Just when you thought it was safe to come to this blog and NOT find me yapping on about BB Creams, I’m sorry. I just had to.
It’s more than a year since I first wrapped my face around a BB (how clever were Garnier to bring them to Australia first?).
It was pretty much love at first wear. Something you don’t need me telling you if you too discovered Garnier BB Cream around the same time.
In the past 12 months, the beauty market has been well and truly playing BB catch up.
(BTW, if you’re still scratching your head about the whole BB thing, what it stands for and what it does, have a read here and here.)
Much of the appeal of the BB is in its skin-perfecting characteristics – both immediately and over time for evening skintone.
While strengths of active ingredients are much lower than in Asia where BB creams originated, what’s available here is still effective.
Probably more importantly for busy women, the greatest effectiveness of BB creams lies in their ability to cut down time spent in front of the makeup mirror.
Whether you choose to go BB-only or use BB as a base to a powder or liquid foundation, you will be saving time and fuss in creating a flawless look.
And in my lazy-girl beauty books, that’s an absolute winner.
So, the reason for me re-visiting BBs so soon?
There are three more available on the beauty block, that’s why.
And each of them deserves its place in the BB line-up.
Before I get into a bit of a chat about each of these, let’s just have a look at the writing on each of these tubes.
9-in-1 Skin Perfecting Super Makeup
Stay all day 10-in-1 HD beauty balm
All-in-one Beauty Balm
Look, I know I’m a marketers’ dream and these kind of multi-use products suck me in every time but right there in plain English is the reason why BB Creams have gone completely gangbusters.
The truth is, I don’t want to be pfaffing around on a day-t0-day basis. BUT I do want my skin to give the illusion that I did indeed get a good night’s sleep when the reality is often far from it.
Are you with me? Thought so.
Now, let’s get down to it. In each of the photos below, I’m wearing nothing but BB … on my face.
(I have, of course, got clothes on 
Don’t want to frighten the neighbours. Frightening enough doing all these selfies.)
Rimmel London BB Cream $12.95
(available from November 1, 2012 at Kmart, Target, Big W, Priceline, Woolworths, David Jones and selected pharmacies)
If you’ve been following along with my BB tales, you’ll know that there are two types of BB – the colour match and the one-tint-fits all. Both varieties do blend of their own accord but when there are three shades to choose from – in this case Light, Medium and Medium/Dark – then I think it does help a bit more to get that even-out-skin tone look. Loving the SPF 25. Big, big plus there. And the coverage is pretty damn good – in these photos it shows up the other two. The fragrance is subtle and the feeling on your skin is one of hydration plus smoothing, matte finish. I’m wearing the Light shade.
stila all day HD Beauty Balm $65
(Available now at Mecca Cosmetica)
Ok, so we’re taking a bit more of your beauty budget for this one. Fans of the stila makeup brand will need little encouraging to give this one a go. It offers a subtle fragrance and is an excellent makeup primer. What you’re paying for here is it’s long-term, work-horse-like skincare powers. Thanks to being infused with skin protecting emollients and enriched with bamboo and pea extracts as well as some of those super duper peptides, it quietly works away on minimising those little things we affectionately call fine lines … all the while keeping you looking fresh as. It’s oil and paraben-free. Only down side? No SPF, so slap on some sunscreen underneath please. This is a one-tone-fits all product – it blends beautifully into my skin.
Palmer’s Eventone BB Cream $9.99
(Available now exclusively from Chemist Warehouse and My Chemist; elsewhere from January 2013)
Hello, retail price under $10. That’s a winner. Yes, you can regularly pick up Garnier BB Cream for under $10 on sale but to have an equivalent at this price point all the time? Winning. And yes, it’s got an SPF15+ (better than nothing but if spending longer than incidental time outdoors, I’d be adding a sunscreen underneath). Coverage is good and it’s oil-free too so good staying power and great if you’ve got a side of zits served up with your mains of wrinkles. What didn’t work for me was the fragrance. A little too over-powering. This won’t affect many of you but for me if I’m run down or exhausted my skin and my sinuses do not behave so well when confronted with a strong scent. This one comes in two shades Fair/Light and Medium/Dark. I’m wearing Fair/Light.
How do these new BB creams compare?
Playing favourites isn’t really my thing but if I had to, the Jane Iredale Glow Time is still a front runner (when there’s no budget involved) – mainly because I very much like the full coverage it gives. This isn’t something everyone wants from their BB. Many people are very happy to have a “tinted moisturiser” look.
On a budget? It’s a tie for me between the new one from Rimmel and the oil-free Garnier BB Cream. Rimmel could win on the SPF 25 alone.
Do you BB? Have you tried something other than the Garnier BB or is your skin very happy, thank-you very much?
* These creams were gifted to me for editorial consideration in accordance with my disclosure policy.
Other BB Cream posts on Styling You:
- Let’s talk BB Cream. Again
- 5 more reasons to jump on the BB Cream beauty train
- Online shopping find: Make Up Australia
- Lazy-girl beauty: the 2-minute face
- Lust-have beauty
- It’s not just me who’s crazy for Garnier’s BB Cream
- What’s in my October beauty bag?
- My face has fallen for this foundation big time
