BB Creams: Garnier BB Cream All-In-One Skin Perfecter

In the beginning, there was BB Cream. Allegedly, formulated in the 1960s by a dermatologist in Germany, for use on patients coming out of surgery to protect their skin. BB Cream later found its way to South Korea where porcelain flawless skin is hugely popular, and there it became a sensation.

I first heard about BB Cream from Jen (Jen is awesome. Please, hit the link and check out her blog, she has so many great reviews) who did a review on a bunch of different BB Creams. Off the bat, it seems that the Korean versions are credited with doing more good for the skin than their Western counterparts, containing mineral properties to help with age spots, hyperpigmentation from acne, anti-aging, and provide anti-inflammatory protection. So far, a lot of the BB Creams I've seen coming out of the Western houses focus more on providing a beautiful image, without necessarily focusing on the good it does for the skin itself.

When Garnier's BB Cream All-In-One Skin Perfecter hit the market, I was on it like a cat on tuna. (Cats like tuna, right?) I had been longing to try out a BB Cream, and ordering online from South Korea was just not feasible.

Garnier's BB Cream claims to be a 'Miracle Skin Perfector'. Being an illuminator, lightweight moisturizer, primer, all wrapped up in the promise of a healthy glow. It also carries SPF15 UV Protection in its arsenal. Down in these parts of the woods, it comes in 3 shades, light, medium and dark. Light fits me perfectly, being pale with yellow undertones. Medium I think would suit more olive complexions, and dark suits my black colleague perfectly, who is the same skin tone as Tyrese Gibson. It comes in a 50ml plastic tube, with a snap lid, which makes it excellent for carrying around in a handbag, in case you wanted to reapply during the day, or are in just too much of a hurry to apply it before leaving home.

So how does it stack up?

It's a lightweight product, that leaves my skin feeling hydrated without being oily. It's a little thicker out of the tube than liquid foundations, so it applies just like a normal moisturizer. It has a pleasant clean citrusy scent to it, and a little goes a long way with this. It provides very light coverage, in terms of hiding eye bags, scarring and hyperpigmentation. However, it does go a ways to hiding them, and making them less noticeable.

Since this is a lightly tinted moisturizer, I don't have to be quite so precise when applying it, it can be applied just like a normal moisturizer (you know the routine, two warpaint swipes on either cheek sweeping downwards and out, the stripe over the forehead and chin respectively, and then the downward neck swipe. Blend til absorbed) without needing a mirror. At the end, moisturized with some colour and coverage.

It worked very well for me. It gave my skin an instant pick-me-up, and people quickly commented on how good my skin looked, that I was healthier than my normal sallow self. I quickly managed to pull my colleague into using it, and she cannot be bothered with foundation and the rest of it, but now practically swears by the stuff.

The vitamin C helps give skin than healthy glow, and vitamin C is meant to help with healing of hyperpigmentation left from pimples. - If you haven't guessed by now, this is a big deal for me. I break out sporadically and my acne tends to leave me with dark marks, which I know I shouldn't aggravate, but covering them up helps me avoid harassing them. Also, no breakouts from this product.

It acts as a good primer for makeup, and on some days I'll skip foundation completely, and just put makeup directly on top of this product. It works wonderfully to give you that 'natural,' look and it looks like you aren't wearing makeup, but you still have beautiful healthy skin.

The downside for me is really the SPF count. I live in very hot and sunny conditions, and SPF15 isn't enough in terms of protection. Don't get me wrong, I can and do put on a heavier duty sunblock underneath this product. But, one of the big selling points of this product is it's marketed to people on the go, who don't want to spend the time applying sunblock, moisturiser, primer, concealer and foundation but want one easy go-to product. I wanted this product to give me more protection from the sun.  Also, when it gets warm, this product melts and gets into my eyes, and this happens way more often than it should, and it stings.

All in all, this is a no fuss, good quality product. It gives a natural, healthy glow, making your natural skin look the best it can, without that made up look. It is good value for money, and I'd recommend it. Now, if only they could bump up the SPF...