The 5 Best BB Creams
BB creams are the perfect solution for any busy woman on the go. It is a multitasker and all-in-one cream that can provide light coverage and a number of benefits to your skin. It can help streamline your morning routine so you look and feel your very best without having to spend much time. If you’ve ever used a tinted moisturizer, BB cream offers similar benefits, but it also treats the skin with various beneficial ingredients and anti-aging properties for more noticeable results.
BB creams come in all different price ranges, depending on what types of benefits they offer and the manufacturer. We found some of the best BB creams available to provide you with the best value and benefits possible. However, you may still need to experiment with several BB creams to find the right shade and formulation for your skin tone.
What Is BB Cream?
BB cream, short for blemish balm or beauty balm, is a cosmetic item that can provide a number of benefits all in one convenient cream. Originally sold mainly in Asian markets, it has made a name for itself with women of all skin types here in the United States as well.
Since its rise to popularity in 2011, the formulas have been improved to provide you with the best skin possible, no matter what your skin type may be. Each BB cream is different and can provide its own unique benefits, but most often it can be used to replace serum, moisturizer, primer, foundation, concealer, and sunscreen. BB cream can be applied with your fingers and worn everyday, either alone or under makeup.
Each BB cream offers its own unique amount of coverage, so you’ll need to find what you are most comfortable wearing, whether you prefer a natural look or are looking for a replacement for your foundation. It is always best to start small, with just a pea-sized amount. If you need more coverage, you can apply another layer or pair the BB cream with your favorite foundation. If you have particularly dry skin, you may still want to add a moisturizer or serum under the BB cream.
Top 5 BB Creams
Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35
Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream comes in five shades and is ideal for all skin tones and skin types, even sensitive and acne-prone skin. The fragrance-free cream will prime, perfect, and hydrate your skin, while controlling oil and providing effective anti-aging ingredients. It even guarantees to improve skin moisture in only four weeks. With SPF 35, it can also help protect your skin against UVA and UVB rays. With regular use, you can expect to see an improvement in your skin, including fewer wrinkles and fine lines. This does not have the heavy feeling of foundation, but instead offers light, even coverage with a gentle formula and comfortable wear, so you can enjoy quick, camera-ready skin. It has remarkable staying power and comes from the trusted, respected Smashbox brand, so you can feel confident wearing it all day.
While this is a bit pricey, beauty editors, makeup artists, and consumers all agree that it is worth the extra cost. After substantial research, Rank & Style named this the best BB cream on the market. Good Housekeeping, TotalBeauty, InStyle, and Refinery29 also named this cult classic the highest rated BB cream on the market.
Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream
Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream is an affordable option that can work as well as some of the most expensive name brand creams. The non-irritating formula is ideal for all skin types, including dry, combination, and acne-prone skin. The all-in-one cream will conceal imperfections and minimize the appearance of pores and shine, while evening, hydrating, and brightening the skin.
The non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic formula features SPF 20 UVA/UVB protection and contains mineral pigments to help perfect your skin. The tone perfector can reduce skin redness and conceal blemishes, marks, and dark circles. The lightweight, oil-free formula is gentle on the skin and will leave you with a uniform velvety finish. It combines oil-absorbing mineral perlite and a touch of color and hydration to provide you with your most beautiful skin. It also contains hyaluronic acid and glycerin to add moisture to your skin, as well as Vitamin C to brighten the skin.
The powerful formula comes in three shades to match your skin and blends easily for a flawless matte finish. You only need to apply a very small amount to achieve great, even coverage. You can expect a number of benefits after just one use, with even more results obvious after four weeks of usage. Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream was the first BB cream to launch in Europe and has become a cult favorite over the years. Oprah.com deemed this the best BB cream with the most coverage, while Allure named this the best multitasking BB cream for dry skin. Good Housekeeping, InStyle, and TotalBeauty also chose it as one of the best BB creams on the market.
Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45
You won’t find another BB cream quite like the Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm. The Bio-peptide complex is infused with white gold, which can provide anti-aging properties, promote natural collagen, and brighten the skin. This moisturizer, sunscreen, and treatment serum in one can minimize the appearance of imperfections. Enhanced by soy, licorice, vitamin C, and arbutin, this all-in-one cream can fade discoloration on the skin. The shimmery liquid can also make skin smoother with adenosine, which is a sugar molecule that speeds up cell renewal and can restore firmness and elasticity to the skin.
With continued use, your skin will look more even, smooth, and youthful, while it is being protected from UVA and UVB rays with SPF 45 and mineral sunscreens. The 5-in-1 formula offers natural looking coverage in a light formula. It comes in one universal shade and is great for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
While this is a bit pricey, it has some of the best reviews among beauty editors and consumers alike. In fact, TotalBeauty named this one of the best BB creams thanks to its hydrating properties. Allure named this the best multitasking BB cream for uneven skin tone. Dr. Jart+ is a respected brand around the world, so you can’t go wrong with any of their BB cream options. In fact, the Dr. Jart+ Regenerating Beauty Balm SPF 30 also has stellar reviews and was chosen by Vogue as one of the best BB creams on the market.
Maybelline New York Dream Fresh BB Cream
Maybelline New York Dream Fresh BB Cream is an 8-in-1 formula that offers a natural, slightly matte look. It has no oils or heavy ingredients, so it offers light, sheer coverage that will last all day, similar to a tinted moisturizer. The unique gel-based cream also instantly blurs imperfections, evens skin tone, and brightens the skin.
The non-irritating formula has SPF 30 protection and will leave your skin feeling moisturized, hydrated, and smooth all day. It was chosen as one of the best BB creams by InStyle and Good Housekeeping because it offers five different shades and will adjust to match your skin tone perfectly, while keeping an affordable price tag. This drugstore staple is too effective and inexpensive to overlook.
Pond's Luminous Finish BB Plus Cream with SPF 15
Pond's Luminous Finish BB Plus Cream has a tone perfecting complex that will leave your skin with a luminous, dewy finish. It offers instant, natural looking coverage and UVA/UVB protection with SPF 15. You can expect immediate coverage of imperfections, as well as noticeable dark spot correction in only two weeks. The non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic cream won’t clog your pores and offers optimal moisturization, without feeling greasy.
This drugstore staple topped the list for consumers and beauty editors alike and is one of the highest rated BB creams on Amazon. It is available in light and medium shades and is designed to blend flawlessly into a variety of skin tones.
And those are our recommendations for the best BB creams. As always, be sure to check Wise Bread's Buying Calendar to learn when and how to buy just about anything!
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