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A full face of thick foundation can be an absolute nightmare for no-makeup-makeup lovers. Traditional foundation can feel heavy on the face and leave you looking cakey. Thankfully, you can find the right makeup product that can provide decent coverage whilst retaining your natural look. But what’s a better product to use? A BB cream vs tinted moisturizer?
Today’s genius beauty companies have released numerous types of BB creams and moisturizers, so it can be hard to pick the right one. This includes a BB cream with skincare ingredients and tinted moisturizer to help you perfect your natural makeup routine.
To take the guesswork out of picking the right product, we have created the ultimate guide to bb creams vs tinted moisturizer. You will get to know the different purposes and makeup formulas of each makeup product. You will know which ones are worth adding to your beauty routine and the pros and cons of each.
Keep on scrolling to learn about the breakdown of the different types of face makeup:
What is a BB cream?
BB stands for “beauty balm” or some cases, “blemish balm.” It is your best bet for a flawless complexion. Not only does it give your makeup look a natural finish, but it also has skincare benefits! It evens out your entire face and hydrates the face.
This clever merge of makeup and skincare was invented by German Dermatologist Dr. Christine Schrameck. Before it became a makeup must-have for beauty lovers, it was initially created for patients to use after laser skin surgery, peels and microdermabrasion.
Even though the BB cream was released in 1967, it was only until the 2010s that it became popular (especially in Asia, particularly the Korean beauty market).
Today, beauty enthusiasts around the globe can’t get enough BB creams. And we can’t blame them. There are a plethora of reasons why BB creams are good for daily use.
Benefits of BB creams:
On top of streamlining your makeup routine, BB creams are a great option for other reasons:
Skincare benefits: Many BB creams have skin-friendly ingredients like hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, Humectants, and SPF protection. These key ingredients help hydrate the skin, cover blemishes, and shield your skin from UV damage.
Lighter coverage for a skin-like finish: This one-and-done product provides less coverage than standard foundations. The main goal of the sheer coverage is to give you a natural-looking finish. So if your personal preference on how you wear your makeup is minimal, you will like this!
The downside of BB creams:
Not a wide shade range: The available shades are three blanket names like dark, light, and medium. Due to the lack of shades, It can take some trial and error to find the right BB cream that matches your skin tone.
What’s the difference between BB creams, DD creams and, CC creams?
With so many alphabet creams on the market, it may feel like only makeup experts can decipher what each product is used for. Thankfully, these beauty creams are not as difficult to understand.
While BB creams give the lightest coverage, CC creams (stands for color correction) offer you medium coverage and sometimes full coverage. The other main difference between CC creams and BB creams is that it, as the name suggests, is used for color correcting uneven skin tone.
The last cream on the list is the DD cream, “Daily defense” dynamic do-all — whatever you prefer to call it, this beauty product has the exact texture of a BB cream. But the biggest difference between the two creams is that the DD cream has more SPF protection. Additionally, the dynamic do-all cream can be used as a color corrective.
The best tools you should use to apply BB creams
The simplest way to apply a BB cream is with your fingers. However, if you are looking for an airbrushed finish, expert makeup artists suggest using a beauty sponge or a foundation brush.
Shop the best BB creams
BB creams vary in different levels of coverage and finishes (matte, dewy, and natural) so it is important to find the right one for your skin type.
BB cream for oily skin
If you are just like me, and your face gets greasy and shiny by noon, then you would know how hard it is to find a face product that will not melt away very quickly.
Instead of opting for a matte foundation, try this Tarte all-in-one beauty balm. The formula works to provide you with a natural matte finish and a creamy weightless feel. And the best part about this medium buildable coverage BB cream is that it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores.
BB Tinted Treatment 12 Hour Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
What women love about this product: “The formula is great for oily to combo skin. I have a combo and, it’s a natural matte finish. Great coverage but, it still looks like skin. It wouldn’t work for anyone with dry skin. I currently use it during winter (My skin is a bit on the dry side in some areas). The only downside is that it’s a bit on the orange (I got a medium tan). I will exchange it for medium shade to see if it’s a better fit. Overall would buy again.“
Pros
- It holds up on oily skin for 12 hours.
- Protects your skin against UV rays with broad-spectrum SPF 30.
