Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF35 PA+++

To be honest, I think I'm falling behind on the Beauty/Blemish Balm cream (or simply BB cream) bandwagon as I have never attempted to try any... until now. BB creams are a super convenient all-in-one one-step multitasking product combining the characteristics of skincare and makeup (i.e. moisturiser, blemish balm, primer, light foundation and SPF). These BB creams claim to provide benefits to the skin as well as an overall tint or foundation finish for a flawless look. Particular BB creams are suspected of causing breakouts (no brands will be mentioned here) and in some cases an oily T-zone after a few hours of wear (especially for people who have an oily skin type). Having a combination/oily skin type myself I never really found an interest in these BB creams and pretty much stood clear from these all-in-one products. 

But! (lol, I guess you all saw this coming!) it wasn't until I was introduced to Bobbi Brown BB cream (BB BB Cream, 40ml) which claims to be specifically suited for people who have an oily skin type (yay! That’s me!). That sounds amazing doesn't it? BB Creams in general are huge in Asia and I think there is a line of BB Creams in every brand they stock over there. The BB Cream trend is slowly spreading outside Asia and so far, BB BB Cream has not yet reached Australian shores (but it will be very soon!). My friend went on holiday to Asia and I was lucky enough to receive this product from her.

I have tried Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturiser (the previous formulation) in the past, however, unfortunately the product didn't work well for my skin type. So, despite this and after hearing about the claims of this BB BB Cream I decided to take the plunge and try this product for myself. 

BB BB cream provides PA 35+++ sun protection (protection from UVA and UVB damage) and there are three shades available: Extra Light, Light and Medium to Dark. The packaging is super sleek, like all Bobbi Brown products, with a squeezable long tube and screw on lid at the base. Since the tube stands while inverted, you would probably not have much difficulty trying to use up the last few mls. 

I currently have the shade Light and I'm surprised as to how well the shade blends in to give me natural looking skin (for reference my skin tone suits Chanel Claire 20, MAC NC20, NARS Fiji, Giorgio Armani 4.0 and Burberry Trench No.05). BB BB Cream is slightly yellow based and gives my skin a healthy and fresh look - my face matches my neck, which is a huge bonus! The coverage is sheer to medium and is quite buildable to provide extra coverage. I would say the finish is comparable to that of sheer foundation. I really like the fact that BB BB Cream provides more coverage than your typical Tinted Moisturiser as you wouldn’t need to bother with additional foundation to conceal any small blemishes or rosacea. Although, I must say that I do need to use concealer over my dark circles. 

The formula is lightweight and very creamy which makes it very easy to evenly blend a small amount of product for each application. BB BB cream contains Vitamin E and Rice Bran Extract which makes my skin feel very hydrating yet at the same time provide a beautiful natural matte finish. The formula also contains Sucrose, Caffeine and Scutellaria extract (obtained from the mint plant variety) which helps to provide an even and clearer skin tone.

I really love the outcome of BB BB cream as it is pretty much the perfect formula for my daily morning routine, especially when I'm in a rush and don't have the time to apply moisturiser, primer, and then foundation. Rather than layering products onto my skin, I only need one formula/product to hydrate, prime and provide my skin with an even skin tone and flawless coverage.

BB BB cream lasts from 8am to 6pm and is capable of controlling the oiliness on my skin that usually develops towards the late afternoon. It does not result in flaky and dry patches on my skin and it doesn’t fade considerably towards the end of the day. My T-zone has become less shiny and I was really surprised as to how less frequently I had to blot my T-zone compared to wearing tinted moisturiser or medium-coverage foundation without powder.

Overall, I am super pleased with Bobbi Brown BB Cream as it is a brilliant multitasker which provides very high SPF of 35, hydration to the skin, less shiny skin, light-med coverage and a beautiful foundation-like finish. What more could I ask for in this product??

Bobbi Brown BB Cream (A$60/40ml) will be available in Australia in-store and online on the 12th of August 2012 and only the SPF35 version (rather SPF 35 PA+++) will be sold nationally. 

Have you hoped onto the BB Cream bandwagon? Which BB Creams would you reccomend?

xx Rose