Searching for the perfect BB cream for your acne prone skin? We’ve got you covered! Although most skin problems are easy to control and manage, acne-related imperfections can be rather difficult to conceal. BB, Beauty Balm, Blemish Balm, or Blemish Base creams. Conceal any skin blemishes, evens out your skin tone, hydrates, and protects your skin against UV damage.
Is BB Cream Good for Acne?
There are a lot of myths in the makeup community regarding the use of BB creams on acne-prone skin. This is because most people are under the impression that since most BB creams contain moisturizers and certain oils, they must be bad for oily skin.
BB creams are perfect for acne-prone skin for the following reasons:-
- They provide you with light coverage – although your face may be spotty, it does not take a large amount of BB cream to cover the worst blemishes. This means less makeup clogging your pores.
- They help you achieve a perfect illusion – people with acne-prone skin understand the frustration of not being able to go makeup-free. BB creams have skin-perfecting qualities that will help you achieve a no makeup, makeup look.
- BB creams complement your natural skin tone – it’s not uncommon for a foundation to conceal the skin’s natural tone and texture. Rather than working against your skin, BB creams work with it. This means that they will conceal any imperfections without obscuring your skin’s natural variations.
The Best BB Cream for Acne-Prone Skin
The market is flooded with BB creams for different skin types. To help you along, we’ve rounded up the top 9 BB creams for oily and acne-prone skin types.
1. bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream
This oil-free cream will provide you with sheer-to-medium coverage while providing you with SPF and skin hydrating benefits. Its lightweight nature allows you to build and layer it on the affected areas of your skin. Its texture is sort of a hybrid between a cream and a gel. This makes it easy to apply with your bare hands as using a brush would result in a streaky finish.
The cream is formulated skin-loving ingredients such as marine botanicals, which are meant to replenish dry skin. Mineral water and other hydrating humectants are guaranteed to provide you with up to 215% increase in moisture within a week of its use. The cream is free of silicone, parabens, oil, and fragrance.
2. BB Cream Matte finish 3-in-1 by Bella Terra
Bella Terra’s 3-in-1 tinted moisturizer is the perfect substitute for heavy foundations and moisturizers. Its name is derived from its concealing, moisturizing, and anti-aging capabilities. The cream has a soft and velvety texture, which will conceal any acne-related blemishes without obscuring your natural complexion.
This Korean BB cream boasts of zero additives, preservatives, and alcohol. It is made from natural extracts, which include pure magnesium, zinc, and mica. These not only make it a perfect cream for all skin types but also makes it a rich antioxidant.
3. SKINMED BB Cream For Acne Prone Skin
SKINMED is a leading beauty product manufacturer in South Korea. Like all SKINMED products, this cream is dermatologist and clinically tested and has been proven to have zero skin irritation, burning sensation, stinginess, or itchiness. This can be attributed to its formulation, which contains natural products such as lavender oil, tea tree leaf oil, orange skin extract, and mallow leaf extract, among others. It is approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in South Korea.
You can use this cream on its own or use it after applying basic lotion or cream. Its lightweight texture makes it easy to be applied using your fingertips.
4. La Roche-Posay Effaclar BB Blur with SPF 20
This oil-free BB will help you achieve a smooth complexion by effectively blurring any blemishes, pores, and an uneven skin tone. It has a silky, smooth, or “mousse” texture that does a good job of blending with your skin. One of the key ingredients is Air Licium, which helps absorb the excess oil or sebum on your skin. This results in an all-day matte look in spite of your oily skin.
The cream is paraben and fragrance-free. As the name suggests, it contains SPF 20, thus protecting your skin from harmful UV rays. The cream is available in “Light Medium” and “Fair Light” shades.
5. purlisse BB Tinted Moisturizer Cream SPF 30
The age-defying BB cream combines conventional Chinese beauty extracts with modern skincare technology to provide you with a flawless and natural-looking finish. Its key ingredients are chamomile and Artemisia, which have antioxidant properties, thus preventing aging and soothing inflamed skin. The cream also contains sugar maple, which retains moisture, thus creating a glowing complexion.
The BB cream is free of petrochemicals, parabens, oils, fragrance, triclosan, and phthalates. Its natural formulation makes it suitable for all skin types. Although you can use it on its own, you could wear it under your preferred foundation for extra coverage.
6. Dr.G Gowoonsesang Perfect Pore BB Cream SPF 30
Manufactured by Kolmar from the Republic of Korea, Dr. G Gowoonsesang Perfect Pore BB cream boasts of a feather-light formula while providing you with an excellent matte finish. Its fresh mojito complex, which includes cabbage extracts and lime tree water, makes it a perfect sebum control cream. It has a light, dewy texture, which is ideal for a matte look.
It contains lemon balm and rosehip oil extracts, which are efficiently moisturizing and nourishing your skin. The cream also contains vitamins and minerals which repair and soothes your skin. The cream has a hypoallergenic base and is alcohol, GMO, mineral oil, benzophenone, and tar colorant-free.
