Have you ever been asked which beauty product you’d take if you were stuck on a desert island and could only bring one thing? While lots of people give the most basic reply of wanting their lipstick or mascara, the truth is that the best thing you could bring is a quality BB cream.
BB cream was originally created in Germany in 1967 as a soothing balm for people to use after skin treatments such as microdermabrasion. While it is still soothing, you’ll find that BB creams have now morphed into something even better.
Whether you call it a beauty balm or a blemish base, BB cream is designed to hydrate your skin, protect it from the sun and give your face a light coverage of color that blurs out imperfections. BB creams range in the level of benefits they offer, but knowing how to apply it makes a big difference in the results. You can use BB cream with sunscreen, but there are a few things you can do to make both products more effective.
Can I use BB cream with sunscreen?
When I first discovered BB cream, I was excited to toss out all of my other products. While you can get by with skipping heavy foundation, you’ll want to do a little checking into whether or not you should ditch your extra bottle of sunscreen.
Most BB creams contain sunscreen, but the level they contain can vary. You should be wearing sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 or higher. If your BB cream is lower, then you may need to use sunscreen to make up the difference.
You’ll also want to think about your level of sun exposure and physical activity. If you’ll be outside a lot, then layering products with sunscreen can only help.
Do You Put Sunscreen On Before or After the BB Cream?
BB cream is known for its simplicity, but this can be a tricky question. Don’t worry though, the answer to this isn’t as complicated as it seems. Just take a look at your sunscreen’s ingredients to see if you are using a chemical-based type or one that uses a physical block against the sun’s rays.
Chemical sunscreens, such as those that contain oxybenzone, need to be placed against your skin. So, put it on first to help it interact with your skin’s cells. Sunscreens with physical blockers, such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, can be placed after your BB cream if you prefer.
Can You Apply BB Cream On Top of Sunscreen?
You can apply BB cream on top of chemical-based sunscreens. Typically, you’ll want to give the sunscreen a few seconds to soak in before you put the BB cream on. If you are using a physically blocking sunscreen, the choice is up to you. Keep in mind that physical blockers tend to be a little heavier, which might impact how much BB cream you use.
Do You Moisturize Before You Use BB Cream?
If you have oilier skin, then you might just find that you don’t need a moisturizer at all since your BB cream is designed to help hydrate your skin’s cells. Many teens and younger adults can skip heavy moisturizers, especially if they are athletic and have skin that gets oilier throughout the day.
If your skin falls on the drier side, then you might want to use a lightweight moisturizer during the day and a heavier one at night. Both types of moisturizer should be used before your BB cream so that it gets absorbed first. This provides a slightly drier base of skin for the BB cream to adhere to so that it doesn’t wear off as fast.
Will BB Cream Last All Day?
I’ve always found that BB cream lasts all day when I’m working within a normal indoor environment. When you work out of an office or go to school, then you can likely put on your BB cream in the morning and expect to still be looking amazing when you get home.
If not, then it is possible that you spend a lot of time outdoors where sweat and wiping your face frequently might cause it to wear off. When it does, this is yet another area where BB creams are great. Since they are designed to match your skin tone, any minor wearing-off isn’t noticeable.
You’ll also find it easy enough to carry your single product in your day bag for handling any necessary touch-ups. Keeping your hands off of your face also helps your BB cream to last longer. So, make sure to strike a hands-free pose during all of those adorable selfies.
How Do You Reapply BB Cream?
In a perfect world, your makeup would last forever. However, those long days at the beach or evenings out dancing can cause your BB cream to wear off prematurely. If you do need to reapply the cream, you can rest assured that the whole process is easier than putting on your makeup in the morning.
You might only need a minor touch-up, which you can do by using your finger or a makeup applicator to put the BB cream on the spots that wore off. Usually, this will be on oiler parts of your skin such as your nose or along your cheek where it might have rubbed off from when you used your phone.
What If You Need to Reapply Sunscreen?
Putting sunscreen on could be simple if you are using one with physical blocking ingredients. In this case, you can just put the sunscreen back on top of your BB cream. If you need to apply a chemical blocker, then you’ll be better off if you wash your face to remove any layers of product that could interfere with it working. Then, simply go back through the process of putting your different layers of makeup on.
How Do You Find Your Perfect BB Cream Shade?
At some point, just about everyone who wears makeup will find themselves dealing with the dreaded mask line along their jaw. While this makeup faux pas normally happens to beginners, it can also happen anytime you start using a new product.
You might have seen people testing makeup colors on the back of their hands, but I highly recommend against doing this. The skin on your hand can be several shades different from the tones on your face.
There are several ways that you can find your perfect BB cream shade, and the simplest one is to arrange for a color match session with your brand’s experts either online or in person. If you are more hands-on, then you’ll also be happy to know that the most accurate way is to try different shades on.
To get the best match, apply swatches of different colors along your jawline. It might take a few tries, but you’ll soon see exactly which color works best for your skin tone. Keep in mind that some people need to blend two shades to get the perfect color, and you’ll want to retest shades if you tan or get paler during the winter.
Can You Use BB Cream Alone?
You absolutely can! This is one of the biggest benefits of BB cream. As long as it meets your SPF level needs for sunscreen, you can simply put on your BB cream and get on with your day. Since it blurs out imperfections, adds color, and moisturizes all at once, you can use this product to streamline your day.
Are you running late for work or school? If so, then you can just throw on your BB cream and feel confident about showing your face in public. You can also use it as your everyday makeup routine if you prefer a lighter look that works in place of a heavier foundation.
Using BB cream and sunscreen together helps you provide the ultimate level of sun protection for your skin that helps you to avoid premature wrinkles and ward off skin cancer. You’ll want to adjust your makeup routine to accommodate the type of sunscreen you use along with whether or not you use other products. Whether you put on your BB cream first or last, you’ll love being able to create a look that benefits your skin and brings out your natural beauty.
Further reading material
If you found this article helpful, I have some more articles like this just for you! Below you’ll find a couple of articles that are related to this one so that you can pick another topic that you’re interested in. Enjoy, and thanks for reading!
Do I Need A Moisturizer With BB Cream?
Why Is BB Cream Good for the Skin
Will BB Cream Clog Pores?
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