Western market full coverage foundations covered my hyper pigmentation but it did not treat them; it often looked cakey as well. I've tried other light to medium coverage foundations, which required too much effort with layering and blending and setting with powder. Resulting in clogged pores and acne. Most foundations on the market didn't provide the breathe-ability that my skin requires. My skin is also intolerant to perfumed products, growing up with sensitive skin has taught me that even though a product is advertised as Unscented. There could still be some sort of perfume lingering within. I've tried drugstore to high end brands and somehow I found myself going back to the mid-range prices.
Asian BB Creams have often been too light for my complexion and too oily for my acne prone skin. Nothing has ever seemed right for my complexion. I'm constantly looking for the perfect marriage between all my day time skincare needs and coverage in a makeup product. I try to find a multitasking product to eliminate steps in my morning routine. I think I found "the one."
My method of usage and recommendations for this BB cream; as it has a light to medium coverage, it comes in one universal shade. Often I find the shade a little too light for my summer complexion but a great match for the fall and winter months. Hence I would only recommend this product for shades up to and including NC25. I am currently an NC 30-35, although it is too light for my skin tone, I compensate by using mineral bronzer (unfortunately there are not a lot of Asian brand bronzers on the market, I use the Bare Minerals Bronzing Mineral Veil) to contour the outer parts of my face and cheekbones to make it look more uniform. This resulting in an effect of the BB Cream acting as a highlighter. If you are using this as a cover up for scars or darker spots, you may need to put on a few layers and blend well. A translucent setting powder (Skinfood Buckwheat Loose Powder in Transparent)` is recommended for extremely oily skin, you can also use a finely milled rice powder (Skinfood Rice Shimmer Powder) to set it.
Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Cream has done wonders for my skin, it's not too oily, sticky or perfumed. The matte finish counteracts my oiliness in my T-zone, but it still contains moisturizing properties that eliminates scaly skin. This product is also marketed to both men and women. The other perks is that this product is free of parabens and sulfates, which are some of the top irritants for sensitive skin on the market these days.
BB Creams, Blemish Balm, Beblesh Balm or Beauty Balm was originally created by a German dermatologist as a post-op cream used to treat scars, moisturize, mattify and prime the skin in the 1960's. This product was later introduced to South Korea & Japan in the mid 1980's and has shown a great success. As in most Asian cultures porcelain skin is a prized asset and is well sought after as a form of beauty. These balms usually contain about 5 or more active skin care ingredients to moisturize and smooth dry skin; to prime and perfect the skins texture; used for colour correction or to create a more uniform skin tone; SPF to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
Although being born in North America and brought up in the western culture. I prefer a bronzed glow over the porcelain skin look. Hence I have given you my method of usage in the above paragraphs. I hope you enjoyed reading my journey of hunting for the perfect product to suit my needs. And I hope you can find your "one" too.
