The Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream renders a good base as quick and as easy as 1-2-3

I’ll be the first to say that when CC Cream first came around, I rolled my eyes. I never quite got the hang of the purpose of a CC Cream, and I scoffed (and still scoff) when I come across one. Yet, amongst the jungle of cliches, you can often find a gem.

I’d like to tell you about one such gem.

The Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream isn’t new. In fact, it’s been around for quite a while, but because I move at a glacial pace in the blogging world, this is relatively new to me.

But what an excellent base it is! And affordable too! :D

The Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream is positioned as a CC Cream, containing pigments to colour correct the skin. So, they blend an apricot shade for anti-fatigue, green for anti-redness and white for anti-dark spots, along with a healthy dose of hydration to keep your skin from drying out.

All very good, except I also have to add that the coverage is quite impressive, and it has a consistency more similar to that of a liquid foundation than a regular CC Cream. In that sense, the texture is a little thicker and the coverage is higher.

The little slim tube belies its 30ml contents, which makes this perfect to tote around. However, I do find that the nozzle has a tendency for the foundation to squirt out when the cap is opened, if stored on its side, so do be warned.

I personally like using the 123 Perfect CC Cream on its own as a base, or foundation on days when I want something light on my skin. I do notice how it does a pretty impressive job at colour correcting redness and tiredness on my skin, as you will see below. I’m not sure about the anti dark spots bit, but perhaps that’s where the foundation shade comes in? I’m not sure.

Unlike many CC Creams I’ve tried over the years, this one is the only one where I can comfortably wear it without once complaining about how sheer it is. Yes, it’s fairly sheer, but not so sheer as to be nothing or to do nothing on your skin. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that this is just like a BB Cream or tinted moisturiser or light foundation, with the added benefit that it does colour correct better than most BB Creams, tinted moisturisers or light foundations.

Here’s the swatch to show you how similar or different the Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream is to other Bourjois foundations. The shade I use is 31 Ivory.

In terms of shade, 31 Ivory is a little deeper than 51 Light Vanilla in the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum foundation and the Bourjois City Radiance Foundation in 02 Vanilla. Just a touch. I wear them all with no problems. However, you may notice how the shade is also a little peachier, which I attribute to the apricot tones it contains, that brightens the skin, thereby combating the appearance of fatigue.

In terms of texture, I find the Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream lighter in texture than the Healthy Mix Serum and City Radiance (the latter has the thickest texture) and for me, makes my skin look better than the Healthy Mix Serum. The jury is still out on City Radiance. I find it easy to apply the CC Cream using my fingers, which is my method of choice. It blends without being streaky, and it’s easy to apply, drying down to a semi-matte finish without settling into lines.

By contrast, I find the other Bourjois foundations blend better using a brush. It might be due to their slightly thicker texture. I also find that the CC Cream gives me a better finish to my skin, and a more luminous effect than the Healthy Mix Serum which again could be due to the colour correcting pigments.

For a demonstration of how this looks when I wear it, here’s the before and after photos. As usual, they’re mostly unretouched for the best representation of how it looks.

I think you can see quite clearly how the redness on my skin is neutralised, and how my skin looks less tired and brighter. Coverage is pretty decent (this was with very little product) for a CC Cream, which is why I say it’s as good as wearing foundation. I sometimes dab on a little concealer where I need it and that’s it. In fact, now that I favour a lighter makeup/foundation base, I’ve been reaching for this one a lot because it’s just so easy to use and comfortable to wear.

The only thing I dislike about it is the scent. It has a strong fruity scent that has a tendency to linger a while. I hate it and wish Bourjois would do something to minimize their fragrance. But the fact I still use the product despite that tells you a lot! I love this one.

IN A NUTSHELL

The Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream is a lightweight foundation with effective colour correcting pigments, that dries on skin to a semi-matte finish. It is very comfortable to wear and does a very good job at offering light-medium coverage, and to neutralise redness on skin while offering luminosity. I love this despite the awful sweet, fruity scent. The fact I use it and recommend it however, is testament to how much I enjoy it!

PROS: Affordable, Good coverage, Neutralises redness in skin effectively while offering luminosity, Lightweight, Long lasting

CONS: Strong sweet, fruity scent, Product can sometimes ooze out of the tube nozzle once cap is unscrewed

WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who likes wearing a foundation or base with lighter coverage, Anyone who wants a foundation that will neutralise redness in skin while offering some coverage

PRICE: RM55 | £9.99 | AU$25 for 30ml

AVAILABILITY: Watson’s pharmacy (Malaysia), ASOS, Boots, Superdrug, Priceline, most major pharmacies/drugstores worldwide where Bourjois is sold

If you’re interested, here’s the ingredient list for the product:

Aqua (Water), Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Methyl Trimethicone, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Propanediol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Saccharide Isomerate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Bis-Peg/Ppg-14/14 Dimethicone, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Parfum (Fragrance), Propylene Carbonate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Silica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Lysolecithin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Amyl Cinnamal, Bht,Peg/Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Pantolactone, Phenethyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate. [+/- (May Contain):Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides), Mica, Ci 77007 (Ultramarines), Ci 77288 (Chromium Oxide Greens)]

TRIVIA: Up till 2014 when Coty bought over Bourjois, Bourjois used to own Chanel cosmetics. Around that time was when this CC Cream was launched together with the Chanel CC Cream I’ve heard is very good. It does make me wonder if they might be a little similar. Bourjois and Chanel had a history of releasing very similar products. I don’t think they are as closely affiliated any longer, but it has been a long and interesting history!

Have you tried this 123 Perfect CC Cream? Do you use CC Cream?

This one’s been out a while so I’m sure there are many who have tried it – do you like it as well? I don’t use CC Cream in general. I find that many of them tend to be very sheer, acting more like a primer than as a base, but this one really changed my mind. Let me know if you like it too! :D

Paris B