and contains vitamins C and  E. Get it for about $8 at local drugstores and Walmart.

 

Love it! Jane Iredale Glow Time Full Coverage Mineral BB Cream
Recommended by the Skin Cancer foundation as an effective UVA/UVB sunscreen, the recently released "Glow Time" is a full coverage mineral BB cream with an SPF 25 rating.  This product covers blemishes while minimizing pores and wrinkles, plus it smoothes and brightens skin in a variety of shades. Anti-aging ingredients, including apple extract, bitter orange extract, grapefruit extract, aloe leaf juice, honeysuckle extract, and sunflower seed oil, control oil while soothing and calming skin. Get it for $48 at shopjaneiredale.com or at local medical spas.

 

Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox BB cream (and more)Amongst the first BB creams available in the US, Korean brand, Dr. Jart just released a BB sampler ideal for women ready to try a BB cream but not sure where to start. The four-piece set includes Dr. Jart's classic BB cream plus waterfuse BB cream, Black Label Detox BB cream and an anti-aging BB cream. Get it for $34 at Sephora.

 

Love it! Embryolisse BB Cream For those with oily skin, Embryolisse's BB cream is more gel-like than many of its counterparts. Best of all, this product also boasts AHAs or fruit acids to help eliminate dead skin cells  gently, plus mineral powder pearls that absorb excess oil and reflect light, leaving skin aglow. Embryolisse's BB Cream calls upon hyaluronic acid to plump and firm skin. Get it for $39 at embryolisseusa.com.

 

Love It! Pixi Illuminating Tint & Conceal BB creamPixi's BB cream is a tinted moisturizer, concealer and hydrator with an SPF 20 rating, and it boasts significantly more coverage than many of the other beauty balms we tried. Free of fragrance, talc and oil,  the unique roller applicator and SPF 20 protection provides ample coverage with skin-saving ingredients. Get it for $30 at pixibeauty.com.

 

Love It! Garnier BB CreamIt has moisturizers, Vitamin C and SPF 15 sun protection. Plus, at about $12 at local drugstores, Garnier's BB Cream is ideal for those who want to try a beauty balm without breaking the bank. Available in two shades, light/medium and medium/deep, Garnier's BB Cream earned an affordable two thumbs up

 

Love It! HydroPeptide's SPF 30 Anti-Wrinkle Skin Enhancing UV Protection
 is a surprisingly good BB cream thanks in part to self-adjusting, color-changing spheres that blend into skin flawlessly and serve up ample coverage. A hydrating blend of Niacin and aloe deliver hydration and super antioxidants while green tea and acai berry counteract damage to skin. Multi-tasking Galanga root controls oil production while boosting this formula's UV protection factor. And as a side note, the scent is slightly citrusy and seriously addictive. Get it for $40 at hydropeptide.com

Love It! Smashbox Camera Ready  
has gained a huge following of loyal beauty addicts. And while the product acts as a moisturizer, primer, concealer, and foundation, like a good BB cream should, it earns rave reviews for a "progressive" coverage formula, meaning that you can achieve different levels of coverage depending on how you wear it. SPF 35. Get it for $39 at Sephora or for 33€ at Douglas

DO NOT TRY THESE:

Leave it. Maybelline Dream Fresh 8-in-1 BB Cream
This product was decidedly un-dreamy and does little to perfect skin.
Leave it. Vivo Beauty BalmJust terrible and doesn't work.
Leave it. Origins A Perfect World BB CreamMakes your skin feeling stiff and the finish is very unnatural.