Tips & Tricks

What Are BB Creams?

December 2, 2007

BB Cream, aka Blemish Balm, is *the* hottest beauty product in Asia right now!


The idea behind the product originated in Germany and was initially used by dermatologists to help patients who have gone through laser skin surgery to soothe and regenerate the skin. But when Korean celebrities started using it, beauty companies turned it into a product widely available to the public and a craze was born!

The new product, now known as BB Cream, is suitable for all skin types, especially those with sensitive and acne-prone skin. It has the advantages of both makeup and skincare product. It claims to even out skintone, camouflage undereye circles, acne scars, provide sun protection and add radiance to the skin without the heavy, mask-like effects of a foundation. Prolonged used of the product will supposedly help improve the overall texture of the skin and fade acne scars as well.

Currently, brands that carry BB Creams are mostly Korean and include the following:

Bio Remedies Therapeutic Cosmetics (BRTC)
Skinfood
Missha
Skin 79
Etude
The Face Shop

Interested in trying BB Creams? Check out my reviews!

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42 Comments

  • Reply sophie aka 7 December 3, 2007 at 7:31 am

    i have bb cream~~ lols i just wrote about it too…beauty credit sells it

  • Reply tiff December 3, 2007 at 11:12 am

    ooh, i’m interested! do i have to e-mail you personally to know about the price and shipping and whatever? i’ll have to save up for a week or two :)!!!

  • Reply Phyllis December 3, 2007 at 11:23 am

    Tiff, please e-mail me at makeup_forlife@yahoo.com.

  • Reply vivian December 4, 2007 at 1:20 am

    hi there! i just purchased the gold stroke MAC pigment from the antiquitease collection and although i love the color, im having some problem making it really show up on my skin. im already using a base, but maybe im not using the right brush to really pack on the color? what brush do you normally use and do you have any tips for me? thanks!

  • Reply Anonymous December 4, 2007 at 5:20 am

    just wondering if you are able to get BRTC bb cream

  • Reply Anonymous December 4, 2007 at 9:36 am

    ur new picture is great! =) I wonder if bb cream is sold in mainland china?

  • Reply Phyllis December 4, 2007 at 10:18 am

    hi Vivian, Gold Stroke shows up very nicely on me. Try patting it on with a finger or MAC’s #239 instead of brushing. You can also wet your brush with MAC’s mixing medium to intensify the color.

  • Reply danielles December 4, 2007 at 7:24 pm

    hey.. very interested in the BRTC, do you know how much it will be? could you do a CP?!

  • Reply Jane December 4, 2007 at 8:35 pm

    Ooh, please tell me if this works well on you! I’ve heard several Asian girls raving about this. But I wasn’t so sure if this ‘miracle’ cream was all a marketing gimmick.

  • Reply Anonymous December 5, 2007 at 10:14 am

    love your new pic phyliss! what foundation did you use?

  • Reply Jianna December 5, 2007 at 2:09 pm

    Oh I would love to try this out. =] Should I email you to get a rate for the shipping and all?

  • Reply Anonymous December 5, 2007 at 7:41 pm

    Hi! I know that some BB creams only come in one color. Do you know if these will work for any skin color? Also, do you have any idea where I can find BB cream in Hong Kong? I’m going there in Jan 😀

  • Reply Anonymous December 5, 2007 at 9:21 pm

    can you tell me how much BRCT will cost? also the shipping rate. thank you. I’d also like to know how much is Dr. Jart+ black label. thank you

  • Reply jasmine December 7, 2007 at 10:48 pm

    yah i heard of this on soompi! it’s so popular now! my friend is going to get it for me from HK =) which brand is best ?i want the bcrt one but i don’t think it’s available in hk.. leaning towards skinfood now. =) misha and faceshop don’t look as dependen hehe

  • Reply sooji December 9, 2007 at 6:31 pm

    hey phyllis, i sent you an email inquiring about this post, i wasn’t sure if you had received it so i am just writing to make sure 🙂 if you have, no hurries to respond… like i said, i just wanted to make sure you got it 🙂

  • Reply blabla December 10, 2007 at 12:39 pm

    Heya, I’ll be emailing you shortly about purchasing a BB cream from you. 🙂

  • Reply Jenny December 17, 2007 at 11:45 am

    oh my god I’m so glad you wrote about this! I absolutely love my BB cream and I have the one from Skinfood too!

  • Reply rica January 24, 2008 at 7:31 am

    i use skin food’s bb cream too. it’ the best 🙂 i fins it works super well with skin food’s white grape fresh pact.. the best powder ever! 🙂

  • Reply rica January 24, 2008 at 7:32 am

    i use skin food’s bb cream too. it’ the best 🙂 i find it works super well with skin food’s white grape fresh pact.. the best powder ever! 🙂

  • Reply Anonymous February 21, 2008 at 8:46 pm

    do you know what the cream is called under the face shop brand?

