L’Oreal Magic BB Cream

As I get older, I am becoming more and more obsessed with foundation. I’m always on the lookout for the newest products available to even out my skin tone and hide my skin’s imperfections. A few years ago, I saw almost every girl on YouTube talking about how amazing BB creams were, so I went a hunt around Los Angeles to find the Asian brands they mentioned. I’ve had great experiences with BB creams from Asian brands, so I’ve been interested in seeing how the American drugstore versions compare. 

In case you’re not familiar with the concept, BB or Blemish Balm creams were initially used by Korean dermatologists as a skincare/makeup hybrid to treat and cover their patients’ scarring and redness from laser skincare procedures and were later used in TV and film by Korean actresses. They’re sort of an all-in-one skincare/makeup product that act as your moisturizer, primer, concealer, and foundation. The trend has since caught online worldwide, and it seems like every brand has a BB cream now. The Asian BB Creams that I’ve used are thick, creamy, and provide medium coverage with a dewy finish. 

 

For the past few weeks, I’ve been testing out the L’Oreal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream. It claims to create a “flawless bare skin finish” while acting as a primer, foundation, concealer, and moisturizer. The BB cream comes out of the tube as a fluid white cream with tiny specks of tan that blend together to match your skintone. Once applied, the BB Cream provides sheer to light coverage. It basically perks up your skin tone a bit, but it will not coverage skin imperfections. 

I prefer a foundation that provides a bit more coverage, but this BB cream is great for days when you’re going for a more natural look or if you have naturally perfect skin! It is slightly moisturizing, but it doesn’t dry to a dewy or greasy finish. Once dry, it does feel like a primer- it has a slightly slick, silicone-like feeling. In my opinion, this product is more similar to a tinted moisturizer than a BB cream. It provides very light coverage with a bit of a tint, so it would be perfect for days at the beach, gym, or running errands.  I tend to wear this BB cream when I teach dance classes because it provides a little bit of moisture to my face and very slightly evens out my skin tone. 

Overall, this product does not live up to its BB cream claims. In my opinion, it does not conceal skin imperfections or even out your skin tone. While I wouldn’t recommend this product if you’re looking for a true BB cream or something similar to a regular foundation, it could be just what you’re looking for if you prefer a no-makeup, natural look or just want something to throw on your face to go to the gym. It also works decently as a moisturizer/primer underneath your foundation.