What happens when you’re living under a rock (as I’ve been doing, figuratively speaking) for the past few months, is that the minute you are let loose in the beauty hall, you go nuts. And you are more susceptible to impulse buying, AND you are liable to make mistakes.
That’s what happened to me not too long ago. Let loose in the beauty hall of Isetan KLCC, I found myself stealing a look at the sole Burberry Beauty counter here in Malaysia, wondering what was new and my eye fell on an interesting looking product – the Burberry Fresh Glow BB Cream – Luminous Skin Correcting Beauty Balm.
I was quite surprised to see it, because I didn’t expect to see a BB Cream come out of the Burberry Beauty stable already. Locally, the line has been quite quiet in terms of marketing and PR so I honestly had no idea what has been going on with the brand. I’m told it’s a a worldwide thing too, as there’s some shake-ups going on internationally.
Long story short, the Burberry Fresh Glow BB Cream is a limited edition product launched under the Burberry Beauty Summer 2014 collection (of which I paid no attention to as the rest of the items didn’t grab my attention) Locally, there are 2 shades available – 01 Nude Rose and 02 Nude Honey.
I later found out after looking up information online, that 01 Nude Rose (cool toned) and 02 Nude Honey (warm toned) are meant for Asian skins and elsewhere in the world, there are 3 more shades – Fair, Medium and Dark. All this is very confusing, so suffice to say that all we get here are the “Asian” shades, 01 being a little lighter and a touch cooler in tone and 02 being warmer and a touch darker.
I don’t deny that a part of the reason my eye was drawn to the product was due to its similarity in packaging to one of my favourite BB Creams, the Guerlain Lingerie de Peau BB Cream. It has a similar nude-pink tube with the cap bearing the signature checks of the Burberry fashion line.
I noticed that the product claims to be a Luminous Skin Correcting Beauty Balm with SPF30 PA+++ and it claims to give skin a natural looking finish with healthy luminosity, and is enriched with rosehip, tea and lavender extracts. I get the impression therefore, that the Asian versions of Nude Rose and Nude Honey are more like tinted moisturisers with a cool or warm base, depending on your skintone while the Fair, Medium and Deep versions overseas are more like foundation. Skin Correcting – is that what it’s supposed to mean?
Anyway, here’s a swatch of 01 Nude Rose. For the very fair, I’m afraid even this is will be too dark in tone, because I find the light to medium coverage does impart quite a lot of colour to the skin.
Burberry Fresh Glow BB Cream 01 Nude Rose Left: Swatched heavily Right: Blended out
I can wear Nude Rose, but only as a thin layer, which means I get medium coverage at best, and light coverage otherwise. I don’t quite mind that to be honest. I usually wear very thin, light layers of base makeup so it suited me, and the heavier tint of colour doesn’t bug me as much, as the cool undertones help temper that, so it doesn’t look so dark.
But the texture does take some getting used to. I find that it feels a little tacky, and it never really dries down properly. When I set it with powder, it stays on better, but starts slipping off after a few hours. I have normal-dry skin so having base makeup slip off my skin isn’t something I’m used to. Nor is an oilier feeling to the skin. Or is that supposed to be “dewy” and “luminous”? 😛
I don’t quite mind this, but I’d say it’s not something I’d reach for. When I have this on, I have been told that my skin doesn’t look as nice as when I have other base makeup on, and I do notice it as well. It looks alright, but doesn’t make me want to keep looking in the mirror, marvelling at my skin.
So, this is something I’d wear on a weekend, when I have to be out for a couple of hours to run errands, but it doesn’t last on my skin long enough to take me through a whole day, so I will ultimately pass this up for foundation or even one of the other BB creams that I like.
Here’s an approximation of how it looks on me. Due to the light-medium coverage, it’s hard to get the after picture looking much different from the before one 😛 I use about half to one pump each time, spread thinly on my skin and then blended in with a flat top brush.
But you may hopefully notice that the skintone is a wee bit more evened out with the BB Cream on, with redness reduced, but blemishes and pigmentation aren’t fully covered up. You still need a concealer for that.
In a nutshell
The Burberry Fresh Glow BB Cream is a limited edition release with their Summer 2014 collection and in Malaysia, comes in 2 shades – 01 Nude Rose and 02 Nude Honey. Nude Rose isn’t a very light shade, but the cooler tone does help to brighten a little. Nude Honey has a warm tone and is more suited to a medium skintone. I find the coverage light to medium, and it doesn’t offer much coverage for blemishes and discolourations on skin, but it does a fair enough job evening out the skin tone. The texture is rather tacky and I only use about half to one pump, blended out in a thin layer on my skin. The tacky feeling doesn’t quite go away, and I do find that it is prone to get oily on my normal-dry skin after a few hours. The plus point is that it doesn’t feel drying so this is one for those who doesn’t need much coverage, just at touch of skintone evening out, and willing to touch up after a few hours. For me, this is my weekend errands base.
Pros: Not drying, Lightweight and evens out skintone even with a very light layer of product
Cons: Pricey, Feels tacky to the touch, Turns oily on my skin after a few hours even after setting with powder, Colour may not suit those who are very fair
Who will like this: Anyone who doesn’t need a lot of coverage
Here is the ingredient list but you have to squint a little. It’s hard to get it all in when brands go and print it all along the side of the box in tiny print.
I didn’t manage to get a swatch of 02 Nude Honey but I found a blog that has a review on it here. I thought it might be helpful, because I haven’t come across many reviews about this Burberry BB Cream at all!
Have you come across the Burberry BB Cream and did you test it out? What’s your favourite item from Burberry Beauty?
