I think I’ve got to be the last person on the whole beauty blogger network thingy to jump on the BB creams bandwagon. Sigh, but can you blame me? I only started hearing of it AFTER I came to Melbourne, and these are either unavailable to me, or ridiculously expensive (what to do, everything is expensive here). So when I went back to Malaysia a couple of months ago, I knew I had to check it out. I bought two tubes of BB creams; the first one was by Skin Food, and the other by The Face Shop. I have yet to open the one by Skin Food, so I’ll review the one by The Face Shop first.
Description:
Formulaed with our enhanced Quick ‘n Clear Complex and Malt extract, this oil-free protective moisturiser soothes the skin while providing natural coverage to hide flaws.
For those who do not know what BB creams are (it can’t be, right, if I’m the last to know about it? :p), the letters BB stand for Blemish Balm. It’s pretty much a moisturiser, foundation and concealer, all in one package. It’s one of the most popular beauty product in Asia at the moment. BB creams are particularly good on those with acne-prone skin. Apparently, prolonged used of the product will also help improve the overall texture of the skin and fade acne scars.
Well, I don’t know about the last bit of that claim, but this is the way I see it. It’s somewhere in between tinted moisturiser and foundation. I find it slightly thicker than tinted moisturiser, but still lighter than foundation, which means it gives better coverage on the skin whilst it evens out your skin tone.
I haven’t used other BB creams before, so I can’t make any comparisons just yet. But I have to say, damn, the Quick and Clean is good. It contains tea tree oil (you can even smell it!), which targeted my blemishes well. I had some pretty bad red welt-like rashes going on on my chin and right cheek, and it’s now gone. This BB cream glides on smoothly on my skin, giving it medium coverage, which I like. It’s also oil-free, which is great for my usually-oily T-zone. In fact, this controls oil pretty well. My nose stays oil-free for at least a couple of hours. And that’s saying a lot.
Now, the problem with this BB cream is that there is only ONE shade available. Actually, that’s pretty much the problem with almost all BB creams; there is a very small selection of shades per cream, if not just one. This, unfortunately, only favours those with fair skin. Ladies with darker skin will find this unsuitable as it would make their skin look ashy. I find this wholly discrimating, I must say. I mean, I’m glad it worked out well for me, but what about the rest of us with darker skin? Hello The Face Shop! Time to make some changes here if you want more customers!
One thing about this BB cream is that it does not contain SPF. Well, okay, no chemical sunscreen ingredients, if you look at the list of ingredients on the tube. This might be good for those who prefer natural sunscreen ingredients though. The Quick and Clear BB cream contains titanium dioxide, and from the position of it in the ingredients list, it looks like there’s a significant percentage of it (the higher the ingredient in the list, the more of it is used). Titanium dioxide, amongst other uses, is also a sunscreen ingredient, which protects skin against UVA and UVB radiation.
Oh, and all that claim about malt extract? It’s close to the bottom of the list, which means there’s very little of it to actually be effective. I mean, whatever it’s effective for. I’m afraid I have no idea.
Having said all that, this still beckons big love from me. It’s not too heavy, which means I could use it in hot and humid countries like Malaysia without feeling as though my face was going to melt. I still use a light moisturiser and sunscreen prior to this though. It’s just part of my skincare routine that I can’t break out of regardless. In spite of that, it still doesn’t feel like I’ve had much products on the skin, which is good.
The Face Shop’s Quick and Clean Oil-Free Blemish Balm is available in The Face Shop boutiques at RM55.90. I’m not sure if this is sold in The Face Shop Australia though. Australian readers, if you do see this, do let me know and how much it costs here, yeah?
Would I repurchase this? Oh yes. It works for me! 🙂
What I like about it: Gives me good coverage, evens out my skin tone, and it’s oil-free.
What I did not like about it: There’s only one shade available, and there’s no proper SPF. Boo!
Update:
I’ve added pictures of the BB cream on my skin.
