BB Cream

3 New BB Creams to make me change my mind

December 4, 2010 Paris B 27 Comments

Happy Saturday Ladies!

What are you up to then this weekend? I’m staying home. I need to do some serious cleaning. Does this sound repetitive to you? 😉

But before that, remember when I told you how I felt about BB Creams and why they don’t work for me in general? I meant every word I said. I still do. Many Korean brand BB Creams are in the main oily, too orange, too gray, too dark, too light for me. I feel a bit like Goldilocks 😛

maybelline bb cream vichy aera minera bb cream sunplay skin aqua bb cream

And as Murphy’s Law will have it, I have now got 3 new BB Creams to consider! Coincidence or what?

Trialing Ecobeau : Loess Nutritive Mask, BB Cream and Loess Water Foaming Cleaner

August 26, 2010 Paris B 11 Comments

I was recently contacted by The Orange Co. An online company based in Singapore to try a couple of samples of Ecobeau – a Korean natural skincare and cosmetic brand that say they have no preservatives, alcohol or parabens in their ingredient list. There was a cleanser, mask and 2 BB creams so read on if you’re keen to know more about this brand. I did end up liking one of it very much 🙂

Note: All items reviewed are sample sized. Please check website for actual product. Review is based on use of product as per sample.

Ecobeau Loess Nutritive Mask (link)

My sample pot lasted 4 uses. This is a peel off mask that has a thick gooey texture in the sample pot. As its a sample, I do not know if it represents the actual product – in this case the actual product comes in a tube so it might feel different since it won’t be exposed to the air. As this is a peel off mask, exposure to air might make it thicker than it really is but as I said I wouldn’t know.

The first time, I wasn’t sure how to use it so I applied too thin a layer. When it dried, it couldn’t peel off properly and irritated me because I had bits stuck all over my face. I was prepared to hate it, but I persevered and I liked it the next time round. My advice is to apply a very thick layer of the goo – it makes it much easier to peel off once it dries. Ecobeau says that peeling off the mask will peel off the impurities and reveal brighter looking skin. Hence you need a thick layer of product to start with.

After 4 uses I must say that immediately after using this mask, my skin did look brighter and did not feel dry but soft and smooth. But I’m not sure about the long term effects. I recommend washing your face again after that to get rid of all the mask. Otherwise you will keep finding bits balling up under your fingers as you apply your creams. I used the 4 uses over 2 weeks and I can’t say if it helped my skin nor if my skin is any brighter as a result but it did not cause breakouts and its not a bad mask to use. I could consider getting this one.

Pros: If used properly skin looks brighter immediately after using this mask, Not drying

Cons: Can be a little messy

Ecobeau Anti-Aging Whitening BB Cream (link)

In the sample pot, this cream had a hard thick texture (I’m not sure if its due to exposure to air as the full size product comes in a tube). It had a yellow base so I thought it would suit me fine. When I first applied it, it seemed to blend into my skin but sadly, after 2 minutes on my skin, it turned orange 🙁 I looked like I had tried (and failed) a fake tan with disastrous results. I only used very little as you are only supposed to use a thin layer, but the orange tint is quite obvious. Coverage is light depending on how much you use.

It did not make me oily during the day and has SPF30 but it seemed to settle into my pores a little. I do apply some powder over the BB cream to set it but the orange tint does not endear itself to me. In fact, after a few hours, I looked 4 shades darker – NOT HAPPY!

Pros: Did not make me oily, contains SPF30

Cons: turned me orange and 4 shades darker

There is another BB Cream that is a new formula cream that’s just launched. Might it fare better?

Why don’t you talk about BB Creams?

July 20, 2010 Paris B 79 Comments

bb creams - your thoughts?

“Can you recommend me a BB Cream?”

“What BB Creams do you like?”

“Why don’t you talk about BB Creams?”

Just a few questions I get off and on about this mysterious ~~Asian~~ German invention – BB Creams.

BB Creams – Just what are they?

Just quickly, for the uninitiated. BB Creams or Blemish Balm is something that started was popularized in Korea (Update: but started in Germany). It was formulated to be a foundation, sunscreen and moisturizer all in one and was apparently formulated for women who had undergone skin laser treatment.

After undergoing laser treatment, your skin is thinned and need lots of protection from the sun. But these women couldn’t do without their foundation! So, some intrepid skin doctors came up with the idea of having an all in one product they could tout to their patients and thus, Blemish Balms or BB Creams were born.

Many women in Asia swear that it helps them with their acne problems or skin problems. It is also easy – just apply 1 product instead of applying 3.

Yet, I actually also read somewhere (gosh! I forget where!) that they are called Blemish Balms or BB Creams because Koreans find it hard to pronounce “Tinted Moisturizers” which these products essentially are. Don’t shoot the messenger! 😛

BB Creams tend to be too oily

Anyway, I’ve tried BB Creams from Etude House, Missha and Skin79. I didn’t like any because I found all of them too oily. I will have a caveat here. In the tropics where I live, the formula of BB Creams might be a bit heavy because they are formulated for use mainly in Korea where the air is much drier. If I were living in a dry climate, I might like it. As it stands, I’m not much of a fan. Its the same with liquid foundation. I steer clear of liquid foundation that is oil based or have heavy coverage because I just know I’d hate it. There are exceptions of course – some like Ecobeau BB Cream actually feels matte on the skin, and the Lancome BB base too doesn’t feel too oily.