BB cream will be your best friend if you want to master the art of the "no makeup" look. This holy grail beauty product can brighten and moisturize your skin, helping you achieve that effortless and natural look in a matter of seconds. However, buying BB creams can be confusing with all the ingredients and formulations to choose from.
Not sure which one to get? Don't worry! We've laid down the top 10 best BB creams that will give you that perfect natural look. Our buying guide also has comments from board-certified dermatologist Dr. Katrina Erika Habaluyas Luz to aid you in knowing the importing things that you should know before buying a bb cream!
Dr. Katrina Habaluyas Luz is the face behind Ask Your Derma. She is a board-certified dermatologist in Metro Manila. She is also an educator and digital creator on all things skin, hair, and nails. She is a Diplomate of the Philippine Dermatological Society and offers online video consultations. You can also catch her on her Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube channel.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
BB stands for beauty balm or blemish balm. It is commonly used to prime the skin and hide minor blemishes, hence its name. Basically, it’s like a tinted moisturizer but better. Simply put, if your moisturizer and foundation had a baby, then that would be a BB cream!
One of the advantages of using a BB cream is that it acts as a skincare product and makeup at the same time. That way, you won't be compromising your skin's health while wearing makeup. It also has several variants that can cater to different skin types. On top of that, BB creams have mild and light formulations, making them perfect for everyday use.
Hitting twoーand sometimes even threeー birds with one stone is one of the great things about using a BB cream. It's basically a tinted moisturizer ++. Moisturizing, check! Coverage, check!
BB creams are often confused with foundations. After all, they are both used to make your skin look better. However, there are two main things that set them apart. First, foundations offer more coverage than BB creams. If you need to heavily conceal blemishes and imperfections, you should use a foundation.
Another difference is their finish. If you’re going for a polished, airbrushed look, foundations can achieve that. However, they tend to go cakey when too much is applied. If you’re not a fan of that, you may use a BB cream instead. BB creams offer sheer coverage for minor blemishes and deliver a natural, dewy finish.
BB creams vs. foundationsーis there even a difference? BB creams are multi-purpose. They provide coverage and some targeted effect (e.g., sun protection, moisturization, or rejuvenation). Meanwhile, foundations typically tend to provide coverage. However, some newer foundations also incorporate an SPF as well!
Here are some points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
First things first, get to know your skin type, as it will determine the kind of products and ingredients your skin needs. You may take quizzes online to find out, or you may also consult your dermatologist for a more accurate result. Read more below to find out the appropriate BB cream to use for each skin type.
If you struggle with dry skin, a BB cream with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin is your best bet. Hyaluronic acid is a staple skincare ingredient, as it makes your skin look healthy and supple. It helps retain skin moisture by trapping water on the surface of your skin. This makes products with hyaluronic acid suitable for all skin types, especially for those with dry skin.
On the other hand, glycerin is also an effective moisturizer since it is capable of attracting water and moisture. If you’re looking for a BB cream that has hydrating and moisturizing properties, look for these two ingredients. Other great ingredients that provide hydration are shea butter, jojoba oil, and ceramides.
Hyaluronic acid is an effective humectant. If you read the product labels of your skincare products, chances are it contains one form or another of hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic acid is a crowd fave! But you know what's just as great, if not better, because of its price? Glycerin. It acts as a humectant but also protects the skin against irritation too.
Applying many products on the face tends to be irritating for those with oily skin. Some products may also lead to breakouts and clogged pores. To get rid of the greasy look, opt for a BB cream with a matte finish. Look for ingredients with mattifying properties, such as salicylic acid, green tea, and niacinamide. It doesn’t only give you a fresh glow, but it also has pimple-fighting properties.
Make sure that your BB cream is oil-free and fragrance-free for a lightweight formula. With this, you won’t have to worry about your BB cream melting off your face anymore. No need to worry about skin irritations too!
Salicylic acid is oil soluble, which allows it to penetrate pores deeply. Thus, it's no wonder why it makes a great ingredient for oily and acne-prone skin.
Did you know that newer BB creams contain low concentrations of salicylic acid (usually ~2%)? Hence, they are being marketed as 'anti-acne.' Take note that salicylic acid can be mildly irritating and drying, so it's best to do a patch test beforehand!
You might find the words "snail extract" disgusting, but hear us out first! Snail secretion is one of the most popular skincare ingredients today due to its moisturizing and anti-aging properties. In fact, a study claims that snail extract can straighten out fine wrinkles caused by sun damage.
Moreover, snail extract contains several ingredients that are proven to have skin-boosting properties, such as hyaluronic acid, proteins, and elastin, making it perfect for other skin types like dry and acne-prone skin. It also contains antioxidants that can remove dead skin cells and glycolic acid that can help produce collagen for a plump and youthful look.
