A BB & CC review

In recent years, BB and CC creams have become ubiquitous mainstays on depar tment store and drugstore shelves. Initially invented by a German doctor in the 1950s and later adopted and supercharged by Korean beauty product manufacturers, BB and CC creams (a.k.a. Blemish/ Beauty Balms and Color Correcting Creams) are tinted foundation-like emulsions that offer sun protection and even out skin tone. Some of these

Pond’s Flawless White BB+Cream

ine creams even offer anti-aging, priming and moisturizing properties. BB and CC creams have come such a long way in answering many of consumers’ skin- care needs. Here is a quick look at some of the BB/CC creams that are in the market today.

This product gives broad spectrum SPF 30 coverage and acts like a brightening foundation cream that instantly covers dark spots and under-eye circles. The company claims that its GenActiv technology allows the product to encourage the body to regulate the production of melanin and in so doing,

STAR lightens the user’s skin tone. One is expected to see an increase in skin radiance in seven days.

Impressions: Pond’s Flawless White BB+ Cream gives light to medium coverage. Ladies with very reddish areas or those who wish to camouflage pronounced freckles on their faces would still need to apply concealer. This product is easy to apply (this columnist dotted the product on her face with her fingers then proceeded to blend out the cream using a foundation brush). This product comes in a very limited number of shades.

(Available in all department stores and most drugstores.)

Created by Korean company The Face Shop, Face It Powder Perfection BB Cream offers rejuvenating properties to skin that experiences dryness, dullness, laxity and uneven complexion and texture. It also works as a primer, allowing makeup to last longer. This BB Cream offers a broad SPF 37.

Impressions: Of all the creams tested in this review, Face It is the product that resembles foundation the most in terms of feel and texture. Although most BB creams offer light to medium coverage, this product has a generous amount of pigmentation, offering full coverage if needed. Users who wish to have a more natural-looking daytime coverage may wish to dilute the product with moisturizer. Face It BB cream gives skin a dewy, luminous complexion that is sustained throughout the day.

Maybelline’s Clear Smooth

BB White

Maybelline’s BB cream not only offers broad spectrum sun protection with SPF 50, it claims to brighten, smoothen, clear, protect and moisturize skin. Clear Smooth BB White further claims to refine pores, conceal blemishes and even out skin discoloration.

Impressions: Clear Smooth BB White is an affordable and capable BB cream that offers light to medium coverage. One can immediately see the skin tone and texture even out. Pores appear to blur and become smaller. What this columnist loves about the product is that skin tone is evened out without heavy pigmentation. Complexion automatically appears to have a glow. Definitely a product worth buying!

(Available in all department stores

and most drugstores.)

Etude House Correct and Care

CC Cream Glow

Available in #1 Silky and #2 Glow, the Korean beauty company Etude House’s Correct and Care CC Cream Glow gives a refreshingly dewy finish. This CC cream has SPF 30 and 8-in-1 multitasking formula. The product claims to hydrate, prime, conceal, treat, smoothen and protect skin while offering antiaging, stress- relieving and brightening properties.

Impressions: T h is CC cream is liquid glow- in- atube. Even applying a small amount of product on the skin leaves one with a pearlized, luminous complexion. Initially upon application, the emulsion would appear significantly white but eventually adjusts to one’s natural skin shade. Want luminous, glowing skin in a hurry? Mix Etude House Correct and Care CC Cream Glow with your favorite foundation and watch your skin level up to new heights! (Available in all Etude House branches nationwide.)

Belo Intensive Whitening BB Cream

The latest offering of the Belo Essentials arsenal of products, this BB cream uses kojic acid and tranexamic acid to lighten skin color and diminishes the appearance of dark spots. Its broad spectrum SPF 50 blocks both UVA and UVB rays thus protecting the skin from burns, darkening and wrinkles. This whitening BB cream also covers skin imperfections and evens out skin tone.

Impressions: Be lo Intensive Whitening BB Cream is an ideal and affordable product for women who wish to achieve f lawless, fair complexion. The cream adapts easily to the user’s natural skin tone. Think of it as a lightening cream, sunblock and skin perfecter in one. The cream provides medium to full coverage but still can give a natural finish. This columnist appreciates the non-sticky, non-greasy feel of the cream. For users who have more problematic/blemished skin, this BB cream can be mixed with foundation for an even fuller coverage and concealing effect.