Many people do not think that BB cream is a good replacement for foundation. The reason is, they do not have oily skin or live in a humid climate. They may also feel that BB cream does not provide enough coverage as it contains less pigment than liquid foundation.
However, those who do use BB cream instead of foundation find it to be much more moisturizing and SPF-protected than liquid foundation which can cause oily skin or be heavy on the skin in humid climates.
In addition to this, many people do not know how to apply liquid foundation properly and end up using too little of the product which makes their makeup look cakey and unnatural. In contrast, with BB cream you can easily apply as much as you want without getting an uneven application. This way you do not have to worry about the product disappearing halfway through the day.
If you have doubts whether or not you can wear BB cream instead of foundation, or you were just oblivious to the fact that you could, I hope to take that all away with this article! So, today you’ll find everything you want to learn about BB cream, foundation, and whether or not you can switch from products.
So, without further ado…
So, do you use BB cream instead of foundation?
As a matter of fact, you can use bb cream instead of foundation. Although foundation likely meets your coverage requirements and helps you give your skin a flawless look, you might not always want to wear such heavy-duty makeup.
That’s where the BB cream comes in and that’s why you can switch between BB cream and foundation. On the days that you don’t want heavy-duty makeup, you can opt for a BB cream which is (usually) lighter in coverage and can also serve as a moisturizer, foundation, and sun protector all in one.
As said, there are many reasons as to why you might want to use bb cream instead of foundation and the main reason is that a BB cream is a more moisturizing makeup which means it will do a better job at preventing your makeup from melting off in the hot summer months or while you’re stuck in an office somewhere near the equator under the glare of the hot sun.
But another reason to switch between foundation and bb cream is that while both perform similar functions, but one is not always suitable for all purposes. Foundation can do little or nothing to protect your skin against ultraviolet radiation from sunlight, whereas a BB cream with built-in SPF protection does contain this extra benefit.
What is BB Cream?
BB cream is a multifunctional skincare product that can do everything from moisturizing to acting as your very own sunscreen. The term ‘BB’ refers to “Beauty Balm” or “Blemish balm” which were popular in the late ’70s and early ’80s.
These balms may have had ingredients like beeswax, olive oil, lanolin, vitamin E, glycerin, cocoa butter, and titanium dioxide; all of which do more than just cover up redness.
The term BB cream was first used in the K-beauty industry in the early 90’s when women wanted more coverage than their regular tinted moisturizer or foundation could provide.
What is foundation?
Foundation is a makeup product that is applied to the face to create an even complexion, hide imperfections, provide a more even look, and cover blemishes. Foundation can be made from a variety of substances including silicone oil-based emollients with water and pigment particles in decorative pigments. It is also sometimes loaded with perfumes and other skin irritants.
What is the difference between the two and what about the coverage?
The difference between foundation and bb cream is that while they do both do the same general functions, they do not necessarily do them in the same way. Foundation does do a better job at providing coverage, whereas BB cream doesn’t do very much to provide coverage.
BB cream provides more moisturizing properties. Foundation on the other hand can do anything from hiding your blemishes to concealing moles or tattoos on your skin.
Another difference between the two products is that some BB creams may offer built-in SPF protection whereas the foundation does not.
One of the most significant differences between the products is that one may be more suitable for you if you live in a humid environment or an area where there are lots of hot weather.
Foundation can do nothing to prevent your makeup from melting off your skin, whereas BB cream does do this job for. The BB creams are much lighter than the foundations and do not do as good of a job at providing coverage.
Another difference is that foundation has oils that are petroleum-based, which will do damage to the environment if you ever have to throw it away, but BB creams are better for the environment because they do not contain these types of oils and things like silicone which do damage if we continue using them.
So this all boils down to one thing: what exactly do you want out of your makeup product? Some people just want their makeup to look pretty and conceal some small blemishes and color on their skin and that’s all, whereas other people do not mind if their makeup isn’t very concealing as long as it has SPF protection and is suitable for a humid environment.
However, whatever your reason may be, whether you want a lightweight makeup that will do a good job at protecting against the sun or something heavy-duty with enough coverage to make it look like you have nothing on at all, choosing between foundation and bb cream can do much more than you might think.
As far as the difference in price goes – BB creams are usually cheaper because they don’t do as good of a job at providing coverage whereas foundations do perform better in this department. You should just go ahead and try both out if possible to see which one works best for you!
Benefits of using a cream instead of foundations
As you might already know, there are a couple of benefits to using BB cream instead of foundations, and below you find a small list just to be sure that you know all you need to make a well-informed decision.
1. Benefits for people with oily skin or who live in humid climates
As said earlier, BB cream may be the better choice if you live in a humid or particularly hot environment where you need a lightweight product for your skin care routine because otherwise your makeup “melts” off your face. If this is the case for you, you might be better of with a lightweight BB cream.
2. Moisturizes skin better than foundation
It is generally known that BB cream is a great moisturizer for your skin. So, if you’re looking for a makeup product to wear that moisturizes your skin effectively, you would be better of with a BB cream than that you would with a foundation. And the cream is easily used in your skin care routine
3. SPF protection included
The amazing thing about BB creams is that they also protect you from skin damage from sunlight. BB creams often have build-in SPF that will help you protect your skin from the sun.
4. Less irritation on the skin
Because BB cream is lightweight, it causes less irritation on your skin than foundation generally does. If you’re prone to irritated skin you might be better of with a BB cream. But, when you’re prone to skin irritation it is also a good idea to find out why you have this issue.
Maybe you are sensitive to some ingredients in makeup and it would be good for you to look into the matter. You don’t want to experiment with different BB creams and foundations only to find out that you are allergic or sensitive to some ingredients often used in makeup.
Downsides to wear BB cream instead of foundation
One downside to using BB cream instead of the foundation is that you might not be able to do the same things with it. There are many different types of foundation and BB cream, so do some research before you make a purchase. Also, if the foundation or BB cream isn’t designed for your skin type, you may need to do more mixing in order to get your desired shade.
Just do a little research about BB creams (and foundations) and you’ll soon find that there are countless options available, so do your research to make the best choice for your particular skin type. By doing this, you can choose what best suits you and your skin!
Conclusion
I do believe that BB cream is a great alternative to foundation, and if you have oily skin or live in a humid climate then I would recommend it. The only downside of using bb creams instead of foundations is the lack of coverage they provide for blemishes or uneven complexion on your face.
However, even with this downside, there are many benefits such as SPF protection which can be found in most bb creams these days. My opinion: Yes! I do use BB cream when all else fails and find it works well for me while still giving my skin some natural coloration without looking like I’m wearing makeup at all!
Reading material
Did you have fun reading this article? I hope you did and if you scrolled this far, I think I know you liked it :).
If you want to learn more about BB cream, you can. Simply click on one of the links below and start reading about your favorite subject!
Can I Use BB Cream Under My Eyes?
How Much BB Cream Should I Use?
How Long Does BB Cream Take to Dry?
