The Ultimate Guide to BB Creams

The Best BB Creams For Your Skin

by Wendy Rodewald

Presenting: all the BB creams you can handle.

BB creams are the biggest thing in beauty right now, and no wonder: They make your skin look flawless while delivering amazing skincare benefits, too.

But these moisturizer/foundation/SPF hybrids, with their laundry lists of features, can also be incredibly confusing. Are they the same as tinted moisturizers? Do they work for every skin tone? We tested a full lineup of BB creams to uncover the answers, and compiled everything you need to know about these new It-creams.

4 Key Facts About BB Creams

What is a BB cream? Unfortunately, there’s no single answer. BB creams originated in Germany and exploded in Korea, where they were first used by laser treatment patients to ease post-procedure redness. But now that beauty consumers have embraced BBs, new formulas span a range of shades, textures and skincare benefits.

They’re NOT one shade fits all. Despite what some packages claim, we found a wide range of colors and they don’t all work with every skin tone. You may need to test a few formulas before you find a match.

BBs are best applied with a brush. Just like any complexion makeup, the key to making these tinted balms work is to blend, blend and blend some more. A foundation brush does the job better than fingers.

Layering brings the best results. Though some BB creams aim to replace your entire arsenal of face products, that’s not always realistic. If your skin is extra dry, you’ll want to prep with moisturizer so your BB’s pigment doesn’t stick to dry spots. Also, since most BBs have light to medium coverage, you’ll probably still need concealer for under-eye circles, blemishes, and other discolorations.

Which BB Cream is Right For You

Most Lightweight:
Olay Total Effects 7-in-One Tone Correcting UV Moisturizer SPF 15 ($21.99, soap.com); in Fair-to-Light (pictured), Light-to-Medium or Medium-to-Deep

Olay calls this product a CC cream, the “color correction”-focused sequel to BBs, but the idea is the same. The swirled, dual-phase formula is ultra-light, so it might not replace your foundation. It does give skin a subtle, luminous glow with sheer coverage, and the neutral-toned Fair-to-Light shade was a favorite among our pale-skinned testers who found other BBs too dark.

Best For Pale Skin:
Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25 PA++ ($34, sephora.com); one shade

This cream comes from Korea, where BB is a big deal. Its corrective tone counteracts redness, making it ideal for fair complexions with pinkish undertones. The water-based formula soothes skin with a cooling effect and leaves a pretty, dewy finish.

Best For Dark Skin (and Medium and Light):
Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm Skin Perfector SPF 30 ($7.44, maybelline.com); in Light, Light/Medium, Medium, Medium/Deep, Deep (pictured)

This sheer fluid has a smooth texture that makes blending easy, and the line features one of the darkest BB creams of any we tried. The Deep shade has a warm, caramel tint that helps counteract gray or sallow tones on darker complexions. And with five shades spanning the color range, light to medium skin tones will find a match, too.

Smoothest Texture:
Garnier BB Cream Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector SPF 15 ($12.99, drugstore.com); in Light/Medium and Medium/Deep (pictured)

The first drugstore BB to launch in the U.S., Garnier’s version has enough coverage to stand in for foundation, and its slightly peachy tone makes skin look sun-kissed. But the biggest draw is its silky-smooth texture that blends flawlessly and blurs away pores.

Best For Uneven Complexions:
Vichy ProEVEN mineral BB Cream ($32.50, vichyusa.com); in Light or Medium (pictured)

Not only does Vichy’s new BB cream cover dark spots short term with its medium coverage formula, the company’s study showed it helps even out skin tone in four weeks.

Best For Full Coverage:
Dior Hydra Life BB Crème SPF 30 – PA +++ ($56, sephora.com); one shade

Dior’s BB cream was the most pigmented of any we sampled and the closest stand-in for full coverage foundation. Medium skin tones seeking to add warmth to their complexions will do the best with this one; our fair-skinned testers found it too orange on a pale face.

Best Matte Finish:
Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF 35 ($42, bobbibrowncosmetics.com); in Extra Light, Light, Fair (pictured), Medium and Medium to Dark

As far as our tester was concerned, this BB cream was just right—not too thick, not too sheer, and with a refined finish that wasn’t overly dewy.

Most Intriguing Active Ingredient:
Rodial BB Venom Skin Tint SPF 15 Beauty Balm ($44, nordstrom.com), in Capri, Hamptons and St. Barts

While we found the shade names confusing (Capri just doesn’t convey color like “ivory” or “beige”), one feature made this BB stand out: Each tube is infused with the company’s signature ingredient, Syn-ake, an anti-aging compound made with synthetic snake venom. And no, it doesn’t sting.