The shade from The Face Shop’s BB cream is a tad cool against my skin, giving it a very slight bluish-ashy tint on the back of my hand. However, when I evened it out on the skin, it matched back with the original skin tone.
You can’t really tell much difference in the before and after picture shown above, but there is some coverage on the freckles I have on my cheeks. No concealer was used on the blemishes and discolouration to show you the difference.
hi Tine!
It's tiny. 35ml… Skinfood was 50ml? >_< I haven't use much Face Shop stuff, never interest me as much, but i reckon i can give this a try… later 😛
hey!i just bought another bbcream to try out. its frm Missha. Will try to review soon. 🙂
welcome to the bb wagon! 😀 yeah sadly, most bb only has one tone, tone for all. but for me the color usually brighten up after some minutes
BB creams are always a great addition. Thanks for the review! But yeah, the tube is kinda small although just a little goes a long way.
I still have jumped on the BB cream bandwagon yet. For some reason, I’m still afraid it will break me out.
Tine, I think I’m the last one to know about Blemish Balms… Thanks for the info! makeup these days, everything is combined now!
Renee
In Boxhill there’s Missha’s BB Cream which is roughly AUD30. It comes with SPF40+ and it has two shades to choose from. The darker shade appears very natural for darker skin tone. Do try it out.
Don’t worry Tine, you’re definitely NOT the last one, I haven’t tried any BB creams as well, I don’t know why, but I felt that I don’t want to add another step ! hahaha Thanks for the review, I should test this on me when I have the chance to visit the shop 🙂
It is located inside Centro Box Hill Mall. Box Hill train station is in the mall too so you won’t be able to miss it.
The web page is right here.
http://www.missha.com.au/index.php
Thanks for the review!
I got to know bout BB cream 4 days ago from another blogger. but she was recommending the BB cream from Dr.Jart Silver / Black Label. It can't be found in Msia, only in countries like Korea / HK…
I did a lil research bout bb cream and actually purchased a travel size/sample size from an Ebay seller which cost me a bomb! & i dont see any magic upon application at all. it was too light for me, making me look like a clown, i had to run over some EverydayMinerals foundation to tone it down a lil. It doesnt seem to hide my acne scars or keep the oil at bay. Probably i apply too lil. but im afraid too much might end up lookin like a clown!
Now u post bout this BB cream from Faceshop! aiyo if only i would have read your stuff earlier. Can u please put a pic of before n after application for comparisson? plsssssss
thanks
Hi Tine! Ok I was absolutely safe from this BB craze until your post! Mostly I thought the shades were too light and pink but this one’s shade actually looks decent…. oh man.
Plue:
It is tiny, isn’t it? In fact, other BB creams come in at least a 50ml tube, come to think of it. Boo! Oh well, wanted to try this one out, and I’m glad it worked!
Fashionasia:
Oh me too! Yikes, I now have three tubes of BB cream. How am I ever going to finish ’em is beyond me.
Prettybeautiful:
That’s good if the brightening of the shade works on your skin. I’m apprehensive on those with darker skin. If the cream does brighten later, wouldn’t that make the face look weird? Anyways, the makers of BB creams should know better than to just make it in so little shades. Hello, Asians just does not mean Chinese/Korean/Japanese!
Connie:
Indeed, a little does go a long way for this one, Connie. Not too bad at the end of the day 🙂
Fabuless Beauty:
I know what you mean. I’d be apprehensive on trying out a new product too, especially after my skin just finally cleared up. BB creams do target for skin which tend to break out, so I’m guessing it won’t be too bad? If you can, do try a sample of it first before purchasing a tube.
Beautyfool:
Haha, I know, right? Nowadays, everything has to be convenient. Everything’s done in a rush, so there’s gotta be something to cut makeup time. Which is sad though, ‘cos makeup application is supposed to be fun. Still, I can see where they’re coming from, these BB cream makers.
