9.07.2012

review: BB creams for the makeup minimalist


this is not a beauty blog, but i just wanted to do a quick review of two really great BB creams that i've been using recently. as a makeup minimalist, the idea behind BB cream is kind of a holy grail concept for me, so when i spotted more and more of these this past year, i was intrigued.

in my last post, a reader asked what a BB cream is compared to a tinted moisturizer or traditional foundation. on the spectrum of function and coverage, BB cream falls in between tinted moisturizer and foundation: it gives more coverage and nourishing benefits for the skin than a tinted moisturizer, but is still lighter in texture and has less coverage than traditional foundation. BB creams have been a huge hit in Asia, and are now being adapted/introduced to the US. naturally, there's a ton of hype around what it is, how it works, and why it's been touted as 'a miracle product' used by poreless, alabaster-complexioned South Korean actresses, etc etc.

but let's cut through all the hype, yeah?

as i noted in my last post, i've been using Clinque's BB cream daily and really loved it. then, a friend and beauty guru recommended that i try out Dr. Jart+. the plot thickens!

for me, the main criteria in choosing a great BB cream is the texture/consistency of the product. let's compare Clinique vs. Dr. Jart+ here:

left: Clinique :: right: Dr. Jart+

1. consistency // blendability // wearability
Clinique's BB cream is oil-free and has the consistency of a light cream. it blends pretty easily to the skin (though it can flake on drier skin), and dries to a matte finish. there are 3 shades, and since i'm pretty fair, i find Shade 01 to be perfect for me. bonus: the pinkish undertone adds a nice healthy glow. it feels light and i don't feel like i have anything very heavy on. it also stays put on my skin throughout the day nicely without any need for primer, which is a huge plus.

the Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse BB is also oil-free, and has a fantastic mousse-like consistency. (i recommend shaking the tube a bit first to evenly texturize the product.) it comes out of the tube appearing much thicker and heavier, but when you actually start to apply and blend, it's remarkably hydrating, airy, and light to the touch. very much like a 'whipped' creme texture that blends incredibly well. big bonus: it dries to a dewy finish, and my skin does feel really superbly hydrated in a way that it doesn't with the Clinique (which has a bit more of a mattifying, makeup-y effect). 

2. color
from the photo above, it's clear that Clinique matches my skin color much better than Dr. Jart+. however, both blend very well into my skin. the Dr. Jart+ shade adjusts after application to accomodate different skin tones. with the Clinique, you do have to work a bit harder blending it in. i find the Dr. Jart+ to be a bit more 'seamless' in how it soaks in to the skin.

3. coverage
the reality is, you need to have pretty decent skin to just use BB cream as the all-in-one if you want 'enough' coverage. if this is true for you, BB creams are fantastic time-saving multitaskers (not to mention very budget-friendly, cutting out the need for extra products). in that regard, both the Clinique and Dr. Jart+ give a sheer enough yet even enough coverage to function as a proper BB cream. 

the winner?
this is a very close one, as both are great and do what they say they do. i do think good hydration is something that's missing in a lot of BB cream formulations, and this is where Dr. Jart+ really stands out. for my needs, i'm leaning more towards Dr. Jart+ due to its great hydration properties, and the really lovely dewy finish i'm getting. (because i have combo/oily skin, it's always tricky getting enough moisturization without overdoing it in the AM.)

i'll update this in the next week or so once i've used the Dr. Jart+ regularly for a stretch, but so far i'm a major fan. in the meantime, hope this post is helpful for those of you considering this option!

do you use BB creams? how do you like them?

update 9/21: it's been two weeks now since i've been using the Dr. Jart+, and it's a keeper. i think it'll especially be a fantastic all-in-one daily moisturizing bb cream once the weather gets colder and my skin gets drier from windchill and indoor heating. have you tried it? how do you like it? let me know!

17 comments:

  1. Thanks for posting this review! I was much more interested in BB creams after your initial post about Clinique's because I'm also a makeup minimalist and BB creams seem so easy to use. I think I'll try both because the Clinique one has great color options but Dr. Jart+ is one of the best. (Oh and I totally follow your blog via Google Reader but rarely comment.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks for commenting, Fiona! please do comment more often :) love to hear from my readers.

      definitely let me know which one you like better!

