I first heard about BB Creams through beauty blogger and youtube guru Jen of From Head To Toe. I was able to try some samples out and buy some small tubes of BB creams through other bloggers but they never worked out for me.
First off, what’s a BB Cream anyway?
From Wikipedia:
BB cream, also known as Blemish Balm, Blemish Base or Beblesh Balm, is a cosmetic item sold mainly in East and Southeast Asia.
Originally formulated in Germany it was initially used by dermatologists to help laser surgery patients protect, soothe and refine highly sensitive skin while providing light coverage for post-laser scars, acne and other blemishes.
BB creams come in a variety of different formulations and qualities. Some are said to have skin whitening or brightening properties. Others are anti-acne, some are anti-wrinkle, some are intended to even out skin tone, and yet others to lighten blemish scars. BB creams are sometimes used like a primer under foundation, and if tinted may even replace foundation and some newer ones will have functions of primer, foundation, moisturizer, sun block, pore minimization and skin refining together which can save time and money in make-up.
And why didn’t they work for me? Usually BB Creams don’t come in many shades and are often grey-ish in tone and then oxidize and change colour after. Mainly for me the BB creams were too sheer for my liking and all the times I tried them out they just slid off my face leaving an unattractive looking oil slick!
Marcelle has introduced the first Canadian Made BB Cream launching February 6th, 2012 and will retail for $22.95.
The Marcelle BB Cream boasts 8-in-1 multi benefits:
- minimizes the appearance of imperfections and pores
- evens out skin tone
- acts as a make-up base and replaces primers
- mattifies skin and controls shine
- hydrating benefits
- soothes and calms skin
- protects from premature aging and environmental stresses
- promotes skin regeneration
- use in replacement of a day cream as a corrective tinted moisturizer. For more intense moisture it can be used on top of your moisturizer
- use alone or over moisturizer to create a more uniform complexion
- use as a make-up base under foundation for more coverage and staying power
- I’ve only been using this for a couple of days and I haven’t had any unwanted reactions from it which is always the first thing I look for, so that’s a definite plus!
- I’m pretty sure the colour I’m using is “light to medium”. There is only one other colour “medium to dark” but this product supposedly has “self-adjusting pigments” so I’m guessing that makes it suitable for a wide range of skin tones. “Light to medium” works perfectly for me, I was worried this BB cream would give me a strange white or greyish tinge like the other BB creams I tried or would look orangey like many foundations I try.
- No sliding and no oil slick! Thumbs up in my books!
- It DOES even out my skin tone – though it’s not a miracle worker. I have dark spots and scars which are still noticeable but this product does help.
- I used it instead of my primer underneath my mineral powder foundation and I liked the results. My foundation didn’t go on cakey, it went on smoothly and evenly.
- It mattifies slightly, I don’t really notice a huge difference in that department
- I’m not sure about the hydration part – it definitely wasn’t drying so that’s a plus!
- As for the last 3 claims, I can’t really say, as I don’t have inflamed skin that requires soothing and I don’t really know how to test out if it protects against the environment or promotes skin regeneration.
I’m not sure if you can see the difference of the first picture and the last but the redness in my skin is evened out due to a slight yellow tinge and there is an overall matte finish.
I’m really impressed with this product so far! It goes on smoothly and I feel it has more coverage than a tinted moisturizer which I usually find to be really sheer (and kind of pointless for me to be honest!). However I still need to layer with my powder foundation on top for true coverage. I haven’t tested it out with liquid foundation so I’m not sure how that would work, but since it dries so fast on the skin I don’t see it as being an issue.
The one complaint I’m hearing from other bloggers is that this BB Cream doesn’t contain an SPF so those that want to use it to cut down their beauty regime will still have to apply an SPF first. If I’m not mistaken Marcelle is working on a version with SPF so let’s keep our fingers crossed!
Canadians, while Marcelle’s BB Cream will be available in stores on February 6th, if you’d like to try it out before everyone else you can order it online from the Marcelle Site – and there is free ship with $25 minimum order!
So what do you think of BB Creams? Have you tried them before? Will you be trying this one out?
Ahhh I’m so happy to hear this, I really, really love it too and I’m not bothered by the SPF either. I use a mineral powder and also a physical SPF block from Pure and Simple anyway so the lack of SPF isn’t a factor for me. I also love the pump, the perfect amount always comes out! I have the Estee Lauder BB cream one but I haven’t had a chance to try it out yet. I also like the Bobbi Brown one but I don’t see a huge difference with that at the Marcelle one. Actually I find the Marcelle one easier to blend. So for the price so far it can’t be beat!
I got this 3 days ago and it’s my new obsession. I am amazed that there are two shades only. TWO shades! And they seem to cover a large spectrum of skin tones. Understandably, there are some who won’t like it for the tone, but I love it.
I like the coverage, the luminescence that I it gives my skin and the way it keeps the shine down even for a bit.
I love the pump dispenser. It’s something that I look for when I buy product because I don’t like the idea of dipping and redipping an applicator. I find that I use only as much as is needed that way.
I’m not bothered by the lack of SPF. It saves you time not having to moisturize/prime/mattify and whatever else you would do separately otherwise that it’s nothing to apply SPF which is in my foundation anyway. If I wasn’t going to foundation, it’s nothing to add a light layer of an SPF moisturizer. I’m also using Retisol-A which has SPF.
Is it wrong that I am fighting an instinct to hoard this product?
