Updated on 8 June 2023
This comparison is certified 100% impartial and follows our selection process.
Its 8-in-1 effects help blur and correct imperfections while illuminating, smoothing and hydrating the complexion. With its light coverage, it is the only one to offer SPF30 protection.
Maybelline Dream Fresh (30 ml)
Very popular in the beauty world, it is easy to apply for a light and natural look, which our tests confirmed. It effectively enhanced and sublimated the complexion, while having a satisfactory moisturizing power. The application of this product caused very little demarcation. On the other hand, even if we found that its coverage was good, it did not manage to camouflage imperfections. Its composition could be better, but it still has the advantage of being silicone, paraben and allergen-free. Finally, it is available in 5 shades, but unfortunately, they are all relatively light.
The BB cream offers a light coverage that lets the skin breathe without suffocating it. This cream is somewhere between skincare and make-up. It offers many benefits. Some of them have anti-ageing properties but they do not replace anti-ageing creams. Note that if you want to go out in the sun, some include sun protection. Depending on your skin, you can also 'customise' your BB cream by mixing it with a day cream. For a natural look, it is necessary to choose a colour that is as close as possible to your skin. It's best to check their composition to avoid ingredients that may be harmful to your health.
Avril BB Cream (30 ml)
This BB cream is a good alternative for those who want an organic solution at a low price and with a very good composition. It has very light coverage but still manages to even out the complexion.
With its 5-in-1 actions, it evens out, moisturises, purifies and protects the skin, especially with its SPF 10 protection. Its composition, which includes jojoba oil, aloe vera, pomegranate oil and iris powder, is impeccable and certified organic by the Ecocert label. In our tests, while it held up well all day, note that it provided a light coverage, which still comfortably evened out the complexion (provided you use a little more product than with others). Too bad it only comes in 2 shades.
Eau Thermale Jonzac (40 ml)
This BB cream made for more sensitive skin has a very good composition certified organic by Ecocert. Its texture, a little less fluid than others, is easy to dose and apply for light coverage.
Composed of thermal spring water, this product is compatible with more sensitive or even allergic skin. Thanks to its 3P perfecting complex, it acts on 3 factors of the face: the complexion, the texture of the skin and its grain. During our tests, we found its slightly pearly finish to be a healthy glow, and its long-lasting hold and non-greasy texture appealed to us. On the other hand, the light shade seemed to us to be a bit dark for the palest skins, ensuring a rather pronounced healthy glow effect. It also benefits from a sun protection SPF10. It is also certified organic, and its composition is free of silicone, alcohol, mineral oil and allergens. Finally, it is a shame that it only comes in 2 shades…
Our selection
| Our choice, Best mid-range | Best budget | Mid-range alternative |
|---|---|---|
| | | |
| Maybelline Dream Fresh (30 ml) | Avril BB Cream (30 ml) | Eau Thermale Jonzac (40 ml) |
| Its 8-in-1 effects help blur and correct imperfections while illuminating, smoothing and hydrating the complexion. With its light coverage, it is the only one to offer SPF30 protection. | This BB cream is a good alternative for those who want an organic solution at a low price and with a very good composition. It has very light coverage but still manages to even out the complexion. | This BB cream made for more sensitive skin has a very good composition certified organic by Ecocert. Its texture, a little less fluid than others, is easy to dose and apply for light coverage. |
| £ 17.00 on Amazon | See the price on Amazon | £ 20.17 on Amazon |
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How did we test?
To test the BB creams, we applied each of them in the morning on the face to see how they evolved over a day. We observed whether the colour matched the skin tone, but also whether the application was easy and how it looked on the skin (plastered, smooth, invisible…).
Then we checked the good coverage of the BB cream (reducing redness and pimples?), as well as the various effects claimed by the brands (moisturising, mattifying, smoothing, illuminating, sun protection…). Finally, we took a look at their composition, paying particular attention to silicones (which are occlusive and prevent the skin from breathing) and allergens.
How to choose your BB cream?
In recent years, BB cream has invaded the cosmetics market. More natural and care-like than foundation, it is becoming more and more popular. Choosing a BB cream also means avoiding the suffocating effect that foundation sometimes has on the skin. But the search for the perfect cosmetic can be overwhelming, as there are so many different products.
So we’ve put together some information to help guide you to the right choice for you.
Here are the important things to know:
- The benefits: BB cream is somewhere between skincare and make-up. It has many benefits, such as moisturising, anti-ageing properties (without replacing anti-ageing cream), camouflage or sun protection, while being tinted. Without being too covering, it evens out and smoothes the complexion for a very natural look.
- Skin type: as with all facial care products, it is necessary to choose according to your skin type. Dry skin types will therefore prefer moisturising products, while oily skin types will be happy with more mattifying creams. It is also possible to “personalise” the product by using a base or a day cream before applying makeup, and by powdering the face after applying the BB cream.
- Shades: since BB Cream has less coverage, the lines are less visible than with a foundation, and the different shades are therefore suitable for a wider range of skin tones. That said, for a discreet and natural look, it is of course necessary to choose a colour that is as close as possible to your skin. Brands are gradually offering a wider choice, but there is still a long way to go, especially with the more natural brands.
- Composition: these days, it is increasingly difficult to ignore the many controversies surrounding the potentially harmful and dangerous ingredients used in cosmetics. That’s why we advise you to go for more natural or organic alternatives whenever possible. Note that most tinted creams contain titanium dioxide, which is currently a controversial ingredient. However, it is mainly its use in the form of nanoparticles in spray and inhalation products that is a problem.
Other recommended BB creams
Melvita Nectar de Roses Organic (33.04 € / 40 ml upon publication): a solution enriched with floral water. Melvita offers a cream enriched with floral water and damask rose oil. It promises a peachy complexion while providing hydration and luminosity to your skin. Unlike many BB creams, its undertone is rather pink. However, according to our tests, its coverage is a little less effective than that of Jonzac. However, this is compensated by its very good composition and pleasant smell.
Other BB creams tested
Maybelline Dreame Urban Color (£8.62 / 30 ml upon publication): it leaves a lot to be desired. The BB cream seemed to have the worst staying power. We felt like we had to reapply it during the day because it seemed to fade so much… Add to that its poor composition, and you can understand why we don’t recommend it. It’s a shame because it has the widest variety of shades with 10 in total.
L’Oréal Paris C’est magic (£15.10 / 30 ml upon publication): doesn’t really look like a BB cream. In our testing, we found that this solution did not look enough like a BB cream. White with pigments, it adapts to the skin tone but doesn’t offer the coverage and evenness we expected. Moreover, its composition is deplorable.
Nude by Nature (£17.99 / 30 ml upon publication): poor coverage. During our tests, it appeared that this BB cream did not conceal redness or small pimples. As a result, the complexion was not even.
Burt´s Bees BB Cream (£33.40 / 50 ml upon publication): a very particular smell. At this price, we are more inflexible and certainly, the smell of this BB cream did not live up to our expectations. It is very strong and smells very strange. It’s a pity because apart from that, it meets almost all the other requirements.
Erborian BB Cream (£40.00 / 45 ml upon publication): a deplorable composition. Although this cream is rather satisfactory from the point of view of efficiency (matifies the complexion while hiding imperfections to some extent), its composition is a crying shame: silicones, PEG, allergens, sulphate, quaternary ammoniums… In short, we strongly advise you to skip it, especially if you have sensitive or reactive skin.
Translated by Ramsés El Hajje