      Delete
  2. I've been curious about BB creams. Dr. Jart+ looks like it would suit me the best as I typically have more dry/combination skin (and sensitive). I like that it has SPF but 25 is not high enough for me. Do you have any thoughts if BB would still be effective if you were to layer additional sunscreen over or under it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i think Dr. Jart+ would be ideal for you if your skin tends to be drier!

      as for spf though, you should know that the FDA came out with a new study that now regulates cosmetics companies in how they advertise SPF coverage...the reality is anything over SPF 30 is just false advertising as 'higher SPF' doesn't actually give more protection.

      the cool thing about BB cream is that it is light enough to be a 'base' if you want it to be, or to stand alone as an all-in-one. let me know if you try it! :)

      Delete
    2. Good to know! I will head to Sephora sometime soon and test a sample. I'll let you know how it works for me ;)

      Delete
  3. I have a really really minimal make-up routine so BB cream is like a dream for me, too. I tried the Garnier one and found it greasy but am currently using the Loreal one which is nice :)

    I really want to try the Clinique as I love their other products, but the Jart one was recommended by Teen Vogue's editor Eva Chen, and I've been curious about that one ever since! This review has been super useful for me, so thank you!

    Can't wait to hear an update after a week or two :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Fen, there is now a oil free Garnier version available :)

      Delete
  4. I like the sound of the Dr Jart+ given the hydration you write about. I have tried a few so far - Garnier (like it), Biotherm (very light almost grey in colour) and Nude by Nature. I have read that the Asian ones are far superior to the Western branded ones.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yeah, i've heard the same too - and actually Dr. Jart+ is a korean brand, and it's the bestselling one in Asia too. i can see why people aren't super happy with the Western brand versions of bb cream.

      Delete
  5. I used to use bb creams several years ago after I heard about the hype & craze in Korea. the only bb creams I've used are Korean ones and at the time I thought they were too heavy and felt it covered my face too much. I remember it being thicker than tinted moisturizer and having medium-heavy coverage but blended shockingly well. But I didn't like that I looked one-dimensional and fake. Now, reading up on all these non-Asian companies coming up with their own bb creams, I feel like things have changed! I'm hearing/reading that it's not full coverage, light, etc.. Kind of makes me want to see how I feel about it now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i know what you mean! i like the Dr. Jart+ as it feels super light and completely disappears into my skin it seems while evening it out in a natural, 'tinted moisturizer' kind of way. i think there's other Asian bb creams that are much thicker and higher coverage, but i don't need that much so i much prefer the Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse. kind of a genius product at balancing all the things a makeup minimalist is looking for!

      Delete
  6. I'm quite intrigued by what you say about Dr Jart+ - I find most BB creams too thick and greasy. I've always liked the idea of a one-step product for mornings so it's good to know what works!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for this post. Like others, I've been curious about BB creams since your previous post. And (finally!) a beauty product I can find in Asia. Where did you buy Dr. Jart+? I've never heard of it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sephora carries it in store and online in the US, and i imagine given it's a Korean brand you'd be able to find it at a large higher end costmetics store or department store where you are.

      Delete
  8. I've been really intrigued by BB creams since all the hype. The only thing is I have no idea how to integrate them into my routine? Do i still use a moisturiser, serum, SPF under it?!

    http://herribbonsandherbows.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i don't feel the need to with the moisturizing Dr. Jart formula. and the entire appeal of bb creams for me is that it's an all-in-one, so no need to layer anything unless it's extra spf or a finishing powder!

      Delete
  9. I LOVE BB creams, and I love them even more after discovering (belatedly) the Clarisonic Mia. Between the Clarisonic Mia and BB cream, my skin has never looked better. The Clarisonic Mia gives me perfectly smooth skin, and the BB cream does this amazing natural-looking "airbrush" effect that evens out my skin tone. It's an amazing combination. Heavenly. Revelatory. The Best. FINALLY! It took me forever to figure this all out, but now that I have I feel so confident and comfortable. The natural look is definitely pretty. I also found the Clinique BB cream too drying (but also good, probably great for people with oily skin), and I agree that the Dr Jart is great, especially for drier winter skin.

    ReplyDelete

feel free to join in on the conversation! :-) FYI, comment moderation is ON, so it may take a little while before yours appears. house rules: comments that are spam, rude, or otherwise unrelated to the post will be deleted.