I have also heard very good things about the Smashbox and Estee Lauder BB creams and would love to try them.
That is awesome!!! What a great review, thanks Bbomb21 🙂 You’ll be happy to know that one with SPF is definitely in the works so hopefully this will become your go-to all in one product! I need more coverage than it sounds like you do but I’ve been wearing the BB cream as kind of a primer/base and it works wonders for minimizing my “spots”.
I bought this earlier in the week after seeing it on the local newscast. It arrived (quickly!!) 2 days later and so far so good. I find that I felt hidden in tinted moisturizer and cakey. I asked for opinions at work saying I was trying something new but not stating what it was I was trying. Comments all focused on how great and glowing my skin looked. I don’t feel “covered” in this. It wears well and is compatible with my serum, eye cream and moisturizer. My only issue would be that there is no SPF which would make it a godsend come the warmer and sunnier weather.
I should add I have good skin, even tone by and large and very few issues with new products or in general. I am 40+ and other than age creeping in on me chose not to use foundation, tinted moisturizer and only occasionally wear powder but I think I have found what I am looking for.
FYI I talked to someone at Shoppers Drug Mart and YES they are waiting for it to arrive so cash in those Optimum points and go for it!!
I actually purchased the Missha BB cream when I was in Tokyo and it does do wonders it seems in camouflaging skin imperfections and keeping oil at bay. The thing I don’t like is that it makes you look like you have caked on makeup if you aren’t careful with application! lol
I actually purchased the Missha BB cream when I was in Tokyo and it does do wonders it seems in camouflaging skin imperfections and keeping oil at bay. The thing I don’t like is that it makes you look like you have caked on makeup if you aren’t careful with application! lol
I would like to try BB cream. Hopefully we get it at SDM so I can get it with my discount…please…
I read a long article about bb cream, which was dubbed the Asian miracle cream. I think we’ll be hearing a lot more about it in the months to come. Some of the large cosmetics companies are launching their own lines, but without some of the key ingredients…thanks for this review! Personally, I don’t think I’ll try it myself.
It could be that I was matched up with the wrong color in MUFE. I just like the shade of the Dr. Jart+ bb cream better! I will probably go into Sephora early one day to try out the MUFE powder that Jean has talked about. I would also be curious to ask someone more questions about bb cream.
I absolutely love them and think that they work better than a standard tinted moisturizer. I have yet to try the Marcelle one, but will definitely try it, especially with the price.
No problem! I know I’m really impressed with the whole package, product and price!
Oh wow, you prefer it over MUFE?? That’s awesome! I don’t think I’ve tried that brand before, I should give it try too! Thanks Michelle!
You have gorgeous skin to begin with, but yes for evening out it works so well!
You should give it a try! I’d love to know what others think!
Yeah the ones of tried hardly gave me any coverage and they slide off so they were pointless to me. This one is my favorite so far. For ladies with nice skin that just want to even out I think this will be a really good option. I personally still need coverage so I layer this under my mineral powder foundation.
It is! I wonder how well the 2 shades offered will work for such a wide range of skin tones!
Mentioned on twitter that I snapped the picture RIGHT after blending. It actually does kind of “adjust” to your skin tone so I didn’t notice any obvious “yellowness”
LOL! You are NOT! You can order online if you can’t wait, but yes February will here before you know it!
It really does give pretty good coverage. Not that I’ve tried many but this one is my favorite so far! I’ve been wearing it everyday this week!
Do you like how they work Cynthia? What about this one, maybe give it a try, especially for the price point!
Oh wow. Great find! I’m amazed at the coverage and the price point isn’t too bad either! Thanks for the info! 🙂
Thanks for more info on BB cream! I have been using a BB cream sample for a couple days now that I prefer over my Make Up For Ever foundation. It is Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25 PA++. It seems to match my skin well and does not change in color over the course of the day. I am very curious to try other BB creams now!
I actually really love this BB cream. I find it evens out my skin tone and acts as an awesome primer for other products I’m using! Can’t wait to see it in stores in February 🙂
Oohhh Looks like a promising product!
BB cream is very big in South Korea. The original BB Cream has SPF 42. My sister in-law had used them back in Korea and she didnt think it gave her any coverage. She rather use regular foundation. I can’t believe so many companies are coming up with their own version of the BB cream.
BB cream is very big in South Korea. The original BB Cream has SPF 42. My sister in-law had used them back in Korea and she didnt think it gave her any coverage. She rather use regular foundation. I can’t believe so many companies are coming up with their own version of the BB cream.
its hard when you dont find a matching shade! it has good coverage!
I’d love to try this out, but it looks a little too yellow for me?
february 6th, why are you so far away?? I’ve never actually tried a BB cream before! I’m a terrible Asian beauty blogger.
Oh wow, yet another BB cream to try! From your picture, it does look like it has pretty good coverage. So hard to decide between all the brands!
The price is much, much better! Smashbox is retailing at more than double the cost and the Bobbi Brown (there were only three shades with “light” being the “darkest” shade. I guess they were targeting the Japanese, Korean and Chinese markets where most people are fair-skinned anyway. Could NEVER get away with that in North America.) version I got in Hong Kong is the equivalent of just under $60 CDN (not really surprising for Bobbi though). Yeah, BB Cream doesn’t have a lot of shades. I also have one from Clinique (widely available in Hong Kong department stores, but only online in North America) that only came in ONE SHADE (at least in Asia. I hear there are actually two).