Welcome to the 10th episode of BB Creamlogy! We’re getting into the double digit installments here, people. The BB cream shizz is getting real. You’d think that I’d have run out of BB creams to review now given that 1) I’ve reviewed so many already and 2) CC, DD, double-alphabet creams are exploding the beauty scene … okay, you’re right, I have. This will be the last BB Creamology episode in 2013 because I’ve truly run out of BB creams to talk about. Gasp! I know! 😛 Hopefully in 2014, I’d have acquired more then it will continue.
Till then, let’s end this year’s BB Creamology with three BB creams that come from French brands Vichy, La Roche-Posay and L’Oreal. Vive la France!
Vichy Idéalia BB Crème
Shade: Light (cool pinkish undertones). Also available in Medium.
Texture: Thick and creamy
Fragrance: Quite strong floral fragrance
Wet-To-Dry Time: Takes a while to dry. Leaves a dewy finish with a luminous sheen on the skin.
Coverage: Medium
Sun Protection Factor: SPF 25
Price: £21.00 which is approximately AU$38
Availibility: Sadly, this isn’t available in Australia but you can get it online at Escentual.com
La Roche-Posay BB Melt-in BB Cream*
Shade: 02 Medium has warm undertones. Also available in 01 Light (I usually wear the lighter shades in BB creams but interestingly, the Light for the La Roche-Posay BB cream is too light for me. This means for anyone with darker skin tones than I do will miss out on this. Boo!
Texture: Light and creamy
Fragrance: Smells like sunscreen.
Wet-To-Dry Time: Out of the 3 BB creams, this takes the longest to dry. It leaves a dewy finish on the skin.
Coverage: Medium coverage
Sun Protection Factor: SPF 50
Price: AU$28.95 for 30ml
Availibility: Priceline and selected pharmacies nationwide.
L’Oreal Luminosity Code BB Illuminating Beauty Balm*
Shade: Light (with neutral undertones). This is also available in Medium.
Texture: Thick and creamy
Fragrance: Very subtle scent of sunscreen but almost negligible.
Wet-To-Dry Time: Takes a while to fully dry and leaves a semi-dewy finish on the skin.
Coverage: Light coverage
Sun Protection Factor: The packaging mentions that this BB cream contains sunscreen; however, there’s no mention of any SPF numbers.
Price: AU$29.95 for 50ml
Availibility: Major pharmacies and supermarkets nationally.
Conclusion:
I thought I’d talk about the least impressive BB cream of the three first before I get to the good bits. Sadly, that would have to be the L’Oreal Luminosity Code. To be fair, it’s not a bad BB cream; it’s just not good enough for me. I find the coverage too minimal and for it to even look good, your skin has to be in decent shape. When the redness around my nose decided to come out and say hello for a few days, this barely did anything to cover them. I’d prefer something with a little more coverage and this just didn’t cut the mustard. One thing I’ll say, I prefer this fragrance (or lack thereof) out of the three.
With L’Oreal’s Luminosity Code BB Cream out of the way just because it has the least amount of coverage which isn’t really my thing, it’s pretty much a battle between La Roche-Posay’s Melt-in BB cream and Vichy’s Idéalia BB Crème. The coverage for both is good enough for me and the finish on the skin is just lovely.
I picked up the Vichy BB cream in Paris (come on Vichy, come to Australia already!) and am very pleased with this one. It has a luminous sheen to the skin. Nothing overly glowing or scream oily face; it adds a subtle radiance to the skin. On the other hand, the La Roche-Posay one has a dewy finish that almost mimicks that radiance as well. It does also have a leg up on Vichy: the amount of SPF the La Roche-Posay BB Cream has is an impressive SPF 50 which a lot of BB creams do not have.
Both French BB creams did very well in my books and is more than comparable to a lot of Asian BB creams in the market. Bravo! 🙂
Have you tried any of these BB creams? Your thoughts? Yay or nay?
Note: Products marked with * were sent for editorial consideration.
I’ve tried the La Roche Posay melt-in and it’s by far my most favouritest BB cream ever in the whole wide freaking world, like EVAR EVAR EVAR mmmkay? Yea, I think you get my point.
Given it’s summer now and I’m trying to do lunchtime runs (yay for great shower and change facilities at work!), this is great after I’ve showered and completely removed my makeup. I slap it on after my skincare and it provides a decent enough coverage. I don’t even need concealer. I swirl Meteorites over my skin to set the BB cream, slick on lipbalm and I’m ready to dash to save the day! I wear Light and it matches my skintone perfectly.
Another major pro? This is so easily available in Priceline, I’d seriously stock up during sales.
Did I ever mention it’s like my MOST FAVOURITEST BB CREAM EVAR IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD? LIKE EVARRRRRRRRRR 🙂
LeGeeque recently posted..Unexpected Twist to Popbasic Rubi
Hahaha okay I get it. It’s your best favouritest BB cream ever! 😛
I hope Vichy does come to Australia. I find it to be quite an impressive brand. You’re too young for this, but I’ve been using Vichy Liftactiv Retinol HA Eye Cream for several months. In spite of having the weirdest applicator ever, it’s a terrific wrinkle/dark spot reducing eye cream. But back to BB creams (and CCs too for that matter). I love them (some more than others), but why do they take so friggin’ long to dry, ugh. There I’ve said it.
Allison recently posted..Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick Holiday Set
Oooh that eye cream sounds good! Sigh … living in Australia, we’re almost always the last to get anything. I’m already happy enough that they brought La Roche-Posay, Bioderma and Uriage here. Goodness knows how long it’ll be before Vichy is here too. Fingers crossed because Vichy has really good stuff too.
Hmm…I bought the L’Oreal Youth Code BB Cream while I was in the U.S. It’s ok, not great, sadly. Like you said, coverage is not that fab. I haven’t tried Vichy yet (not surprisingly)but, the Laroche Posay melt-in BB Cream? Hmm…I’m in two minds. Coverage wise, it’s so-so I guess, when I compare it with the Maybelline Dream Pure (for oily skin) one. I do like the fact that it does have a high SPF rating.
Norlin recently posted..Quick Perk-Me-Up For Your Eyes with eyeSlices
Yeah I know what you mean. I think the high SPF hit it out of the park for me this time.
I have the LRP one! Wish Vichy would expand their collection in Singapore because I want the Vichy Dermablend concealer/foundation. And I don’t think we have this BB cream… cos I haven’t seen it. Vichy, please bring more stuff to Singapore! haha.
Jyoan recently posted..Sephora Soothing Cleansing Milk
We actually have the Dermablend (only the Dermblend, nothing else from Vichy) here at Priceline. Never tried it before though because the samplers and stand at Priceline are FILTHY.
Vichy, please come to Australia. 😛
Thanks for the reviews – really enjoyed reading them. I’d been wondering how good the La Roche Posay BB cream was n it sounds great… I’ve not seen Vichy’s bb in Tokyo but good to know it’s got nice coverage. I’m not surprised that the French got the BB thing right…. They are v into their skincare and makeup.
Beauty Box recently posted..My First Bath Bomb & Other Ruminations
I was very surprised but thoroughly impressed that the French BB creams are actually quite on par with the Asian ones. You’re right, they’re very well into their skincare and makeup and I’m glad this didn’t disappoint. Now I regret not getting the Guerlain BB cream when I was in Paris! (not available in Australia. Boo!)