BB cream is a makeup staple that won't break your bank, is good for your skin, and fulfills the role of a foundation. It's the real MVP of any makeup bag.
So what even is BB cream?
If you still have no idea what BB cream even is (but use it regularly), we're here to explain it. And lucky for you, it's really simple.
It's basically tinted moisturiser, with so much more goodness packed in. The 'BB' stands for Beauty Balm, or Blemish Balm. It evens the skin out like foundation does, but it a helluva lot more lightweight. It also delivers skin benefits that you could expect from serum or moisturiser.
FACT: BB creams were originally used by dermatologists post-skin surgery to help cover redness and heal skin at the same time!
The best BB cream is dependant on everyone because the point of the cream is to combine your own specific skin needs in one formula.
Thankfully, you can have more than one favourite BB cream! There are that many amazing ones out there. You might even want to switch up the ones you use due to your skin at any specific time. To help start you on your BB cream adventure, we've put together a list of the ten best BB creams in Australia.
10. Bobbi Brown BB Cream
Nourishing and luminous, this BB cream removes fine, dry lines! It's perfect.
Real life review: "I bought this six months ago and have finished the product. A easy application and glowy product! It provides light coverage that is buildable. Love it!" - MADDY1
Cost: $65
9. The Base LB Cream
This creat delivers a natural glow that we all strive for and that's thanks to the hint of bronzer that's in the formula. It's also incredibly lightweight, so it allows your skin to breathe.
Real life review: "Love it! Feels so nice on the skin. Perfect for at home/everyday use or weekends when you want to look fresh and natural." - LUCINDA
Cost: $31
8. Rimmel London 9 in 1 Radiance BB Cream
This BB cream is perfect for brightening tired skin. It primes, conceals, protects from the sun, and reduces the appearance of pores. It hydrates, awakens and brightens, all with its radiance-enhancing, natural-looking tint! It also comes in a matte finish.
Real life review: "This bb cream is great! I have been searching for a bb cream with sun protection that is lightweight for ages. It gives my skin a subtle, natural glow that is perfect for daytime wear. The only problem is that I have to mix in some moisturizer to lighten it as it the light colour is still to dark for my skin but that is regular problem for me." - KATHERINE
Cost: $12.95
7. Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF42 PA+++
This BB cream is PACKED full of amazing ingredients. It includes hyaluronic acid to keep skin plump and hydrated; ceramide to hold in moisture from the HA; soothing and anti-inflammatory chamomile extract; and rosemary extract that prevents ageing. It also has high sun protection.
Real life review: "Missha Perfect Cover is a higher coverage BB cream that still looks completely natural on the skin." - CANDYSAN
Cost: $35.90
6. L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect BB Cream
This BB cream is ALL about being radiant. It's what we all strive for! The formula is incredibly lightweight and it fights early signs of ageing with hyaluronic acid and hydrolyzed soy protein.
Real life review: "I love a great B.B. cream for a natural coverage and I adore L’Oréal products. This age perfect age defying B.B. cream gives me great coverage and a really smooth radiant result. I love that it conceals small imperfections and fine lines and yet looks so natural. I recommend a good primer and moisturiser first for a flawless finish. It’s anti ageing ingredients really fight the signs of aging to give me a more youthful Dewey look. I absolutely loved this B.B. cream and would buy it again, great price, great packaging, no negatives. Loved it and would recommend it." - DEBBIE
Cost: $26.95
5. Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm
This balm is the ONE you want for covering imperfections. But that's not even its best quality. The serum is enriched with antioxidant bio-peptides and adenosine to make skin firmer and protect it from the natural elements.
Real life review: "Love love love! I’m 56 with sensitive dry skin. I use both colors, mix them to match my skin, and it gives great coverage (at least medium) and looks like my real skin. My skin is much less red since I’ve been using this, and the finish lasts all day. I love Dr Jart products!" - LISEGOlIGHTLY
Cost: $83
4. Maybelline New York Dream Pure BB Cream
A lot of the BB creams out there are made for hydrating and blurring skin, but when your skin is acne-prone, you have bigger concerns. This BB cream contains two percent salicylic acid, which aims to look after breakouts, rather than simply covering them up. AMAZING!
Real life review: "Great for a foundation alternative! It has enough coverage for those lighter days. I love how Maybelline has so many variations for different skin types including different shades so there is something suitable for everyone! It also has SPF in it which I'm a big fan of! Def worth trying!" - EVANA
Cost: $15.95
3. Olay Total Effects 7 in One Touch of Foundation BB Crème
Olay BB cream is perfect for fighting signs of ageing, as well as evening out your skin tone. This serum also benefits from vitamin B3, pro-B5 and E-enriched formula.
Real life review: "This cream is a luxurious consistently with a handy pump bottle. I was happy that its got good coverage for a bb/tinted moisturiser. Was hesitant to buy it because there's only one shade, I was pleasantly surprised that it matched my fair skin." - FATHI
Cost: $32.99
2. Bourjois Healthy Mix BB Cream
This BB cream is the one to go for if you need to fight any sign of fatigue. The formula contains vitamins A, C, E and B5 to brighten your complexion in the morning, and will keep your face glowing and all the way into the night.
Real life review: "The texture is light, the formula is easy to blend, and it gives skin a really believable-looking glow. What’s not to love about this base?!" - IANTHA (Beauty Editor at Beauty Crew).
Cost: $25
1. Garnier BB Cream Original
Not only is this the OG BB Cream - with the brand now having five BB creams under their belt - it's probably the best one. While it started the trend of BB creams, especially in Australia, it is still an all-time favourite. It's consistency is thick, meaning you get great coverage, but it's not heavy on the skin. It will give you radiance, will blur imperfections, and make you feel gorj.
Watch below... How to apply foundation for flawless skin:
