The Face Shop Power Perfection BB Cream in Natural Beige

Lately, I've been trying out sample sizes of different bb cream brands because mom went away on a month-long trip and she took my Maybelline BB cream (she liked it so much) with her. So being bb cream-less means I have the option to scout around for a replacement without feeling guilty for not using up the previous one! Haha..

Sample sizes are great because you don't want to waste money on stuff that leave you looking like a ghost. If you're still trying to figure out what kind or which brand works best for you, try getting samples first and see if you like it, before committing to a full sized bottle (which could set you back somewhere between Php 700-1000).

Good thing that I found this online shop by Miss Loren, who sells a variety of BB cream brands; from samples to full sized ones. She was having a 3 for 100 deal last month and after checking out the goods I decided on getting bb creams from Korean brands Etude House, The Face Shop, and Skin Food. I've already tried all three, and I must say there are some hits and misses.

I also came up with the following considerations before going full size:

1. High SPF, at least 30, since I'm out in the sun very often
2. Has neutral undertones as much as possible (some have gray/pink undertones that make me look like a corpse in real life and in pictures)
3. Very minimal white cast-pretty difficult to find, since a lot of BB creams leave a white cast which is noticeable in flash photography
4. Easy to spread, because I don't like pulling and tugging on my face

I'll be making separate reviews for each, starting with The Face Shop's Power Perfection BB Cream in Natural Beige

Product Description: 

• A ‘3-in-1’ BB cream (anti-wrinkle, whitening, sun protection) with perfect coverage 
• Total Skin Treatment BB cream(Special ingredients for rejuvenating skin): actively addresses all skin problems such as loss of firmness, dry skin, uneven skin texture and dull complexion 
• Better makeup results (flawless coverage + good adherence + long lasting): 
• Marvelous airy-touch texture: 
• A light-as-air texture that smoothly melts into the skin upon application making skin comfortable and able to breathe. 
• Clinically tested. (Clinical trials to test firmness, moisturization, coverage, and long lasting ability) 

My Review:

Texture: A bit difficult to spread on its own, will require some pulling and tugging to blend it out evenly. To fix this problem I mix in just a drop of argan oil before applying it to my face to make it more blendable. It's lightweight and not heavy at all on the face.

with flash

without flash

Coverage/Finish: On the heavier side of medium. It's buildable, so if you find it too sheer you can add more product to parts that need concealing. I didn't use any concealer at all after using this because my dark circles kind of disappeared already. A little goes a long way with this product; you don't need a lot of it to achieve good coverage. It has a nice finish as well, somewhere in between matte and dewy; it's like your skin, only better.

Scent: Very mild powdery scent

Staying Power and Oil Control: Lasts in the heat, doesn't melt off. Last me a good 10 hours without feathering/flaking off (which happens with Maybelline sometimes). I tried it several times without using powder on top, and after working for 8 hours I didn't look like I dipped my face in a frying pan. My skin looked just slightly dewy, but not oily at all.

 

Overall, I like it. Good coverage and lasting power. No white cast! And it makes my skin look healthy and glowing from within. Sounds exag but true.Candidate for purchase :)

Have you tried this one from Face Shop? Does it show improvement on skin (as they claim) when used long-term? Let me know! :)

Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream review

I have a confession to make- I am a BB cream virgin. You'd think that because I pretty much like everything that you can put on the face, I'd have jumped on the BB cream band wagon and tried several brands of the stuff. But no.

I never really thought of using BB creams because I'd stockpiled a year's worth of face sunblock cream, and I didn't see the need of adding yet another step to my morning beauty regimen.

But a few days ago, I was shopping at Etude House and I was given a sample of their BB Cream. Needless to say, I was sold! It was a lot like liquid foundation, but better. Aside from being just make up, some BB creams (Blemish Balm cream) work as skin care as well. It has SPF, moisturizers, and other active ingredients depending on the type you get.

The best way to convince someone like me to try something out was to give a sample, and this time it really worked. I decided to buy my 1st ever BB cream (not from Etude House, because I didn't want to splurge just yet haha) from Maybelline.

Product Description:

8-in-1 BB Cream. Miracle skin perfector. This all-in-one product is a moisturizer, sun block, and foundation. It contains 8 healthy minerals for 8 healthy skin results, giving you flawless skin in an instant. Moisturizes like skin care. Oil-free formula keeps skin hydrated for up to 24 hours. Protects like sun block. SPF26/PA+++ protects against harmful UVA and UVB rays. 

Covers like a foundation. Hides flaws and imperfections without feeling heavy on the skin. Dermatologist tested. Suitable for sensitive skin. 8 healthy minerals: Copper, zinc, magnesium, sodium titanium, and 2 iron oxides. 

8 healthy skin results: 51% more smoothness, 33% more radiance, 18% more hydration, 13% improved clarity, 12% less dark spots, 15% less redness, 5% pore size reduction, 24% better appearance.

Results:

        

        

Last 2 photos, with BB cream: skin looks smoother and skin tone has been evened out. The scar on the upper left side of my lip has been covered pretty well

What I Like:

• Easy to spread
• Evens out skin tone, made it look smoother and brighter, like I just had a good night's sleep (which I never get)
• Reduced the appearance of 2 fresh scars I had on my face
• Covered up my black heads and other minor discolorations
• Great for everyday use
• Didn't cause break outs
• This comes in 1 shade only, but it blended into my skin just fine
• No white/grayish cast
• Comes in a small tube, convenient for travelling

What I Don't Like:

•  I tried using it without powder, and my face oiled up in like 15 minutes (this was in hot weather). And when I did set it with powder, I still had to constantly retouch every 2 hours.
• It only offers medium coverage and it wasn't pigmented enough to totally cover up my undereye circles. So for girls who prefer heavy coverage, this might not live up to your expectations
• You'd think that because it's a lot cheaper than other BB creams, you'd get more bang for your buck. But the truth is the tube is so small (18 ml) that if you do the math, it just ends up costing the same as other brands

Would I repurchase?

Not yet. This is my first BB cream, so after this one I'm probably going to try out other brands.

Where to Get:

Maybelline counters, Watsons. It's priced at Php 249, but I got mine for Php 224 because it's currently on sale in Watsons :)

What's your favorite BB cream? What brands could you suggest? :)