1 DAY REVIEW- Clarins BB Cream

Back by popular demand *cough* from me *cough*
It's the one day review! Yay.
And today, we're trialling the Clarins BB Skin Perfecting Cream.
Now, I don't have the best relationship with BB creams. So I was coming in to this with a bit of a tainted heart.
The one thing that consistently lets me down is the colour.
So I was a bit scared when I saw the shade of this.

To be fair, this is the medium shade. But in the name of blogging, I persisted.
And with some blend, blend and more blend- it actually worked okay.
My skin isn't looking great at the moment, so I first I covered myself in Collection Lasting Perfection concealer.
That made me look as white as a sheet, so I think the orange of this balanced it out.
Either on their own would have looked ridiculous.
I used my Real Techniques buffing brush to blend this in.
It took some work, but we got there in the end.

 What It Says

Revitalises, protects, evens skin tone and provides coverage.

Well, simply- it does everything it promises.
Coverage-wise, this is the best BB I've tried so far.
More than that, I'd say it's on par with foundation.
It gave a nice finish to the skin and filled in my (open) pores well.
It looks nice in all lights and lasted well.
It does need a top-up and I did notice half way through the day there was some 'sliding'.
As in 'oh, great...my skin looks as though it's sliding off...' mmm, yes. Just the look I was going for.

It didn't 'lift' my skin as much as my favourite foundations might- but for a BB cream, it did a really good job.

I'm looking forward to trying this in the light shade because without a lot of work (and a lot of concealer) this is too dark for my skin.
And despite it's good points, this product retails between £22 and £28.
And there are (a lot) of much cheaper foundations which do a better job.
So would I purchase this product? Mmmmm....I just don't know.
It is a great all-in-one. But I can't say it's worth its asking price.
If you're determined on BB creams as opposed to foundation, I'd recommend trying this one.
Don't waste your money on the cheaper drugstore versions that, in my experience, don't live up to their promises. It is worth saving your pennies for- just as long as you're prepared to blend!

 

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REVIEW- Nivea BB Cream

With summer on the way (PLEASE, please say summer is finally on the way?!) it's time to put away those heavy-duty lotions and potions in favour of something a bit, well, lighter.

I have been on the look-out for a drugstore BB cream that lives up to my (not even very high) standards for a while.

I just want something that, essentially, does what it says on the tin.

But every time, they fall short of my expectations.

And the biggest downfall is always the colour.

I just don't get how drugstore foundations have really accelerated in recent years, with a good range of colours.
And yet BB creams don't seem to have got beyond 'light' 'medium' and 'dark'.
I know we're talking high street, so we can't expect miracles. But there are some really great drugstore products out there. So surely it wouldn't take too much to add in a few shades that might actually suit anyone who isn't an Oompa Loompa?

Unfortunately, the 'colour problem' is the one and only downfall of this Nivea BB Cream.

I picked it up in Tesco for a ridiculously cheap price- literally about £2. I bought it for my holiday because (knowing already about the 'colour problem') I thought once tanned, the light shade might just be okay.

*Sorry it's a bit messy- a sign it's been tested well, eh?

What It Says-

5in1 Beautifying Moisturiser

• Evens
• Covers 
• Illuminates
• Moisturisers 
• Protects your skin

Instantly perfect looking skin with minerals, ProVitaminB5 & a hint of colour. SPF 10.
    

 

First of all, SPF, so that's good. Because I am ageing at a ridiculous pace, I can't go out of the house without one. But SPF 10 just won't make the grade. 

This is definitely moisturising, yes. It has a really nice texture, is creamy and smells nice. 

Unfortunately a 'hint of colour' is a bit of a hint of a lie. 

Because, unless your natural skin shade can be likened to 'red brick', this is just way too dark. 

As I said, I was tanned when I applied this (just with fingers, nothing fancy) and at first I thought mmmm not too bad. 
But by the middle of the day, when I made the mistake of looking in the mirror, I JUST. LOOKED.DREADFUL. 

My shiny face, with concealer having run for its life, had an orange tinge that made me look about 50. The product had settled in to my pores and highlighted my wrinkly bits. 

Which is a real shame, because everything about this product is great. The price, the formula, the way it looks on the skin when first applied (and vigorously blended). 

But at the end of the day, what's the most important feature of a product you put on your face? 

The colour. 

As you can see, it gives a really nice illuminating finish. Unfortunately this doesn't last.

Review by Numbers

Did it live up to it's promises?-3/5.It is moisturising and illuminating and when first applied, it does blur imperfections. But that just doesn't last.

Packaging- 3/5- They give you a generous amount of product for the price, but the bottle itself isn't particularly eye catching.

Value for money- 3/5-£2 for a good BB cream is a bargain. Unfortunately you will only think this if you're an oompa loompa.

Recommend to a friend? Yes. IF they improved their shade range. As it stands right now, I just couldn't.

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