BB creams, or blemish balm creams, originally used to protect and smooth out very sensitive skin caused by laser surgery is the latest beauty phenomenon in East Asia.  Practically every line, ranging from local names to western drugstore brands like Maybelline to department store lines such as Bobbi Brown and Clinique carry them.  Most formulas are a combination of moisturizer, primer and sunscreen and with some brands, concealer and tint as well.

I am currently trying a BB cream from Bobbi Brown (above).  The product isn’t greasy, has an SPF of 35 and has some tinted coverage and feels like any other tinted moisturizer, but with the bonus of other goodies like primer.  For someone who often wears nothing more than primer, BB creams are definitely a good choice. One thing I have issue with is that the shade I got might be a little too light for me in the summer.  There were only three shades available at both Lane Crawford and Harvey Nichols in Hong Kong – fair, extra light and light.  The light shade is fine for me right now, but I tend to get darker in the summer, moving me towards medium. Perhaps this would mean a brand switch, maybe to one that doesn’t provide tinted coverage.  More affordable brands like Maybelline carry slightly more choices in terms of colour.

BB Creams from Maybelline

BB creams are slowly making their way to North America, but I’ve only seen some of them online and in magazines.  Brands that carry them online include Dr. Jart and Clinique.  Smashbox is selling a version on QVC in the United States.  If primers were the IT product in North America a few years ago, could BB creams be the product of 2012?