BB cream (Bibi Cream)

There is hardly a woman who would refuse to improve the process of skin care and makeup application, while saving time and money. That is why a new cosmetic product called BB cream (in the Russian version BB cream or BB cream) has become one of the hottest novelties of this season in the beauty industry. This is a universal cream that combines the properties of a care product and a tonal product and is able to replace as many as six cosmetic products: a moisturizer, a makeup base (the so-called primer), a sunscreen, a regular care cream, a concealer, and a tonal product. "A good, balanced BB cream is the one cosmetic product you apply after washing in the morning to be fully armed," says Nikita Wilson, a cosmetic chemist at Englewood Laboratories in New Jersey.

Prehistory

VR is an abbreviation of beauty balm. The first such cream was created in Germany as a means of skin care and masking after laser cosmetology sessions. The "all-in-one" formula became a sensation in South Korea, and soon all the leading cosmetic brands in Southeast Asia began to market creams with complex, "hybrid" action. "The Asian woman is used to a seven-step ritual of daily facial skin care," says Jessica Wu, a dermatologist and professor at the University of California, Santa Monica, and author of The Facial Diet: Younger, Softer Skin, and a Beautiful Body in 28 Days. - When I was in Hong Kong and talked to local women, they all said that BB creams significantly accelerated and simplified the process of facial skin care.

BB boom

In the USA, BB creams began to conquer store shelves in the spring of 2011, and today almost every cosmetic brand has its own BB cream in its assortment.

Drugstore creams cost about $10, and premium cosmetic brands offer beauty balms for $100 or more; In addition, BB creams are sold in spas and in clinics of professional cosmetologists. According to the assessment of the NPD Group marketing agency, about 2% of the target audience currently have experience using this tool, but within this group, 4 out of 5 respondents confirmed their intention to make repeated purchases, that is, to continue using this tool in the future.

The real possibilities of BB creams

A reasonable question arises: can a single tool replace all of the above? Almost all BB creams perform a really good sun protection function because they have a barrier filter of SPF 30 and higher. In addition, they usually contain zinc oxide or titanium oxide in their composition - water-resistant natural UV blockers.

Among the care components in the composition of various BB creams, you can find:
• antiaging components: peptides and antioxidants (vitamins A, E, C)
•
•moisturizing components - hyaluronic xylot or glycerin
•components that even out the tone of the face: licorice or ursine
• light-reflecting particles of mica, which give the skin a light glow
•silicone-based components, such as dimethicone, which soften the skin and act as a primer, evening out the color of the foundation

Disadvantages of BB creams

However, if you're expecting a magical genie in a bottle when you buy BB cream, you're likely to be disappointed. Nikita Wilson confirms: "BB creams are a master's tool, but they do not solve any problem completely." Apparently, they cope only with the sun protection function without complaints, and in some cases they really give a good tone to the face, but almost all BB creams do not moisturize the skin well. In addition, many women say that BB feels heavier on the skin than moisturizers with the effect of a foundation."

Choosing the appropriate shade can also become a serious problem - as a rule, BB creams are produced in a narrow color range, only three or four tones, including very light and dark. It also happens that BB cream is produced in only one shade, which is combined with the natural color of the skin. In this case, many buyers note its too light tone, which gives the person an unhealthy pallor. "As a rule, the darkest tone in the palette of such creams corresponds to the middle of the color line of ordinary tonal products," comments Wilson.

Another nuance of the composition of BB creams is that they do not contain anti-inflammatory components, so such creams are not suitable for people who suffer from acne. The fact is that the US Food and Drug Administration prohibits the addition of anti-acne agents to cosmetics containing SPF UV filters. Thus, it is pointless to hope for a cosmetic and therapeutic effect when using BB creams.

It turns out that the ideal consumer of the ideal BB cream is a woman with normal or oily skin with a naturally light tone who does not need deep moisturizing and acne correction.

BB creams and beauty rituals

Based on the above, you should not try to replace all the products that have taken root on your cosmetic table with BB cream, as they will work more effectively in tandem.

"I myself use BB creams and love them very much," admits Jessica Wu, "but at the same time I use a proven tonal product. And I'm not alone - many women don't want to give up foundation creams that perfectly match their skin tone, but using them together with BB cream allows you to achieve a more even, smooth coverage without the mask effect."

On the other hand. By themselves, BB creams are suitable as a tonal product for every day, especially when makeup is done in a hurry or if a woman is a fan of minimalism and naturalness in decorative cosmetics. "On many faces, such a cream looks very natural; the skin seems to be "bare", but at the same time protected, and small imperfections are successfully smoothed out." Secretly, now even men are not averse to using BB creams.

So, BB creams have successfully conquered the hearts and cosmetic bags of women all over the world. What's next? - they are being replaced by SS creams (from "color control"), which promise a light texture, perfect coverage and improved skin hydration.