BB Creams - Yay or Nay?

BB Creams ♡ yay or nay?

I am a self confessed foundation LOVER! But this summer has been a haaaawt one so far (not that I am complaining... although working in it has been hard work!) and I have found that my face just slips and slides around and I am always conscious of it melting! I am a lover of primers and setting sprays, too but some days even  they aren't enough to make your foundation last in 30 degree heat!

And that is why I switched my make up routine up a bit this year and started to use BB creams... I have never really used BB creams before and was a bit sceptical when my mum referred to it as a 'tinted moisturiser' thinking ...oh gosh! It might be even worse! But actually... I was proved wrong! And here is why.

Olay Total Effects SPF 15 BB Cream

Olay is an absolute classic when it comes to skin-care meets make up. It is the ultimate Power Woman brand and this is why I was drawn to this particular BB Cream. Plus I am 26 now and I am determined to fight off any wrinkles while I still can!

It is a '7 in 1' Moisturiser & Foundation in a bottle and all of this had me sold ... But what are these 7 things and does it actually work?! 

This bottle of loveliness claims  to :

1. visibly smooth fine lines and wrinkles - not sure how much I need that yet, but I'll take it
2. help skin to maintain it's moisture - anything hydrating is a winner for me!
3. even skin tone and appereance - yep, i'll take that!
4. minimise the look of pores - I will take this, too! Especially in the heat! I don't really struggle with big pores but anything to help sounds good to me!
5. smoothens and evens out skin texture - is that not similar to number 3? If you struggle with acne or texture on your skin then this could be good for you
6. Enhances and brightens - I love glowy, dewy skin so this is fantastic 
7. Hydrates to restore firmer skin appearance - yep, again, anything moisturising is a winner for me!

Those are a hell of alot of claims but the general gist is that it gives you glowy, natural looking skin and also has moisturising benefits. It also contains SPF 15 which is fab for those warmer days.

Overall, I actually really loved this cream. It has a sheer coverage so if you are a full coverage kinda gal then this is not for you! But if you like something lighter on the skin for an everyday look with a bit of concealer then I think you would like this. I also found the moisturiser could leave you looking a little bit shiny but I just used some translucent powder on top to keep those excess oils at bay. I really liked that it looked like your own skin - it's like you but better in a bottle and I really like that for work or when you don't need to wear your whole make up bag on your face!

It does even out your skintone and keeps it looking youthful and fresh all day. I can't say if it minimises pores or smooth wrinkles as I have not (yet!) those to contend with... but I do say it brightens the skin and hydrates it throughout the day as well as protecting you against the sun. This retails for £10-£15 depending if you can find it in the sale so it is a little pricier than some drug store foundations but you get 50ml of product which is more  than most, so it does even out. I also love it comes with a little pump so you don't waste product - little things!

Olay - you are the dream! I have used this for a few weeks now and I will continue to do so!

Garnier Skin Active BB Cream

I have always loved Garnier as a brand and was keen to try this as again it is a skincare meets make up kind of product! I bought the combination- oily skin type one, as I was finding I was much oilier than normal in the warmer weather. And this is a 5 in 1 'skin perfector' so I was keen to see how perfect it did make my skin look!

This product retails for between £6  and £10 if you catch it in the sales! And contains 40ml of product so still a little bit more than most foundations.  

The skin benefits from the Garnier Cream are:

1. SPF 20 - fab, to protect you against sun damage
2. Gives an even skin tone - I love this as I can be quite red sometimes throughout the day
3. Mattifies skin - Can a moisturising product mattify the skin?
4. Reduces the appearance of imperfections - We all struggle with spots so this sounds good!
5. Gives a healthy glow to the skin - Yes! Perfect! I'll have 10!

I will be honest and say I have reached for this BB cream more than the Olay but I couldn't tell you why. I will agree with the statements that it does give a healthy glow to the skin and gives you an even skin tone! Similarly to the Olay it can be a little bit shiny so I have been using concealer over the top and powder to mattify it down a little bit. I found this lasted all day on my skin and kept it looking glowy and hydrated all day. 

It has a sheer coverage up to light-medium but no more than that, but I find this better in the heat as I hate the feeling of it slipping off my face. I set the make up as normal and did found it lasted throughout the day in the 30 degree heat! 

Overall, I am a converted lover of BB creams and I will continue to use these on no-make-up make up days! Have you ever tried a BB cream? Have I convinced you to try one?!

Lots of love EP 💕