Snail extract or snail mucin sounds like an odd ingredient and probably the last thing you'd want on your face. Korean skincare, however, has explored this ingredient and has shown that it has many benefits, such as antioxidant, anti-aging, repairing, hydrating, and even anti-microbial properties!
Again, as I always suggest, it's best to patch test first. And should no problem arise, I recommend pairing the product with SPF!
If you have sensitive skin that is prone to redness and irritations, steer clear of BB creams with lots of synthetic chemicals. Most BB creams are formulated to be mild, light, and non-irritating, but it wouldn’t hurt to double-check the ingredients list.
You may also opt for non-comedogenic creams to prevent your pores from being clogged. Aside from this, make sure to inspect the ingredients in case there are components that you're allergic to. If you’re not sure about which ingredients to avoid for your specific skin type, you may consult your dermatologist.
For those with sensitive skin, it's particularly important to read the label and patch test before applying that BB cream onto your face to make sure you don't develop a reaction.
Fun factーdid you know that for a product to be labeled 'non-comedogenic', it's usually tested on rabbit ears, or rarely, human back skin? So it's definitely difficult to tell whether a product will lead to the formation of comedones or not.
Matching your skin tone to the shade of the product can be very tricky, especially if you’re shopping online. If you’re buying in a physical store, one way to check if the shade matches your color is by putting a small amount near your jawline area. This will allow you to see how it blends in both your face and neck.
However, if you’re buying online, you won’t be able to try it out on yourself. What you can do instead is to look for BB cream swatches and select the skin tone that closely matches yours. For lighter skin tones, you may look for shades with yellow undertones. On the other hand, warm and golden undertones complement darker skin tones.
The great thing about newer BB creams these days is that they are starting to become a bit more inclusive when it comes to skin tones. Getting the right shade may be hit or miss! Nothing beats actually trying on the product and seeing how it oxidizes onto your skin.
SPF, which stands for Sun Protection Factor, determines how well the product can protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Most BB creams nowadays contain SPF. However, this may not be enough to fully protect your skin, especially if you’re outdoors or traveling.
In this case, check the amount of SPF it has. Dermatologists state that at least SPF 30 is needed to get optimal sun protection. Additionally, you might also see PA ratings on your skincare product packaging. This pertains to the Protection Grade of a product against UVA rays.
The indicator ranges from the lowest rating of PA+ to the highest rating of PA++++. Simply put, the more plus signs it has, the better a product can protect you from UVA rays.
BB creams with SPF are definitely a win! Make sure to check the amount of SPF your BB cream contains. A lot typically contains just SPF 15. Remember, you'd need at least an SPF 30 to get adequate sun protection. One tip is to apply the BB cream over your sunscreen. The more protection, the better!
Whether you’re going on a vacation to the beach or a trip to the gym, you can still apply a BB cream! To prevent it from melting off your face, just look for the water-resistant or sweat-resistant labels on the packaging. This will help keep your face covered throughout the day. You can wear it even in hot and humid weather and go on looking fresh all day!
Water-resistant BB creams are great not only so that they don't run or smudge but also so it lessens the chances of irritation, particularly to the eyes.
Heat, pollution, dust, and harmful UV rays can stress out and damage your skin. It's difficult to escape all of these, especially if you're a commuter in the city. If you're looking for a high-coverage BB cream that can protect your skin from all of these damages, check out Maybelline's Super BB cream.
As the name implies, this BB cream has superpowers indeed with all the benefits it offers. Aside from its impressive coverage and high SPF, it can also cover blemishes and other minor skin imperfections while keeping your skin moisturized. It's non-oily and long-lasting, making it perfect for those who are always on the go.
No need to layer different types of products on your face, thanks to Etude House's precious mineral BB cream. For this product, the BB stands for beautifying block, which describes its two main features. First, the triple cover formula targets your skin tone, blemishes, and skin texture to reveal your skin's beautiful and pearl-like glow.
Aside from that, it blocks fine dust and UV rays to keep your skin protected. Its mild formula also works well with sensitive skin. However, since this BB cream delivers a glossy and moist look, this may not be the best option for you if you want to achieve a matte finish.
This product is very popular among Koreans, and we totally understand why! This BB cream is loaded with moisturizing skincare ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramide. Another good thing about this product is that it can give you medium to full coverage without making your skin look cakey.
Despite the great coverage, you won't feel it on your skin because it is light and non-greasy- making it ideal for oily skin! Moreover, it's also suitable for other skin types, including mature skin, as it has whitening and anti-wrinkle properties. If you want to achieve that natural and glowing look, this one is worth a try.
