If it wasn’t hard enough to choose a foundation, we now have a whole new set of products making their mark on the beauty market that, quite honestly, can leave the best of us perplexed. So what really is the difference between BB creams, tinted moisturisers and CC creams, and why should we use them instead of our trusty foundation?

I spent a long time thinking that BB and CC creams were all pretty much tinted moisturisers, and with so many on the market all with difference consistencies and coverage, it is easy to get lost. To banish this confusion, the basic rule is that BB ‘Beauty Balm’ creams have better coverage than a tinted moisturiser and are a little thicker. With some creams you can skip the moisturiser altogether but with others it is best to apply both. BB creams provide treatment as well as coverage and were originally created for patients after a chemical peel! CC ‘Colour Correcting’ creams are even thicker and are sightly lighter than foundation. They balance out the skin and offer more specific targeting of skin complaints. And guess what? DD creams are already making their way into the beauty arena with EE creams in development…

I decided to try a BB cream to see what all the fuss was about – something a little out of my comfort zone as I’ve been a ‘never leave the house without foundation’ kinda gal for as long as I can remember. I purchased The Body Shop All-In-One BB Cream as it seemed a good place to start, offering a ‘one size fits all’ approach. This cream only comes in four shades but the pigment-filled capsules inside burst when blended into your skin for a perfect match.

When my skin is dry, dull and lacking life I find that foundation can often make it appear worse, clogging my pores and appearing cakey. This BB cream does the opposite, adding hydration and that much needed glow. The coverage was surprisingly good and definitely makes me look more awake. For those days when I can’t face foundation a BB cream is now my go-to product. With just a lick of mascara, some lip gloss and brows I’m ready to leave the house. You can see in the swatches and the picture of me wearing the cream that it adds luminosity and evens out my skin tone. If you have oily skin then do go careful on the stuff, but I find finishing with a bit of powder does the trick.

I’m now excited to give more BB creams a go! If you have one you love to use then let me know in the comment box below as I’d love to try it out. Next stop… CC creams!

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