Written by Clémence Rubiella | Published on 12 May 2024 | Makeup
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Dear reader,
How are you all preparing for the upcoming summer? The scorching sun and the outdoor dinners are soon to be back and with it the sweaty makeup. I know this is not everyone’s concern but it is one of mine and I hate having my makeup messed up in hot weather.
So besides applying a good primer, I tend to prefer lighter foundation formulas and in that category, the BB cream, also known as Blemish Balm, is my top choice. As much as Koreans love their cushion foundation which can have a very light consistency, they also do use BB creams and they have pretty great ones.
Please, keep in mind that the colour range is non-existent for most of the Korean BB-creams that I will be presenting in this post. It is common to offer one or two shades on the light side of the skin colour spectrum.
Now, let me talk about a few of the best BB creams I have ever tried in Korea.
BB Creams Recommendations:
Best Overall: 3CE Back to Baby BB Cream ($20) Runner-Up: Tony Moly Luminous Goddess Aura BB Cream ($20)
Best Coverage: Hanskin Crystal Premium Super Magic BB Cream ($17)
Best Natural Finish: The FaceShop Power Perfection BB Cream ($9)
Best for Acne: Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment ($25)
1. Best Overall: 3CE Back to Baby BB Cream
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Highlights:
Hollywood actress glow finish
Mid-coverage
Light-weight
Long-lasting
What we don’t like:
One unique colour
Bottle tip not sealing the product very well
I discovered this product, like I did with many others, through a friend. I was aimlessly following her through Olive Yound one day and she stopped in the 3CE isle and reached out for this Back to Baby BB cream. She started telling me how great it was and how much she loved this product. As she was calling for a member of the staff to get a fresh new product, I started to become curious. I swatched the BB cream on my hand and dear great lord up above, I was blown away by the ease of application, how it glided on my skin, the smoothest & most glowy finish I had seen in a while. The staff member came back with 2 bottles and said those were the last two units (as always, everything gets sold out so fast in Korea). She took one and I took the other one. That was back in 2021. Since then, I purchase a new bottle every 6 months.
This 3CE Back to Baby BB cream literally gives you the most Hollywood actress healthy glowing skin look whilst remaining extremely light on the skin. It is like having a Charlotte Tilbury glow, but only half the price. It doesn’t budge or lose its moisture throughout the say. My top top favourite BB cream ever. Also, side note, it is SPF35 and I store it upside down to avoid any product accumulation inside the cap.
Runner-Up: TonyMoly Luminous Goddess Aura BB Cream
Rating: 4 / 5
Highlights:
Light-weight
Contains skincare ingredients
Hydrating
Silky finish
Contains SFP
What we don’t like:
Colour range
This all-in-one semi-matte BB cream has been around for a while in a KBeauty world where a lot of products get discontinued very fast. So if the Tony Moly Luminous Goddess Aura BB Cream is still around, it is for a reason. Several reasons actually. The first one is that it creates a radiant flawless base makeup that covers pores and dullness without darkening. Secondly, it contains oxygen water, giga white and ceramide for brightening, hydrating and protecting your skin from exteriour pollutants (and it is also SPF37 PA++). Lastly, the formula is smooth, light-weight, creamy and long-lasting! No need for re-application throughout the day. The natural silky finish endures any weather.
2. Best Coverage: Hanskin Crystal Premium Super Magic BB Cream
Rating: 4 / 5
Highlights:
Buildable coverage
Contains SPF
Velvet finish
Long-lasting
Moisturizing
What we don’t like:
Only one colour
I had been seeing the Hanskin Premium Super Magic BB Cream for a while before I decided to give it a try. Ordered it and BOOM, next thing you know, I was using it everyday. Let’s not be too long on this product but, basically it is a lightweight, long-lasting, non-greasy BB cream formulated with SPF30 PA++ that enhances skin hydration and provide mid/full coverage with a semi-matte finish. Because it is so hydrating (formulated with 14 different vegetable extracts), it is recommended to use for dry/combination skin for a velvet finish.
3. Best Classic: Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Awards: Glowpick 2023
Highlights:
Soothing formula
Dewy finish
Best seller
Suitable for all skin type
Shade range
Great coverage
What we don’t like:
Undertones can be gre
Formula can be a bit thick
Funny story about this product is that it was originally developed for patients after laser treatment (a facial procedure extremely common in Korea). The Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream is the most famous BB cream on the Korean market. It hasn’t been discontinued like many other products. No no no, this BB cream has survived through the fast-changing K-Beauty industry simply because it delivers. It has a beautiful radiant glowy finish, it gives the right amount of coverage (not too much, not too little), and it has a soothing consistency formulated with rosemary leaf extract and macadamia seed oil. Finally, last but not least, it contains UV protection (SPF42 PA+++). Amazingly, Missha is probably the only one to offer a range of shades for a BB cream product, which goes from light beige to dark beige. You can use it as a foundation base or has a foundation.
4. Best Natural Finish: The FaceShop Power Perfection BB Cream
Rating: 4 / 5
Highlights:
Moisturizing omega3
Confortable wear
Radiant finish
Light-weight
Ideal for dry skin
What we don’t like:
No dark shades
The FaceShop Power Perfection BB Cream is like second skin in a bottle. If you are looking for achieving a healthy well-moisturised look, this product is for you. It contains omega-3 fatty acids that deliver deep hydration without clogging pores. It lasts for a long time yet it retains a very light airy-touch texture which makes it super comfortable to wear. Furthermore, this BB cream promotes collagen production which, I believe, is never a bad thing. Highly recommended for those who want a very natural and light coverage.
Best For Acne: Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Awards: Glowpick 2023
Highlights:
Best seller
easy application
Great coverage of redness and acne scar
Soothing sensation
What we don’t like:
Only one shade
Pot cleanliness after some time
Once upon a time, there was a period of my life where I had massive breakouts all over my cheeks and chin area. So I started to look for a foundation that would help me treat my acne issue and efficiently cover my redness without having to put ten thousand layers of foundation on.
This is when I found Dr. Jart+ bestseller Cicapair Tiger Gross Color Correcting Treatment. This green-to-beige cica cream instantly neutralizes redness as well as evens your skin tone for a natural look but simultaneously helps soothe the skin. All my blemishes and discolouration were concealed whilst leaving a semi-matte finish with a healthy-looking glow. I have to admit the Dr.Jart+ Cicapair cream was my one and only best friend for quite some time when I was struggling with acne breakouts. Side note, it contains mineral-SPF protection.
Although this product is not a BB cream per se, I still put it in this list as I found the formula, finish look and coverage very similar to the other BB creams listed here.
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