  • Reply Anonymous March 7, 2008 at 4:37 am

    I’m using Etude House BB cream right now and it covers really really well =D
    I’ve also used Skin food but I have to say Etude has better coverage X)

  • Reply Anonymous March 27, 2008 at 9:55 am

    Phyllis, I was wondering.. If I use this BB cream, need I use moisturizer still? Thanks!

  • Reply panda April 14, 2008 at 6:25 pm

    hi~ i was wondering if you could get a hold of some liole bb cream? the actual name is liole beyond the solution blemish balm cream~

  • Reply ~pRinCesS~ May 27, 2008 at 7:35 am

    Hi dear, i m interested too!!Mind to tell me price and shipping rates?thanks!!

  • Reply Anonymous June 9, 2008 at 4:30 am

    gals, i didnt know bb cream is such a big thing but for those in hk, if u r interested, i noticed that there is a brand selling in Mannings called O’Slee, they hv a new product, BB Cream as mousse sort of like the Shu Umera UV protection base. I bought it but haven’t try it out yet. Price is reasonable

  • Reply Anonymous June 23, 2008 at 12:23 am

    There is a newer line of bb cream from brtc that is in a pink tube is that one better than the original? Also, bb cream only comes in only one color from brtc correct? and if so, you would have to apply a powder on top correct because it looks ghostly white on some of the models?

  • Reply Anonymous June 30, 2008 at 11:41 pm

    I have been try it!That’s was awesome foundation.I use that everydays.Looks smooth and silky.Make my skin more healthy and smoothy.You’ve gonna love it.Incredible secret beauty.

  • Reply DylanAngel2001 July 25, 2008 at 12:25 pm

    Can I ask what kind is best for dry skin? Thanks Phyllis!

  • Reply Anonymous July 27, 2008 at 10:33 am

    xanga.com/clapbangkiss. initially did not cite your review, but after afew heated stuff, she finally did. just thought ud wana know.

  • Reply FAN-LANA July 29, 2008 at 5:21 pm

    Dawn Yang quoted you on BB Creams!

  • Reply h2m October 16, 2008 at 7:18 am

    hey Phyllis..i’m interested too but i donno where to find here. T.T
    How ab the price?

  • Reply Anonymous November 1, 2008 at 9:14 am

    Hi phyllis, can do a review on other bb creams? like legere from korea?

  • Reply Angel January 27, 2009 at 5:23 pm

    hello, May i know which BB cream is the best one ? There are too many brands thanks!

  • Reply Marlina March 6, 2009 at 8:46 am

    Hi,

    I would like to know the price for the BB cream which you are selling. Can you give me the quote. I am from Singapore.

  • Reply Colleen April 13, 2009 at 12:07 am

    BB cream is not oily and covers like the second skin on my face.. Bought Korean product, PRIVIA at a very affordable price too.. 🙂

  • Reply xtine April 28, 2009 at 7:04 am

    skin food is now operating in a lot of malls in the philippines, i tested the mushroom bb cream and it was like foundation only 10x better! and smells good too. sadly when i saw the price, i choked in my own spit and backed away. it cost more than P1000, which is sort of expensive for a student like me who still asks for daily allowance from my parents. and my dad would kill me if i bought cosmetics during the economy crisis.

  • Reply Sheila July 9, 2010 at 10:23 am

    I like a relatively little known Korean BB Cream brand called Beauty Innovation!

  • Reply Susan September 21, 2011 at 4:42 am

    you can try Ecobeau BB, its available online. They use natural ingredients. I bought Ecobeau BB cream original and received BB plus miniature. very natural. Doesnt feel like I’m wearing makeup. The BB cream original is more creamy and easy to apply. but BB plus can control oil better.

  • Reply Leigh January 21, 2012 at 4:51 am

    Hi Phyllis, I’m new to the world of BB creams so I apologise for maybe repeating this question but is there a BB cream out there which you would reccomend for darker skin tones (MAC NW40). I have dry skin and it seems easy enoughy to find one for my skin type but it’s mainly the colour I’m struggling with. Any help would be appreciated!
    Thankx! Leigh xxxx

  • Reply Leigh January 21, 2012 at 4:53 am

    Hi Phyllis, I’m new to the world of BB creams so I apologise for maybe repeating this question but is there a BB cream out there which you would reccomend for darker skin tones (MAC NW40). I have dry skin and it seems easy enough to find one for my skin type but it’s mainly the colour I’m struggling with. Any help would be appreciated!
    Thankx! Leigh xxxx

  • Reply Veronica April 8, 2012 at 10:01 am

    Dear Leigh,I am of African origin and I use MAC NW45. My skin in naturally oily, now with high levels of pollution,I have had troubled facial skin ever since I moved to Asia until about 2years ago when I started using Skin Food tea tree facial wash and Parsley & Mandarin toner but sometimes i switch with Lettuce & Cucumber toner. I have no acne/pimples now but still have dark sports/scars. I recently started using BB cream still by Skin Food and I was wowed! Excellent results.

    So to answer your question, BB creams can be used on darker complexion.

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