BB cream.  You’re not entirely sure you know what it is, but based on the buzz in beautyland, you’re pretty sure you need it. 

From all the raving about it, you’d think it was a miracle in a tube. Is it glorified foundation?  Tinted sunscreen?  A little of both actually, and then some.  The ‘BB’ stands for beauty balm, and really, it is a pretty great multi-tasking tool to have in your cosmetics bag when you find one that works that’s also not jam-packed with junk.

A good BB cream will prime the skin, moisturize, and provide the desired amount of pigmented coverage in a color complimentary to your skin tone. It will also contain a natural sun protection factor and provide skin with some repairing and anti-aging benefits while you’re wearing it. It sound too good to be true, right?  Well, there are several BB creams out there, hundreds in fact, but very few that are healthy and perform well.

If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Suntegrity’s “5 In 1” Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 30.  It provides my sensitive, combination skin the perfect blend of moisture and warm, sheer color to help even out my skin tone without acting like a foundation. And the antioxidant benefits from red algae and certified organic aloe vera, jojoba, sunflower, pomegranate, cucumber, and green tea, along with nano-particle free zinc oxide, all help to reduce UV damage and aid in skin repair. I’ve never broken out from it, the scent is mild and the SPF is high enough to keep me well protected from damaging UV rays.  It also very kindly does not pile up in the “life full of laughter” lines under my eyes.

I’m also a fan of Juice Beauty’s new Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream. Described as a “12-in-1 ultimate color correcting cream,” it boasts a long list of benefits to the skin, helps even skin tone with a cooler pigment tone, has a nice texture, provides SPF 30 protection and a cocktail of beneficial ingredients, including the Juice Beauty proprietary fruit stem cells with clinically demonstrated anti-aging benefits. Both the Suntegrity and Juice Beauty options are more similar to a tinted moisturizer with SPF than a full coverage foundation, which works well for those of us seeking to even out skin tone and protect our skin but don’t necessarily want a lot of coverage.

That said, for those seeking full coverage, Jane Iredale’s Glow Time Full Coverage Mineral BB Cream is an excellent option, with a larger variety of shades to choose from to match your skin tone. Its full, creamy, easy to use coverage formula creates a truly flawless pallette with the benefits of SPF 30, added moisture and beneficial nutrients.

Do you see BB cream in your future?

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top image: victoria nevland

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