Can the BB cream become your new BFF?

KARACHI:

BB cream is more than just a fashion fad but not a miracle worker.

Call it a beauty balm or a blemish balm, the BB cream is the hottest new sensation in town. BB creams peddle tall claims: “evens tone, hydrates, renews, protects and brightens” boasts one brand. Wow, seems like this miracle cream can deliver flawless skin.

The basic formula for the BB cream has existed for over half a century now. It originated in Germany during the 1960s, where it was extensively used by dermatologists to camouflage skin after laser surgery and other facial treatments. It was only in the 1980s that Asian actresses realised its benefits as a beauty product and began applying it for a natural coverage, both on and off screen. Soon the BB cream became a rage in Hollywood. Simply put, a BB cream is a tinted moisturiser with benefits such as UV protection and blemish reduction. Combining both skincare and cosmetic coverage, it promises to give a brighter complexion by preventing pimples and covering existing marks.



A BB cream is a magical make-up wonder that claims to make your skin problems go away in a flash. But are BB creams really a brilliant discovery or just another fashion fad? Redah Misbah, beauty expert at Depilex Pakistan, says, “Women are looking for shortcuts to all their skincare problems. A BB cream is not a magic wand that will give us perfect glowing skin but it does have some crucial benefits.” According to her, the BB cream became popular because of its skin-whitening quality. She believes that a BB cream does a great job as a soothing moisturiser and sun block along with providing sufficient coverage of your blemishes.

On the other hand, emerging make-up artist Anam Falak is not an active advocate of BB creams. She believes, “Any product that will help recover skin discolouration and blemishes would not be available over the counter because you would require a medical prescription for it. So suggesting that BB creams entail such benefits is only a marketing strategy to get people to buy the product.” According to Falak, a BB cream is just as good as any other tinted moisturiser in the market.

It is best to consider a BB cream as a form of a base primer, after applying which, you still require a dose of foundation and concealer to get flawless skin. Most users suggest that if you have significant spots on your face and your skin is acne prone, you can’t just rely on the BB cream to do the trick. In this case, the BB cream functions as a good tinted moisturiser that sets the base for a round of coverage products.



Verdict: BB creams will not cover your imperfections, they will not put a stop to your pimples and they will definitely not give you flawless, beautiful skin. However, if you are on-the-go and do not have time to go through a proper beauty routine in the morning, BB cream can be a handy addition on your dressing table to give you moisturised skin with light, natural coverage. Confused as to what brand you should buy? Beauty expert, Redah Misbah, suggests Estee Lauder, Smashbox and The Body Shop. However, the trick to buying a best BB cream is to find one that is lightly tinted and not too thick or pasty in texture. The bottom line is layer your skin with BB cream if you are a beauty fanatic but if you already suffer from sensitive skin issues, don’t take the risk!



BB cream Bestsellers:

•  MAC Prep + Prime BB Balm SPF 35

•  Estée Lauder Daywear B.B. Anti-Oxidant Beauty Benefit Crème

•  Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector Daily All-In-One B.B. Blemish Balm Cream

•  Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, April 14^th, 2013.

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