BB Cream 101: The Benefits of Beauty Balms

Whether you call it a beauty balm or a blemish balm, it’s safe to say that by now you’ve likely given BB cream a try—or at least thought about it. While these (seemingly) magical creams offer up a beautiful sheer tint for your skin, did you know that they do way more than just provide you with a lightweight alternative to foundation? From hydration to protection, read on to discover some of the skin care benefits of BB creams. 

What Is BB Cream?

Essentially a cosmetic, plus, BB cream is makeup and skin care wrapped in one lightweight formula. Much like tinted moisturizers, BB creams are the perfect option for the warmer months, when you want coverage but not the heavy feeling that accompanies many foundations. In addition to the sheer coverage, many BB Creams are made of skin-soothing and hydrating formulas including—but not limited to—humectants, ceramides, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and even SPF.

If you’re looking to incorporate a BB cream in your daily makeup routine, but don’t want to break the bank, a drugstore beauty aisle is a great place to start. We share our favorites below:

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream

One of our favorite drugstore BB creams is the Dream Fresh BB Cream. It’s affordable, contains SPF 30 to protect your skin from UV rays, comes in five different shades, and brightens the appearance of the skin while blurring imperfections.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream, $7.44

Vichy Idéalia BB Cream

This multitasking BB cream formula uses a blend of kombucha, vitamin E, and Vichy’s own mineralizing water from French volcanoes to provide natural-looking, sheer coverage and hydration. As an added bonus, the lightweight cream has broad-spectrum SPF 25 to help protect your skin from the sun.

Vichy Idéalia BB Cream, $29

La Roche-Posay Effaclar BB Blur

Visibly blur the appearance of pores, conceal blemishes, and absorb excess oil with this BB blur from La Roche-Posay. The cream has a matte-finish that makes it perfect for oily skin.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar BB Blur, $29