The Benefits of Beauty Balms (And 5 BB Creams to Try!)

If you don’t want to commit to a heavy-feeling foundation but still want to wear more than your tinted moisturizer, BB creams, otherwise known as beauty or blemish balms, are the way to go. They not only offer up a beautiful sheer tint for your skin, but the lightweight complexion product is also infused with skin-care ingredients that protect, correct and hydrate your skin. From blurring formulas to options infused with SPF, we’re sharing the benefits of BB creams — and our favorites to try. 

The Benefits of BB Creams 

Beauty balms are both makeup and skin care wrapped in one lightweight formula. They’re the perfect option when you want coverage to even out your tone, cover blemishes and get a dewy glow without the heavy feeling or cakey appearance of a foundation. As far as skin-care benefits go, many BB creams are formulated with skin-soothing and hydrating ingredients like humectants, ceramides, essential fatty acids, antioxidants and even SPF. 

The Best BB Creams, According to Our Editors 

Maybelline New York Dream Fresh BB Cream

One of our favorite drugstore BB creams is this glow-boosting option from Maybelline. Available in five different shades, the formula is extremely hydrating, blurs out imperfections and pores, brightens the complexion and contains SPF 30 to protect your skin from UV rays. It’ll give your complexion a dewy and healthy appearance even in the winter. 

La Roche-Posay Effaclar BB Cream

Have oily skin? Pick up this BB cream from La Roche-Posay on your next drugstore run. It visibly blurs the appearance of pores, conceals blemishes and absorbs excess oil so your complexion (especially your T-zone) stays looking matte all day long. 

Kiehl’s BB Cream

This formula has buildable coverage, making it ideal for covering any pimples that pop up or signs of discoloration, age spots or imperfections. Its two star ingredients, SPF 50 and vitamin C, work to improve signs of aging and brighten your complexion. 

Garnier BB Cream

Just because you have combination or oily, acne-prone skin doesn’t mean you have to layer on full-coverage, matte foundation. A BB cream, like this drugstore option from Garnier, works just as well to control excess oil, minimize shine and blur the appearance of large pores. It has an oil-free formula that won’t cause breakouts and contains SPF to protect skin from the sun’s harmful rays. 

Read More:

A Complete Drugstore Routine for Dry Skin Types 

5 Soothing Skin-Care Products for Inflamed Skin 

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