BB cream - What are they?

[JustAnother]

I am seeing them everywhere now: Estee Lauder, Dior, Garnier..., but I am not sure what the difference is between a BB cream and a tinted moisturizer. Anyone?

Ooh, good question. I was wondering the same.
Non of the bloody adverts tell you!

They seem to be a mixture of moisturizers, primer and many other things. I am wondering if they are just trying to do too much in one, or they actually work. If they do, it would be quite a miracle.

Do you use them as an alternative to foundation?

I have the garnier one and really like it. Not sure what the official difference is, but when I use it it seems so brighten as well as tint, ie maybe has some diffracting stuff in as well as tint.

In any case, people kept commenting how very healthy I was looking, when I knew I looked awful underneath it :)

so, it looks like we are all confussed. Their marketing has not worked yet. Hopefully someone will come along in a minute to enlightened us. In the meantime, I have used this morning a sample I had from Garnier. It is the light version and I have used it instead of moisturizer. My skin looks quite good now. I haven't put foundation on, just a bit of loose powder.

I love the Garnier one too. One minute I look like the living dead, then hey presto! Alive & glowy! I use it as I would a tinted moisturiser ie slap it on after cleansing, a bit of blusher on top & done.

I am even thinking I may look better in it than the mineral foundation I use when I go out in the evening.

I was wondering what it was as well. Found this on Wiki:- BB cream, also known as Blemish Balm, Blemish Base or Beblesh Balm, is a cosmetic item sold mainly in East and Southeast Asia.
Originally formulated in Germany it was initially used by dermatologists to help laser surgery patients protect, soothe and refine highly sensitive skin while providing light coverage for post-laser scars, acne and other blemishes.
BB creams come in a variety of different formulations and qualities. Some are said to have skin whitening or brightening properties. Others are anti-acne, some are anti-wrinkle, some are intended to even out skin tone, and yet others to lighten blemish scars. BB creams are sometimes used like a primer under foundation, and if tinted may even replace foundation and some newer ones will have functions of primer, foundation, moisturizer, sun block, pore minimization and skin refining together which can save time and money in make-up.
Ive ordered the top reviewed asian one Skin 79 on ebay today so will let you all know whats its like when I get it. Ive got high hopes from all the reviews so far!

I use the garnier one instead of foundation, love it.

I would be careful buying them off of ebay though.

I moisturise first, then do the BB after it's soaked in, when I do the rest of my makeup. Not sure it would moisturise enough for me otherwise.

But there wasn't really any instruction about this on the box I don't think!

Jam - I bought from a top rated seller and all the reviews say genuine product so hopeful that all will be OK