And I’m glad I’m not the last to know about ’em. Tee hee hee :p
Val:
Thanks for the tip, Val. Went to get myself that Perfect Cover BB cream by Missha that you raved about. So far so good. Shall review it soon 🙂
Acsmvtak:
If you applied very little of the cream, and it’s still too light on your face, there’s no point in applying more, because then you really would look like a clown! 😛
Before and after pictures for comparison eh? I’m on it!
Kahani:
Doesn’t hurt to give it a go 😉
*buy buy buy buy buy*
:p
Hi Tine, thanks for updating this with photos..I love it! and i would say, it does makes a tiny difference with the before and after pix..the freckles are still there..but it’s lighter? I think 🙂
the freckles seemed to have lighten up a little. and i must say that i love your eyes!!! i am envy! btw, i think u should link this post to your latest post regarding the update of this? 😀
hey! i am currently using the bb cream from skin food (i just finished my first tube!) my first tube lasted me 3 months and i use it daily as my “day time” foundation.. so i guess a little really goes a long way. i will try the face shop bb cream once i go home! no face shop here in perth 🙁
my new man is soo sexy
plus he liked my facee
Ah good reviews! XD Now I can’t wait to try Face Shop products =p
Btw, I think they do stock it here in Australia. I just checked the website 😉
Hye…huhu i would like to have a alittl esample of BB cream. wanna to try out ….huhu…
Shiela —-
The faceshop is selling it for 23 AUD at the mo.:)
A tad bit pricy but i feel it worth every penny. 🙂
Hi! nice to read your review. I’ve tried some brands of bb cream exclude The Face Shop’s. Reading that this one helps you to remove the blemishes makes me think to consider it as well ^-^
thanks for sharing! i was just wondering whether i should get it or not. i got a sample of it and yet to try it out. hope it works well for me too since i have oily and acne prone skin. i like your review. 🙂
i want to try the bb cream..the one in the face shop but its always out of stock..
huhu i want to try it..very much..
have you tried the Baviphat dream girls magic BB? Not sure whether it’s suited for oily skin like mine
hi, i would like to try the ace shop product, want to try their skin product, do u have any experienced on their facial wash, toner etc.( other that BB cream).
Did BB help to reduce dark spot in your face.
Thank you.
. .DiD ANYONE TRY DiS TWO BB CREAM BRANDS? WHiCH DO YOU PREFER? MiSSHA PERFECT COVER BB CREAM OR THE FACE SHOP’S QUiCK AND DRY BB CREAM?
Hi! I just started using the face shop quick and clean bb cream for a few weeks now. it really feels light on my skin, unlike foundations. It only gives you sheer coverage though (my skin tone is fair with yellow undertone), which is great for daily use. I sometimes use it interchangeably with my liquid foundation if i want more coverage. It has a matte finish, great for reducing the oily appearance on the T Zone.in overall i like this a lot, but i agree that it shouldve come with SPF. I might switch to Missha when i run out of this tube, as Missha offers variety of SPFs.
this costs around 200,000 IDR (Indonesian Rupiah) in Jakarta, Indonesia, which is around 24-26 Aus Dollars.
Hi, I started using Faceshop Face&It HD Perfect BB Cream in July 2010 SPF30 PA++ and the results seem to be perfect! This product evens out my skin tone and give me radiance (I’m fair with yellow undertone too). My working colleagues who didn’t know about it commented that I look more radiant!!! Unfortunately Faceshop in SG does not carry this item so I have to get it from Korea.
Forgot to add that this Faceshop Face&It HD Perfect BB SPF30 PA++ comes in 2 tones i.e. light beige or natural beige…but I guess still not good enough for those with darker tone skin.
hey..do u know whether there’s a face shop in brisbane?? i’ve used missha’s m perfect cover..n it has excellent coverage but low oil control…i prefer d etude house 1…face shop is pretty gud 2..
hi can you please tell me the price range of this one? thanks. 🙂
hi can you please tell me the price range of this one? thanks much. 🙂