Talk to me about BB creams please!

[designerbaby]

I got a sample after seeing them mentioned on another thread... But I confess I don't really understand what they are or what's so great about them?

The one I got (Garnier?) seems like something between a tinted moisturiser and a light foundation, but leaves my face feeling a bit, well, sticky, initially.

Which ones do you like/recommend?

How should they be used? After moisturising as usual or does one ditch the moisturiser? What are the benefits over a tinted moisturiser/foundation?

Or should I just not bother?

I rarely use foundation, just a little pressed powder after moisturising, but as i'm getting on a bit, my skin is a little blotchy and I'm thinking a better base is called for - but not keen on full foundation on a daily basis...

Thanks in advance for your wisdom!

db
xx

[harrietlichman]

I will be watching your thread with interest - I bought some Garnier BB (perfect advertising victim, me) and have NO IDEA what it is - all your questions apply! I have been using it as a moisuriser, and find it quite good - I then use Estee Lauder's camoflage foundation (I have blotchy skin) , and it gives a nice base, but I confess to not having a clue how it should really be used!

[zalana]

According to Sali Hughes the Guardian beauty writer, they are best suited to an oily skin,good for covering blemishes, and applied straight after a serum.

[ContinentalKat]

Hm. So I shouldn't be using it on my dry skin? I tried the sample for the first time today and I am also confused...

[designerbaby]

Oh heavens - what's a serum?!!
[dullard emoticon required]

db
xx

[zalana]

Sorry didn't mean to confuse you, serums are really popular at the moment , every skincare company makes one, they are designed to be applied after you have cleansed your face,serums are suited to the job as they're much finer in texture than creams and are more readily accepted into the skin. Hope that makes sense!

[MiseryPlop]

I use the Garnier BB cream over a serum - I don't find it too sticky, if anything it feels better on my skin than my old foundation (Max Factor) which felt a bit chalky.

I look much healthier with BB cream rather than foundation

[designerbaby]

So, a serum is a new-dangled moisturiser alternative yes?

So maybe I need to have some of this under my BB?

And which BB do you think?

I'm fairly pale - the garnier one is a bit dark tbh. Not too much of a problem as it blends well, but I don't really want to be a different colour...

I have more to learn than I thought...

db
xx

[designerbaby]

New dangled? Fangled, you ignorant american iPhone. Fangled. Gees.

[WhereMyMilk]

Try the boots no 7 one, I have pale skin and is good for that, and not sticky IME

[ContinentalKat]

And another question: are you still supposed to put powder on top if you use bb cream?

[designerbaby]

I do Kat, but mostly to counter the stickiness and too-darkness - so it probably has more to do with the fact I'm using the wrong brand than it is to do with the way one would normally wear a BB cream... In understand that one ought to be able to wear it on it's own but that you can add powder for a bit more coverage and made-up-ness if you choose.

But then I didn't even know what a serum was, so I'm hardly a fount of knowledge am I!?

db
Xx

[AmazingDisgrace]

I use BB cream, loved Garnier but it stung my eyes. Currently using No7 which isnt as good -less dewy and coverage not as good. Going to try Loreal next. I use it over serum and if I need more coverage (always) I swirl a bit of Bare Minerals foundation over it.

[ContinentalKat]

Well, I tried it without powder today and feel shiny.
Have been using it for 3 or for days now and I can't get used to it. It feels very thick and I am also under the impression that it emphasises my wrinkles. I can also see where it "ends" on my eyelids.
Maybe I am too stupid to use grown-up make up, but I think I'll go back to my tinted moisturiser. I am very frustrated and annoyed, I feel like I am 13, not 30 nearly 40!!
I want somebody to explain all this stuff to me IRL, but every time I pluck up the courage the make up counter ladies are scary orange with tonnes of make up on and I feel it would be a bit rude to say "Can you show me how to use make up, but under no circumstances would I want to end up looking like you!"

[designerbaby]

Ok. I went to my local Debenhams yesterday, to try some different brands. The only one I could find was Estée Lauder! Clarins and Clinique at Lancome just gave me blank looks... A bit pricey, I thought, but I decide to treat myself. (Oh look, there's a blue moon...)

I put some on this morning - without moisturiser. I was a little unsure at first, but after 10 minutes or so much, much happier. You need hardly any, it seems (which makes me feel a bit better about the price-tag). It soaks in beautifully, and my skin feel, well, velvety I guess is the best way to describe it. not sticky or shiny.

