Battle of the BB creams (pic heavy)

I´m sure by now the majority of people know what a BB cream is....BB standing for blemish balm originated in Asia as a post surgery cream that would help repair the skin and provide coverage, as they have become a worldwide sensation many brands have jumped on the bandwagon and created their own BB creams, the selection available now is extraordinary with all different degrees of coverage, spf sun protection and all promising different amazing things that they can do to your skin, how do you know which to choose????

With Spain being late on the bandwagon for everything i only managed to get my hands on my first tube of BB cream a year ago and i have to say i have never looked back. Of course, being a beauty junkie i had no intention of remaining faithful to the first brand i tried so as more were introduced to the market here i began to try out a few other offerings. here is a run down of the ones i have tried so far and what i really think:

 

Loreal Nude magique, KIKO BB cream, Garnier BB miracle skin perfector, Garnier BB miracle skin perfector oil free

i will go into detail with each cream individually, what i looked like that morning sans makeup... cringe and after applying the cream then with makeup.

 I don't use moisturiser before applying as the creams have moisturisers in them.

Garnier BB miracle skin perfector OIL FREE   shade: medium

This is my favourite BB cream, it gives natural looking medium coverage and stays put all day on me (without powder), even in the 40 degree heat here at the moment, whilst i did like the original version it does give me a shiny t-zone in the summer months which is why i was keen to snap the oil free version up as soon as it landed in the shops here, it is very affordable ( around 12€ i think) available in all of the big supermarkets and perfume shops. The packaging is nice but the formula is very runny which i wasn't expecting, although it does make application very easy. i think the colour ( medium) is a little pale for me ( even though it is the darkest shade available) whilst i have a tan but that's nothing a dusting of bronzing powder wont fix. Unfortunately that means that it wouldn't really be suitable for people with skin any darker than mine.  

Clean face

with Garnier BB oil free

Garnier eye roll on which i always use after applying my BB cream

With the rest of my makeup

                                                                                   

This is pretty much my every day makeup look, i can do my whole face in less than 7 minutes and be ready to go to work.

1. Apply BB cream then Garnier eye roll on, i then get dressed while it sinks in.
2. Apply a light dusting of bronzing powder down nose and across forehead, cheeks and chin using real techniques powder brush.
3. Apply Sleek blush (flamingo) using real techniques blush brush.
4. Apply champagne coloured eyeshadow over whole lid from lashes to brows and inner corner, then apply darker taupe shade in the crease.
5. Apply liquid liner and flick out at the corners- maybelline master precise ( review coming soon)
6. Apply mascara- Bourgois Volumizer ( review coming soon).




Next up is LÓreal Nude Magique (medium) .... this one is odd, its ones of those runny grey liquids with little purple flecks in it, as you rub it into your skin it changes colour to match you skin tone perfectly (according to them, i´m not too sure about that, after it has sunk in properly it does change to a good colour but it still feels a little grey to me, The formula is a little scratchy which may be a problem if you have sensitive skin but i´m ok with it. I do like the packaging of this one the most, it is reasonably priced and give a nice satin finish more on the matte side but this is a bonus as it does not need to be set with powder and lasts most of the day.

Clean skin

After applying Loreal Nude magique

With Makeup

Next is Kiko BB cream (shade 2)  This one has the thickest consistency and that strange grey colour changing technology like the Loreal formula, you need to use quite a lot of product and it has buildable coverage, it is slightly sticky ( kind of waxy) in texture and feels like a primer ( which means you need to give your hands a good wash after application. This brand has the biggest colour range with 5 shades available and is again really affordable at about 11€  it is available worldwide from their website here. It lasts all day and does not need to be set with powder although due to its thicker consistency i don't use it much in the day time because it is too hot here in the Summer, although it is great for nights out and is water and sweat resistant too.

Clean face

With Kiko BB cream 

With Makeup

And Last but not least.... Garnier BB cream (medium) This is the original BB and was the first BB that i tried as it was the first BB cream to be released in Spain, according to the big signs up everywhere that was stocking it. I do like this, it is easy to apply and has a nice gel like consistency and sheer coverage, which is quite buildable but not as much the the other creams, this one is better for me in winter when my skin is drier and i don't get a shiny T-zone, i do use the light colour in the winter when my tan has faded, i like that this is just so quick and easy to use like a tinted moisturiser, you barely need a mirror and you know it will even out your skin tone, This is probably the most easily available and again is a good price, although i do prefer the oil free version.

So that's a round up of the BB creams that i have tried, I am quite happy with the oil free Garnier BB for the moment and will just use up the other as and when i can but probably wont repurchase them, there are so many available now that it is overwhelming and i don't want to spend a fortune on one that wont do a much better job than the cheaper ones will, i hopes this helps somebody try and find something for them.

Have you tried BB creams? which is your favourite?

Skin saviours

These are my skin saviours, my go-to products when my skin is misbehaving

1. Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream- the original cult beauty product. I have been using this for years, especially on dry hands and feet, cracked lips (i prefer the lip-balm format for this though, purely because it less messy) and cuticles and even on split ends, i know a lot of people don't like the smell but i like it. Available in department stores worldwide and many places online. ( i usually stock up in duty free when i fly anywhere because you can always get travel edition packs at reduced prices)

2. Argan oil- there has been a lot of hype surrounding this recently with many brands introducing argan oil into their products, it is excellent for repairing and moisturizing and i use it on my hands and face at night, the only thing i dislike about this is the smell, i really don't like the smell but i am willing to put up with it for the results it gives. i just have plain Argan oil which i bought from a pharmacy, you can also usually find it in health food shops.

3. Bio Oil- Again another product with a lot of hype surrounding it, this is another product i use as a facial moisturiser at it helps to heal acne scars and reduce the red blotchy pigmentation i have on my cheeks, according to their website it also helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles, but luckily i don't have any of them yet, i don't think i can put that down to the bio oil though as my mum is in her late forties and only just starting to get fine lines. I did buy this product originally to try and reduce the appearance of old stretch marks ( that is its main marketing ploy after all) but it didn't have any effect on them at all, although i know it has worked well for other people. Available in pharmacies, some supermarkets and online.

Both of my last 2 products i use for healing wounds, cuts and spots

4. Sudocrem- this is the best thing in the world for healing spots, as soon as one starts to appear i apply a generous coat of this, 8/10 times the spot wont even fully appear and the ones that do appear heal so much faster with regular application of Sudocrem. I have PCOS and get a few nasty spots around my chin and mouth at that time of the month and this really helps diminish them. I have tried every fancy spot cream out there and this is the winner for me. it is also brilliant on eczema, cuts and scrapes and if its good enough for a babys bum its good enough for my face/ body. Available in all UK supermarkets and pharmacies and it is now available in a squeezy tube, ideal for keeping in your bag.

5. Tea tree oil- another brilliant healer and antiseptic, i usually apply this before sudocrem to any cuts scrapes or spots, it disinfects and heals. my boyfriend also uses it on cold sores and it definitely helps them heal quicker. I buy mine at The Body Shop but it is available in most pharmacies and health shops.