I haven’t been paying a lot of attention to the brand, primarily because I haven’t been going out a lot to the malls and there’s just 1 Burberry Beauty counter here. I have liked some of what I’ve tried but their base makeup hasn’t sat well with me so far. Maybe I’m looking at all the wrong things so point me in the right direction! 😛
Paris B
Burberry Fresh Glow BB Cream Luminous Skin Correcting Beauty Balm SPF30 PA+++ comes in 2 shades locally – 01 Nude Rose and 02 Nude Honey Price: RM165/30ml Availability: Burberry Beauty at Isetan KLCC Limited Edition: Yes, Summer 2014
I didn’t even know they had a cosmetics line! What?! I learn something new everyday!
Haha looks like Burberry Beauty has to step up their game! 😉 They’ve been around for about 2 years now but a little low key.
Sorry it didn’t work for you Paris, but thanks for sharing 🙂 I’ve tried their blushes, eye shadows and lipsticks, but have not tried their bases before. I received a sample of their foundation, but find that it oxidizes on me like crazy, so I never gave it much thought since.
You’re welcome. I tried their foundation but it was meh and like you, it oxidised on me and turned into an oil slick! Yeech! This one is a lot better, but still doesn’t do very well in terms of staying power. I’m quite sad I missed out on one of their bright blushes that came out last year, I believe. Pity they’re such a low key brand, they make some nice things.
Hi Paris,
I haven’t tried anything beauty products from Burberry before. I do like a sheer cover product. I may check it out in Singapore at the end of the month if it’s available there:)
I am glad your blog website is fixed. The food picture you posted on the weekend looked so yummy x
Hi Grace, I’d suggest that you check out the blushes and maybe eyeshadows instead. Their base products are really hit or miss (unless you can get a sample and then buy it before you leave if you like it) Some people like their lip products too but I had a poor experience with it so I’m a little biased against their lip stuff. Thanks for commiserating with my site down time – it is always so traumatizing when that happens and such a relief when it goes back up! We had the whole family together on the weekend so it was a good time to indulge in our favourite past time haha 😀 Absolutely delicious seafood!
I still stick with the Japanese and Koreans for bases because they have a better range of shades and superior textures!
You should try 3CE’s Glossing Waterful Foundation! I’ve been finding Lunasol’s Skin Modelling foundation drying down too quickly on me and 3CE’s blends beautifully when I mix in a drop of HABA’s Squalane oil. Gives a glowy finish too and they recommend not to powder. I think you have to order it online.
I think this 3CE product is like a more moist version of GA’s Maestro and what I prefer in any base makeup: sheer texture rather than the heavy clumpy feel of Skin79 BB’s and most western foundation/BB brands.
I’d tend to agree Firn 🙂 I admit I have been curious about 3CE’s foundation which I’ve been told is a close dupe of the GA Maestro (which I haven’t really tried) but I was also told by someone who owns it that the colour matching is a bit hard, and the texture takes some getting used to. I wish brands like these were more accessible so people like us would make fewer mistakes (and waste less money!) but I’ll be sure to keep it in mind for my next foundation experiment 🙂
So sorry it didn’t work well for you, Paris! I actually like how natural it looks on you, but the tackiness coupled with poor lasting power basically means I won’t really look into it! For the moment, my go-to BB cream is the Estee Lauder Clear Difference one, but I think it’s more for oilier skin type, so maybe it’s not your thing!
Thanks Sunny! It does look really natural doesn’t it? Once I’ve powdered and put on the colour, it actually looks quite nice until a few hours later when it turns oily. Sigh… I haven’t tried that Estee Lauder one but as you said, if it’s for oily skin, odds are I’d not like it too much 😀 Still, it’s always nice to find a good, light base for days when you need one right?
Since we are skin twins in Lunasol OC01 (which is a perfect match for me), I think 3CE would match you too. It’s more sheer than Lunasol and more dewy. If you are in Singapore ever, I’ll give you some to try. I got milk ivory based on the 3CE official website guide which is very helpful. 🙂
Ooh! I’d forgotten that we were foundation twins! 😀 Thanks for the colour rec, if I have the chance and find a site that I can order from, I might take a chance on it. Or I might take you up on your offer the next time I’m down in Singapore 😀
I think Luxola (always out of stock though) and KoreaDepart carries it.
http://en.koreadepart.com/item/1397630815/3ce-glossing-waterful-foundation-spf15pa
Worth checking out!
Thanks, I’ll keep an eye out! 😀
Hi Paris. Sorry it didn’t turn out well for you. I can imagine when you’re out shopping after a few months. The exhilaration and joy! The finishing provided light coverage on you. This is a little surprising considering the swatch does look quite dark. In any case, it is disappointing as it slips off your dry skin. I have read a few reviews on Burberry eye shadow. However I shy away from it as I’m particular over brand reputation and product forte. I somehow feel Burberry should stick to their bags and apparel. Maybe I’m not adventurous. Better luck for you next shopping trip okie 🙂
Hi Jennifer, it’s taught me a lesson to not “starve” myself too much, because what happens is that I binge and make horrible mistakes while I’m at it >.< It isn't a bad product, just doesn't live up to the price. I think I'll skip checking out the brand for a while. Like you, I feel they should just stick to their fashion line, or buck up their beauty line. As it stands, it all feels a little half-hearted.
Huh! I didn’t know they had a BB Cream either! Too bad it doesn’t sound all that great. Now I know I can skip it haha!
hahaha yep! Skip it, there’re other better products out there 😀 Hope you’re enjoying your road trip!
Bleh. I love the look of Burberry’s blushes and single eyeshadows, but — a sheer, sticky BB cream that never really settles past its tackiness? Count me out!
Sadly that succinctly sums up this BB Cream, Rae!