The fact that this BB cream has only one available shade may seem off-putting, but this won't be an issue due to its color adaptability feature. In fact, many users of different skin tones claim that this product matches their shade. If you want to adjust the color of this product to make it look more natural on your skin, just use a damp sponge to blend it on your skin.
This BB cream contains Arbutin, an ingredient that helps get rid of dark spots and blemishes. And since it has a lightweight formula, it is also perfect for you if you hate that sticky and greasy feeling caused by makeup. Lastly, with this BB cream, you won't just get good-looking skin; you'll also be able to support a cruelty-free product.
Do you want your skin to look like you just got out of a facial treatment with your dermatologist? If your answer is yes, try out this Derma+ BB cream from Pond's. Combining three derma-inspired actions, the formula in this BB cream works to deliver the same effects as those you would get from three derma treatments; laser, gluta, and IPL (intense pulsed light).
The result is spotless and luminous skin coupled with a poreless texture. This cream is a one-step solution for pesky skin problems like dark spots and blemishes, uneven skin tones, and enlarged pores. Aside from that, it offers sun protection with an SPF 30 rating. With all of these benefits in one tube, this product is definitely a steal!
The Nivea Sun UV Face BB cream is a 2-in-1 tinted moisturizer and face sunscreen. This can effectively be used as a sunscreen substitute when you're going outdoors, especially on a trip to the beach. Unlike some sunscreens, this BB cream is non-sticky. It also has a high amount of SPF that can protect your skin from getting sunburnt.
You won't have to worry about getting in the water since this is water-resistant. It has an eye-friendly formula as well, so you can apply it evenly on your entire face, even on your eyebags area. Lastly, it has a cooling effect that leaves your skin feeling hydrated and refreshed, perfect for those who are always outdoors.
If you're someone who uses BB cream on a daily basis, then you might want to check out this light and long-lasting BB cream from The Face Shop. This is great for daily use because it won't dry out your skin.
Pamper your skin with its total skin treatment formula containing Omega-3 for moisturized and supple skin and vita-skin complex that aids in collagen production. It's also very lightweight and provides perfect coverage without feeling sticky. While this is perfect for all skin types, those with extremely dry skin may still apply a moisturizer with a lightweight formula.
Nowadays, it's getting harder and harder to find products with natural ingredients. Thankfully, Innisfree has a BB cream that is made of gentle and 100% natural extracts to keep your skin healthy and free of irritations.
Infused with green tea extracts from Jeju, this BB cream will definitely hydrate and brighten up your skin complexion. It offers light to medium coverage with a dewy finish. It is also easy to apply and can be quickly absorbed by your skin. Loyal users range from those with combination and acne-prone skin to sensitive skin types, which indicates how versatile its formula is.
One of the most common skin problems is having clogged pores, caused by the entrapment of dead skin cells in your skin. Once it gets out of hand, this may lead to more problems such as blackheads and acne. To avoid this, use non-comedogenic products like this BB cream from Céleteque.
It contains laricyl, which can minimize pores and moisturize your skin at the same time. It also has an exclusive BioWhite™ formula that straightens out wrinkles for mature or aging skin. It can help lighten acne scars and dark spots as well. Its BioBenefity™ formula, on the other hand, will make your face look instantly bright and glowing.
Ever Bilena is one of the most popular local makeup brands in the Philippines. They offer a wide range of products such as lippies, eye shadows, BB creams, and more. Their anti-wrinkle BB cream is an affordable option that doesn't compromise quality. Infused with Vitamin E and shea butter, this product offers hydration and nourishment at a budget-friendly price!
It has a thick and creamy consistency and buildable coverage, so you can simply layer as much or as little as you want to achieve your desired finish. You would also be happy to know that it is vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free. Best of all, since it's a local brand, you can be sure that it is designed for Filipina skin!
We're definite that you already have more idea on what and how to choose the best bb cream tailored for your skin. Below, Dr. Katrina shares some insights on the concerns and most asked questions about bb creams.
It's definitely hard to generalize since so many new products have newer formulations incorporating different ingredients with multiple benefits. Even foundations are beginning to have add-on ingredients as well! It's always a good idea to turn and learn what's actually in your products.
"For All Skin Types" is a hard promise to keep. At the end of the day, each individual has their own set of personal sensitivities and tolerances. As I always say, patch test first!
It's definitely a possibility. There's such a thing as Acne cosmetica, wherein cosmetics block the hair follicles leading to the formation of acne. Remember that healthy skin is the best canvas to work with, so patch test first!
Don't know which products work well with your BB cream? Check out the links below for some recommendations!
Author: Sophie S.
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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