Cons
- It has a slight tint of orange. This tint of color can be unflattering for anyone that has a fair skin tone. Reviewers have also said that they wish that there was a wider shade range.
BB cream for acne-prone skin
If you are about to attend a special occasion but you suffer from skin issues like acne, you may want this BB cream to hide your blemishes.
The silky formula is jam-packed with vitamin e to provide antioxidant defense against environmental stressors. It also contains silica to smooth out the look of large pores.
Prime Time BB Primer-Cream Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30
What women love about this product: “I use this product as my only base face product. I will use concealer over it if I want to minimize my pores out of existence, but the velvety smooth texture of this primer is amazing and, it blurs all my imperfections and skin discolorations. Not completely. But it is enough to satisfy me to wear it alone. And I love the fact that it has SPF.“
Pros
- Acne-prone skin is usually textured and bumpy. However, this BB cream is infused with aloe leaf, chamomile, licorice root that soothes, softens, and conditions the skin.
Cons
- There are not enough shades.
- The cream also has a slight orange fragrance. So if you are looking for a scentless bb cream, this might not be the right one for you.
Related post: La Mer Skincare Review | Miracle Products or Just Really Good Marketing?
BB cream for dry skin
This BB cream will give you the maximum hydration that your skin needs. It is infused with nourishing natural ingredients like jojoba and sea oil that can make your skin feel hydrated for days on end. The lightweight formula also has an SPF 15, so you won’t get sunburnt during the day.
Burts Bees BB Cream with SPF 15
Pros
- It has anti-aging ingredients that reduce fine lines and wrinkles
Cons
- It could have more shades.
What women love about this product: “I love this stuff. I feel like it makes me look so glowy and healthy. The light coverage doesn’t cling to dry patches. It even looks better after a couple of hours of wear.“
What is a tinted moisturizer?
Some days we are unwilling to go full glam with makeup on. Luckily, tinted moisturizer exists to give us perfect-looking skin without feeling cakey.
This is not your ordinary moisturizer. It is an all-in-one product that incorporates skincare ingredients and makeup. It will be your new go-to beauty product to effortlessly blur wrinkles and achieve a dewy finish.
Benefits of a tinted moisturizer
It refreshes the skin and leaves it with a natural glow without the need for an Instagram filter.
Tinted moisturizers are formulated with a broad-spectrum SPF for an added dose of protection from UV rays.
There is a wide shade range for nearly every complexion.
Downsides of a tinted moisturizer
If you want to cover up dark spots or hyperpigmentation, the sheer coverage of tinted moisturizers won’t effectively hide those marks.
Shop the best-tinted moisturizers
Tinted moisturizer for sun protection
A heavy foundation is the last thing you would want on your face during hot summer days. This is where tinted moisturizer comes in.
The Nars radiant moisturizer will leave you hydrated, glowing, and protected. All thanks to the key ingredients like the Kopara extracts that hydrate and smoothen the skin. Not to mention the vitamin c that effectively protects skin from environmental aggressors.
The Nars Pure radiant tinted moisturizer SPF 30
Pros
- Buildable coverage, synthetic fragrance-free, and 16 inclusive shades!
Cons
- It needs to be set with foundation powder.
- It is also quite pricey.
Tinted moisturizer with oil-free formula
Laura Mercier Oil-Free Natural Skin perfecter broad-spectrum SPF 20
You will not have to worry about your moisturizer turning your face greasy anymore, thanks to this oil-free product. The oil-absorbing powders help to control shine. It also leaves your skin with a demi-matte finish.
Pros
- 20 inclusive shades, SPF 20 to protect skin from getting damaged from the sun, all-day shine control
Cons
- A little pricey
- Oxidizes over time
Bb cream VS tinted moisturizer final verdict:
BB creams and tinted moisturizers share similarities. The creams contain skincare ingredients and makeup qualities that can create a flawless natural finish. However, the tinted moisturizer is the better option because it has more shades to blend in with your complexion. It will ultimately help you truly achieve the best no-makeup makeup look.
Found the right face cream? It’s now time to get inspired by this minimal makeup routine.
Up next: My Minimalist Makeup Collection & 5 Minute Simple Yet Polished Makeup Routine