7. Acne Solutions BB Cream For Acne Prone Skin
This is one cream that I’ve used, and it has become a staple. I wasn’t sure that I was going to like it as I lean towards moisturizing formulas as opposed to those specially formulated for oily skin. One of the aspects that makes this cream stand out is the gel-like texture that makes it easy to apply and rather buildable.
Clinique’s Acne Solutions BB Cream combines buildable coverage, shine control, and UV protection to provide you with a blemish-free matte look. This is achieved through ingredients such as Titanium Dioxide and Mica, which have light-diffusing particles that will immediately brighten your skin. Silica, alongside other specially treated pigments, controls sebum production, thus effectively controlling shine.
8. Jane Iredale Glow Time Full Coverage Mineral BB Cream
This natural cream is packed with anti-aging ingredients and antioxidants that leave your skin looking radiant and smooth. These natural ingredients include grapefruit, apple, and tamarind extracts that minimize hormonal breakouts, improve your skin tone and its texture, and hydrates your skin. Its hypoallergenic formulation makes it perfect for people with sensitive skin or those prone to breakouts. The cream is also dermatologist-tested. Its broad-spectrum SPF protects your skin from harmful UV rays without leaving your skin dry.
9. Holika Holika Pore Clearing Petit BB Cream
One of the five Holika Holika Petit BB creams, this cream is specially formulated for people with acne-prone skin. One of the key ingredients is the tea tree oil extract, which is known for its antioxidant and antifungal properties. It also reduces irritation, inflammation, and formation of blemishes due to clogged pores. The cream controls sebum production, thus preventing a greasy shine throughout the day. It has a light texture and easily blends with your skin to create a smooth and even look.
Which BB Cream Is Best for Oily, Acne Prone Skin?
The most common causes of acne are excess oil production, clogged pores, and bacteria. Therefore, the most suitable BB cream for acne prone skin should control sebum production, be non-comedogenic, and have ingredients such as salicylic acid that kills acne-causing bacteria. If you have oily skin, chances that you will not want to be introducing more oil on your skin. For this reason, avoid BB creams that contain lanolin, oils, and alcohol. Choose a BB cream specifically meant for oily or acne-prone skin as these tend to have a
5 Mistakes You Should Avoid When Applying BB Cream
Makeup is meant to make you feel and look good by giving you a youthful and fresh look. Here are the top 5 mistakes that could defeat this purpose if you are using a BB cream.
1. Not prepping your face
According to industry experts, it is necessary to prep your skin before applying any type of makeup. While BB creams are all-in-one products that will moisturize, prime, and protect your face, you must prepare your face before applying them. How you do this depends on the formulation of the product you are using, your skin type, and the intended outcome.
For instance, you might need to apply a moisturizer if the BB cream you are using tends to be heavy on your skin or if your skin is extremely dry. If you are using a BB cream whose formulation does not have a primer, you will need to apply one before applying the cream.
2. Not choosing the right BB cream for your skin tone
Just like other cosmetic products, diverse shades of BB creams cater to different skin tones. Most people test different shades on the wrist. However, the only place that will tell whether the BB cream will match your skin tone is, unsurprisingly, your face. Dab some of the cream along the jawline, under the eyes, and around your nose to find the best possible match. If you are a first-time user, remember that you should let the cream set. While it is moist during the application, it will dry to a matte look in the end.
3. Using too much BB cream on your acne prone skin
When it comes to BB creams, a little goes a long way. Unsurprisingly, one of the most common mistakes that even repeat users make when using BB creams, is applying too much of it. Most BB cream formulations spread easily; thus, they cover a larger surface area compared to other cosmetic products.
4. Using the wrong BB cream for your skin type
The market is flooded with different types of BB creams, so how do you choose that which is right for your skin? Whether you have oily or dry skin or you intend to cover blemishes or achieve a smooth look on a slightly wrinkled face, there are BB creams that will suit your needs. In the case of oily skin, you may want to consider a BB cream with a matte formula. If your skin is dry, dewy-finish formulas will work just fine.
By choosing the right BB cream for your skin type, you can minimize the use of other products to achieve your intended look. For instance, you will end up using less illuminator if your skin is dry or less powder if you have an oily face.
5. Not wetting your sponge before applying the BB cream
There are different ways through which you can apply BB cream on your face. You can use your fingers, a sponge, or a brush. One of the most common mistakes that most people make when using a sponge is not wetting it first. The sponge ends up sucking the moisture from the cream. You will end up using more cream on your face leading to a ‘cakey’ look.
Now that you know what a BB cream is and what options are best for your oily skin, it’s easy to incorporate one into your beauty regimen. Give your face a break multiple beauty products such as foundation, concealers, and color-correctors, among others, by applying a BB cream that best suits you. A BB cream is perfect for instances such as:
- When you are traveling
- When you are pressed for time
- If you intend to achieve a no-makeup, makeup look
- If you have a skin breakout
Whichever your choice, always make sure you go through the product reviews. This gives you an insight into other customers’ experiences. Look out for reviews that mention particular skin conditions, skin types, or the skin tone to gauge how applicable the reviewer’s experience is to your particular circumstances.
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