Estella Sparkles: What the Heck is BB Cream? CC?

I accidentally prematurely published this, so now I might as well really publish it! Disclaimer: No sponsoring here! 

I had no idea what BB cream was until two or three months ago. I saw it in stores, it mocked me from shelves, but the purpose of this beauty elixir eluded me. But now, after enough Googling and video watching, I'm in the loop!

BB stands for "beauty balm" or "blemish balm," while CC stands for "color control" or "color correcting." On the whole, these are tinted moisturizers that also usually contain SPF for sun protection, and they make a variety of other claims including dark spot reduction, overall skin improvement, etc.

Like foundations, BB and CC creams come in innumerable varieties from "luminous" to extra hydrating, mattifying and more.  It seems like every makeup brand on the market, from high end to drugstore, has at least one BB or CC cream. Sometimes more!

Since it's hard to wade through and find the right choice, I suggest Googling "BB creams for oily skin" or whatever your particular skin type/issue is. Plenty of women's magazines and cosmetic websites have compiled lists of suggestions.

In fact, here is a list for oily skin, and here's sort an an all-purpose list for various issues.

For myself, I decided to try Pond's BB+ Luminous Finish in the shade "light." BB and CC creams seem to come in far fewer color choices than foundations. Because they're often comparable to tinted moisturizers, they don't cover as opaquely as regular foundations, so it's easier to cover a larger continuum of skin colors in fewer shades. It makes choosing much easier!

Unfortunately, my Pond's BB+ has been discontinued, but I can tell you that I enjoy the product, and I'll be looking for a replacement for myself when I run out of this one.

Pros:

• Light coverage is perfect for those no-makeup makeup days
• Adds enough coverage to even skin tone and "color correct"
• It's easy to apply with fingers without streaks
• Protects skin from the sun
• Doesn't feel the slightest bit heavy

Cons:

• Smells kinda weird
• I could probably find a better formula for my dry skin as this one can turn patchy after a few hours

If you're new to makeup or just don't like anything too heavy on your face, I definitely recommend trying a BB or CC cream AFTER some initial research to find the right formula for your skin concerns. Since my skin is super dry and often looks dull, I'm thinking of trying L'Oreal Youth Code BB Cream Illuminator for a glowy finish. 

I'll let you know how it goes!