BB Cream vs Foundation

February 05, 2018

BB Cream vs Foundation

This might come as a shock, but I actually gave up on foundation years ago. With Florida’s extreme humidity, I couldn’t stand having so much product on my face. So I pretty much gave up on it completely and only used concealer in very specific problem areas. Then BB creams were introduced to the market and I was so interested in what they were that I got right back into the swing of things. I still don’t like feeling heavy product on my face, so now I’m just much more picky with the products that I choose to wear. There will always be a heavy BB cream and foundation option, it’s just a matter of knowing the difference.

Let’s start with foundations because that’s what came first. We all know what it’s used for: to cover up blemishes, discoloration, and any other imperfections on the skin. Foundation provides a blank canvas to work with in order to add colors back onto the face where they are going to be more flattering for each specific face shape. There’s many different foundation types and finishes, which is a whole different subject in itself. There is typically also a larger shade range of foundation options because they provide more coverage.

When BB creams first hit the market, it caught everyone by surprise but by now every company has released their own version or two. BB creams actually originated in Germany and became popular in Asia for their skincare benefits. The “BB” in BB cream stands for “beauty balm” meaning that it is meant to be more of a skincare product than a makeup product. However, the first BB creams in America didn’t have very many skincare qualities to them at all. They were more of a tinted moisturizer than anything else. Finally, some companies started understanding the real concept and including ingredients targeted to improve the skin while also providing a little bit of coverage.

Most BB creams are pretty lightweight and don’t offer full coverage to the skin, which is why you’ll see some people even using a BB cream underneath foundation. BB creams don’t typically have a very large shade range because they’re not meant to be as noticeable as foundation. And with so many being on the market now, there’s one targeted for almost every skin concern.

Application can vary among both of these products, especially with new tools constantly being released. It’s total personal preference on how to apply either of these. Some people prefer the warmth of the fingers to blend product into the skin, while others prefer a brush or sponge. Either way, there’s a definite difference between these two products and it’s important to be aware of what each is supposed to do when shopping for a base makeup. All four of these products shown in the pictures are all my favorites and I constantly switch between them, depending on how much coverage I want. They’re both great, for their own reasons.

If you found this post helpful, please feel free to share it using one of the buttons below. If you have any other questions, leave them for me in the comments! Which one do you prefer, BB cream or foundation? What makeup product are you most confused by?

~Mani Monday~

This week I’m wearing a new polish that I got for Christmas, it’s by Essence and is called Rock My World. It’s a beautiful classic gray and I decided to pair it with one of my favorite glitters, Sinful Colors Queen of Beauty. I love the formula and the brush of Essence polishes. It’s the perfect consistency and the brush is just wide enough that I was even able to paint a few of my nails with only one swipe!