Dewiest Finish:
Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm SPF 20 ($32, sephora.com); in Vanilla Glow, Cream Glow (pictured), Nude Glow, Beach Glow
This BB’s lightweight formula feels amazing on the skin, but you’ll need concealer if you crave coverage. Its super-dewy finish leaves skin looking youthful and glowy.

Best For Oily Skin:
L’Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Magic Skin Beautifier B.B. Cream ($10.95, lorealparisusa.com); in Fair, Light, Medium and Deep (pictured)

This BB cream is colorless until you blend it into skin, causing its pigment beads to burst (fun to watch!). If you have oily skin and can get past the beads’ initial grainy texture, you’ll love the way this primer-like balm gives a smooth, matte finish.

The Ultimate Guide To BB Creams: Part 2

by Wendy Rodewald

We heard you! You loved our first big BB cream guide, but wished we’d included more options. Now we’re bringing you an all-new lineup of beautifying balms, each one tested and approved by our editors. Read on for our latest faves (and if you’re new to BB creams, don’t miss our 101 intro right here).

Best For Skin of Color
Iman Skin Tone Evener BB Créme ($20, drugstore.com); in Sand Light, Sand Medium, Clay Medium, Clay Medium-Deep, Earth Medium, Earth Deep (pictured)
Not only does this line features the deepest BB shade we’ve seen, its color range accounts for different undertones, from cool to olive to golden.

Best For Mature Skin
L’Oréal Paris Youth Code BB Cream Illuminator ($16.99, lorealparisusa.com); in Light or Medium (pictured)
This balm’s creamy consistency is moisturizing enough for mature skin, which tends to be dryer. Good coverage smooths over imperfections, while a luminous finish helps blur fine lines.

Most Complete Coverage
Flower Beauty Balm BB Cream ($12.98, walmart.com); in four shades
The original BB creams from Europe and Asia had a thicker texture than many of the souped up tinted moisturizers on the market today. This balm from Drew Barrymore’s new makeup line stays true to form with a highly-pigmented formula that leaves no blemish bared.

Most Likely To Replace Your Makeup Primer
Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm ($34, urbandecay.com); one shade
Though this balm doesn’t offer much coverage, its silky, oil-free texture creates a smooth canvas for makeup, and its warm tint helps breathe life into pale skin. Wear it over your moisturizer and under your foundation. Bonus: We loved its fresh, herbal scent!

Best For A Dewy Finish
Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream ($39, smashbox.com); in Fair (pictured), Light, Light-Medium, Medium and Dark
Hate chalky complexion products? You’ll adore this BB, which gives skin a healthy sheen with zero stickiness. The sophisticated finish manages to be luminous without looking shimmery.

Best For Skincare Minimalists
Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream ($14.99, fresheffects.com); in Fair to Light (pictured) and Light to Medium
If you’re blessed with great skin (lucky you!), there’s no reason to cover it up or layer on multiple products. This ultra-lightweight tinted moisturizer with SPF lets your skin’s natural glow shine through in one easy step.

Best For Oily Skin
Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hour Primer ($34, sephora.com); in Fair, Light, Medium and Tan (pictured)
With its silky silicone base and light mousse-like texture, this oil-free, long-wearing BB has more in common with makeup primers than it does with greasy lotions. And its smooth finish won’t leave your complexion shiny.

Best Crowd Pleasers (Tie)
CoverGirl CG Smoothers BB Cream ($6.99, covergirl.com); in Fair To Light, Light to Medium and Medium to Dark (pictured)
Revlon PhotoReady BB Cream ($10.99, revlon.com); in Light, Ligh/Medium and Medium
Feeling like a BB cream Goldilocks? With their smooth texture, semi-sheer coverage, and finish that’s neither too dewy nor too dry, these drugstore balms are just right. And at these prices, neither one is a major investment.

Glowiest Finish
Stila Stay All Day 10-In-One HD Illuminating Beauty Balm ($38, sephora.com); one shade
If you’ve ever mixed luminizer with your moisturizer to give you skin a glow, this sheer, shimmery balm will save you a step. It’s an instant wake-up for tired complexions.

Best Texture
Shiseido Perfect Hydrating BB Cream ($33, shiseido.com); in Medium (pictured) and Dark
Not a fan of greasy, sticky skincare? Us either. That’s why we loved the sophisticated finish of this BB best.

Best for Acne-Prone Skin
Aveeno Clear Complexion BB Cream ($16.99, drugstore.com); one shade
This balm provides coverage for problem skin with light-reflecting minerals that brighten the complexion, and its oil-free formula won’t clog pores. Plus, its neutral tint is neither orange nor chalky, making it a good match for fairer skin tones.