Battle of the BB Cream

Designed to address the demand for an all in one cosmetic, beauty balms – or BB creams for short – have been THE beauty product of the last year. They are similar to tinted moisturiser, with the added benefit of specialist skincare ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C.  Originally formulated by a dermatologist to protect patient’s skin after surgery, there has been a flurry of BB cream launches from some leading professional brands in the last few month. Here PB gives you the low down:

Thalgo

Thalgo’s BB Cream Perfect Glow, is a skincare make-up hybrid that delivers flawless skin and a skin defence system. It works to improve radiance, conceal, hydrate and protect the skin, by using high performing active ingredients to restore the skin’s structure. 

To help clients achieve their “perfect glow”, the cream contains Vitapulp, a Verbena extract rich in peptides and oligosaccharides that penetrates into the dermis and epidermis to breathe new life into the skin. It’s suitable for all skin types, but PB says dehydrated skin would benefit due to the use of Seve Marine, a green algae extract that draws moisture to the skin, continuously hydrating throughout the day. 

Thalgo BB cream comes in three shades: Ivory, Natural and Golden, all with SPF 15.

Clarins

To achieve revitalised skin with daily protection Clarin’s launched its Skin Perfecting BB Cream SPF 25 in the spring. The cream uses 3-D radiance pigments to help create a smooth, blemish-free complexion.

Clarins has used ingredients such as kiwi extract, katafray and hyaluronic acid in the cream to help restore the skin’s moisture. Alongside its SPF 25, the cream protects against both UVA and UVB as well, which makes it a more robust sun protection, plus it uses anti-radical Tocopherol. Suitable for everyday use for all skin types, the active ingredients fight to combat the pollutants of urban living. 

Decléor

Last but not least, Decléor launched into this popular market with its BB cream 24hr Moisture Activator, created as part of the brand’s Hydra-Floral Multi-Protection skincare range.  It’s designed as a five in one formula to provide 24 hr moisture, brighter skin tone, and refine, protect and correct imperfections.

Powerful natural ingredients such as wild pansy extract and samphire extract hydrate the skin, while micro protein moringa oleifera extract creates an invisible film on the skin that protects from pollution, SPF 15 protects from UVA/UVB. Rather than launching in a variety of shades, Decléor’s product use mineral pigments that adapt to any skin tone and give it a healthy glow, which gives it more subtle coverage than some of the others on the market.