Here we go! I think every makeup brand now has a BB cream. What is a BB cream you ask? BB creams started in the Asian market as all-in-one skin perfecting creams. They act like your foundation but also have properties in them to brighten the skin and protect it with high levels of spf. I’ve tried a few of the bb creams from the Asian market in the past, but have also tried a bunch of the ones in the US market put out by our own cosmetics lines such as Nars and Smashbox. Some of these products tend to be more of a tinted moisturizer rather than a full foundation to me. That’s okay as long as that is all that you’re expecting from the product.
With the January release of new products I recently spotted a few new additions to the BB creams at my local drug store. These are just a few that I’ve seen:
Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream Review
I purchased this product at Walgreens. It was on sale for $12.99 from the regular retail price of $14.99
The packaging states that this is a skin perfecting tinted moisturizer with sunscreen.
I purchased the Light to Medium shade. My first impressions were that the shade is way too light for my skin tone and that the product’s fragrance was delightful. I applied the product with my fingers all over my face. It is very moisturizing. It completely disappeared into my skin leaving it with a nice smooth feeling. I can only use this product as a moisturizer and not a foundation. In that sense it is good. It has an spf of 15 which is not high enough for me to use it as a daily sunscreen, especially in the spring and summer in Texas. I used a mineral powder foundation over this BB cream to get better coverage on my skin.
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Would I purchase this product again?
Probably not. I will use it up but will not repurchase unless there is some miraculous skin transformation that happens after continued use, which I am doubtful of.
Have you tried the Olay BB Cream yet? If so, what did you think of it?
Melissa says
There are also new BB creams from Palmer’s, Physician’s Formula, and Wet ‘n Wild! It is taking over the drugstore lol!
Sarah Kil says
I’m Asian 🙂 and I’ve been using BB cream since I was in high school and it was amazing, but I could only get it at the Asian stores. Then randomly I saw a commercial for it and now it’s EVERYWHERE! I use foundation still, but BB cream is real easy to use when you don’t have foundation on you or you’re in a hurry 😀 Also provides some SPF…I wonder if it’s the exact same ingredients Asians use … Gotta try the ones in the American market 😀
TheClaudiaCouture says
Hey Stacie! Thank you for your recent blog comment 🙂 I’ve heard a lot about the new Chanel mascara- i don’t think it’s out in the UK yet, but i’ve added it to my wishlist for when it is released here- it sounds amazing! I hope your daughter had a fab time in London! The flash mob sounds fun 😀 Hope you had a great christmas and a happy new year, hugs, Claudia xx
LadyZ712 says
I used the Loreal BB cream in the Summer. It was just ok, I wouldn’t run out & replace it. Like you said there are so many out there now to try. Do you have any particular favorite?
Nellie says
I really want to try BB cream, apparently is the new next best thing!! Visiting from SITS
Anna says
I want to try the BB cream so badly but I’m too addicted to my full coverage foundation!
Following you from SITS 🙂
tiffani says
Thanks Stacie for saving me from buying another product that I won’t use. Keep up the reviews!
xoxo tiffani
Meg Bray says
This was really interesting to me.. I didn’t even know that this product existed! What is your favorite?
Krista Grandstaff says
Ok..I may be the lone one out there, but although I have tried both Revlon and Loreal’s BB creams and wasn’t thrilled…I thought I could do better at home. I am fortunate enough to have really great skin, (good genes…Thanks Mom!)and I prefer to wear a very light foundation… I mixed my foundation, with my higher SPF sunscreen (I’m a pretty fair redhead) and moisturizer.. I apply it with a sponge and I’m done. I get the color I want, the coverage and the protection…
Anonymous says
I am not sensitive to any cosmetics, but got welts on my face and the BB cream just sat on top of my skin and became an oily mess. I have extraordinary dry skin so the oiliness was something I wasn’t used to. I have used other BB creams and did not break out as I did with Olay, but still have not found the right one as the color change in the one from Finland left my face looking like terracota
Anonymous says
My skin is also not particularly sensitive, and I have not used this product, but I did recently use a sunscreen with some of the same active ingredients (octocrylene specifically), and I broke out in hives too! It was terrible! Luckily I used a different one for my face, but my chest and arms were horrible. I think a lot of people have reactions to some of these chemicals they put in sunscreens.
Anonymous says
I found olay bb cream made my face very oiky and break out with severe swollen acne.
Lisa Brown says
I have not tried Olay’s BB cream; it looks nice and hydrating and the sun protection is good, although I can’t wear chemical sunscreens, I am allergic to them.
Peggy Bayer says
I’ve tried several BB creams and was not a fan. I haven’t tried this one yet.
Peg~
Stacie says
I’m still a huge fan of bb’s and cc’s, especially in the summer. Thanks for stopping by Peggy! Stacie xo
Nats says
I bought this 2 days ago. it just was there in front of me, and I have fairly uneven skin tones. I have very rosey red cheeks which is ok but sometimes also a red forehead. also I turned 32… and slowly noticing a few wrinkles. I usually only use sunscreen on my face, if I have a dry face, otherwise I drink tons of water and my mum gave me good skin gene I think 🙂 but like I say… at some point even the best of us, need to try the miracle creams.
application wise, I don’t like the whole feeling like you are wearing a foundation or mask. I keep rubbing my skin, which means its agitating something.
I have used olay creams before, as mum used to have them, that never irritated my skin. but the BB cream says it has Max Factor foundation in. maybe that’s why im itchy? I don’t know.
so far not seen much difference, but its not likely gonna change me in applications. but even if it changes the appearance, id sooner try a different BB cream, before using this one again, so see if I find one that doesn’t make me itch.
Stacie says
Sounds like you have sensitive skin. I need to see if I still have this product and look at the label. I don’t recall the Max Factor being in the formula here in the US. To counter the redness, you might want to try products with a yellow undertone. If this makes your skin itch, I suggest you return it or toss it. It’s not worth the irritation. Take care and thanks for stopping by! Stacie xo
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