I didn't need any powder on top. The colour seemed a bit dark at first, but actually it seems to have blended itself, and now it doesn't look like I'm wearing anything at all. Blotchiness is concealed - I just look like I have really good skin!

AND it has SPF 35.

I'm really happy, actually, and can kind of see the point in BB creams now.

Worth a try then, if you can swallow the cost? I figure I'll save on my expensive moisturiser and powder, so it'll work out ok, and I think it'll last me a while. Smells nice too...

So, in my extensive, one might almost say exhaustive research of two whole brands, Estee Lauder is a win for me!

DH will go nuts when he sees the receipt though... [resigned]

HTH

db
xx

p.s. I am not a troll who works for Estee Lauder... promise! Never bought anything from them before, as I think of them as rather, well, middle aged.
Oh shit, does that mean I'm now middle aged? [Hoiks up granny pants and support stockings]. Surely I'm still young and groovy, and the whole 37th birthday I had last week was a horrible mistake...

[ContinentalKat]

Well, my extensive research led me into boots yesterday where the no. 7 lady (beautiful skin + very little makeup = trustworthy) gave me a tester of the no. 7 bb cream for very dry skin and I must say that I like it a lot better than the Garnier one!

Not so sticky and pasty at all. And you don't need much of it, either.

I shall be test driving this one for a few days and I will also have a peek at the price tag of the Estée Lauder one. Bracing myself already

PS. I finally managed to get hold of one of those fabled soap & glory foot files as well. Haven't had the time to try it out yet.

[AmazingDisgrace]

I found the No7 to have poor coverage and a strange sort of chalkiness but then again I need polyfilla these days really. I'm quite impressed with the L'Oreal nude magique one though. Looks scary white when you first put it on but it has magic bead things that burst and adjust to your skintone or something. Anyway coverage is good, it's not sticky - it's a keeper I think

[AmazingDisgrace]

That was the no7 one for oily skin though

[Ryoko]

I have Garnier BB cream I bought it after getting a sample some time ago and wear it when I need to nip out to the shops as it saves time.

They are moisturiser, primer, light foundation and sun block all in one, originally developed for use after surgery to cover and help heal sore skin, they took off in Asia a few years ago as a fast all in one make up solution thing.

[warmandwooly]

Superdrug has their own brand of BB cream and Garnier has introduced a new one connected to skin type (forgotten which ones)

Superdrug have a 3 for 2 mix and match on makeup at the moment so if you wanted the L'oreal one/Rimmel you could mix and match with other makeup.

Boots have the L'oreal one on special with 2 for 14 on the magics ( I think) range

[EllieorOllie]

Garnier are doing a new oil-free one for oily/combo skin. I find the first incarnation too sticky but this seems much better. plus the spf is higher.

[Birdies]

I love my bb cream. I get a bit of a shiny face so I use a Nivea moisturising cream (just discovered this - I think it's called oil control or something. Is better than more expensive creams and works a treat. If anyone's interested i'll find out the proper name!). Then I use no 17 bb cream in medium and corn silk semi-matt translucent powder on top. I am a product addict, have been trying all sorts of make-up for years and this gives me a lovely fresh-faced look with enough coverage of blemishes and a bit of a glow without looking shiny. I loved looking for my perfect foundation etc, am almost disappointed I've found it!!

[axure]

I have v oily skin, use Garnier BB cream directly onto face (no serum) and then put face powder on top, this does me fine for everyday and face doesn't get too shiny. Would use a thicker foundation for a special occasion when I want to look a bit more made up.

[sailorsgal]

I was going to buy the Christian Dior one the other day but at £41 changed my mind unless anyone on here can tell me its amazing.

I did have a sample of Estee Lauder but not sure if its the right one for me.

[wasabipeanut]

I love the Estée Lauder one. I got some for a friend who has just had her first baby and is feeling in need of a lift and she seemed very pleased!

I love that it just smooths over but doesn't go shiny and disappear like tinted moisturiser does.

[TheGoodEnoughMum]

Oh FFS - I have just turned 40 and when I clicked through to the Garnier BB link from "Mumsnet swears by..." I am confronted with the line "Recommended age of use: late teens to mid-30's". Quite aside from the misplaced apostrophe (grrrrr!) it totally put me off a product I was about to be suckered by!