Been testing out these products amongst others on and off since before NYFW. I have to say, I’m pleasantly surprised! Here are my thoughts: Olay Fresheffects BB Cream - $14.99 -  I have learned by now not to expect too much from Western BB Creams, so I went into it thinking it would be a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen or a tinted sunscreen and I wasn’t surprised. It’s a little bit of both, and doesn’t provide any coverage. I was a lil concerned it’d be too dark for me (I’m super pale) but since it provides zero coverage that’s not a problem. I mean, it’s not really a BB cream. It also looks a bit glowy in pictures even after powder. However, I got a lot of compliments on my skin while wearing this and concealer alone so maybe that is a good thing? I am not quite sold. Olay Fresheffects Makeup Removal Clothes - $4.99 - I really really like these. I stopped using makeup removing clothes awhile ago because they add up especially if you wear makeup frequently like I do. However these are super moisturizing and remove everything well with minimal effort. You still need to use a qtip for eye makeup but it’s pretty sweet. I still prefer using cleansing oils instead but when I’m too tired I am so happy to have these around. Olay Fresheffects Moisturizing Lotion - $14.99 - Hands down my favorite product out of the bunch, it was instantly love. SO smooth, it felt practically like a primer. It is my favorite moisturizer I have tried in awhile.  Disclaimer: These were all provided for editorial consideration but that doesn’t influence my opinions on the products!  High-res

Been testing out these products amongst others on and off since before NYFW. I have to say, I’m pleasantly surprised! Here are my thoughts:

  1. Olay Fresheffects BB Cream - $14.99 -  I have learned by now not to expect too much from Western BB Creams, so I went into it thinking it would be a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen or a tinted sunscreen and I wasn’t surprised. It’s a little bit of both, and doesn’t provide any coverage. I was a lil concerned it’d be too dark for me (I’m super pale) but since it provides zero coverage that’s not a problem. I mean, it’s not really a BB cream. It also looks a bit glowy in pictures even after powder. However, I got a lot of compliments on my skin while wearing this and concealer alone so maybe that is a good thing? I am not quite sold.
  2. Olay Fresheffects Makeup Removal Clothes - $4.99 - I really really like these. I stopped using makeup removing clothes awhile ago because they add up especially if you wear makeup frequently like I do. However these are super moisturizing and remove everything well with minimal effort. You still need to use a qtip for eye makeup but it’s pretty sweet. I still prefer using cleansing oils instead but when I’m too tired I am so happy to have these around.
  3. Olay Fresheffects Moisturizing Lotion - $14.99 - Hands down my favorite product out of the bunch, it was instantly love. SO smooth, it felt practically like a primer. It is my favorite moisturizer I have tried in awhile. 

Disclaimer: These were all provided for editorial consideration but that doesn’t influence my opinions on the products! 

POST X-MAS HAUL POST! I’m seperating it from my actual Christmas ‘Haul’ because well, these aren’t gifts and I bought them with my own money.  Lush is having it’s annual sale right now and I always take advantage of it (see last year’s haul) and this year was no exception. Here’s what I purchased:  Avobath - I wouldn’t have purchased this but I saw the super beautiful dark green water that happens because of it and I had to have it. It’s not the usual scent personality I go for but the color is so good and I was getting a bit bored of my usual Lush bathbomb+melt combo anyway. Very fragrant! It’s a bummer it’s not the kind of bomb you can chop up and use multiple times though, it wouldn’t be as fun that way.  Father Christmas - BOGO on the seasonal bath bombs so I picked this one up. Brandy and vanilla with pink insides apparently? Kind of describes me actually. (Just kidding) (This is a work appropriate, dry blog devoid of alcoholism)  So White - Not usually the scent I go for but I felt like experimenting.  Demon in the Dark - Got a half pound of this because BOGO. I only like 3 soaps from Lush and this is one of them. My dad likes to steal it though it’s always suspiciously low in supply at my house….  Ice Blue Soap - Also 1/2 lb because BOGO. If you can’t tell I like super fresh, woodsy and uplifting kinds of smells, none of that rosey, floral, or fruity business is to exist in my vicinity.  I also stopped by at Sephora to exchange a BB Cream that wasn’t working for me (this Dr. Jart+ one) for another one (another Dr. Jart+ one, the one I always use). There is nothing wrong with the one I exchanged, it just didn’t suit my skin type and the color was too yellow for me to look good. It is good if you have warm undertones and oily skin and redness, but none of that stuff applies to me. I also picked up Dr. Jart+’s Water Fuse Sleeping Mask after a talk with one of my beauty friends about it, and my skin has been hideously dry and pimply lately and this will hopefully alleviate at least some of the problems. Will keep you updated! Let me know what product you use for YOUR super dry patchy skin, I’m curious. I have CeraVe, Eucerin, Argan Oil, and now this… hopefully some combination of these things helps me out.  High-res

POST X-MAS HAUL POST! I’m seperating it from my actual Christmas ‘Haul’ because well, these aren’t gifts and I bought them with my own money. 

Lush is having it’s annual sale right now and I always take advantage of it (see last year’s haul) and this year was no exception. Here’s what I purchased: 

  1. Avobath - I wouldn’t have purchased this but I saw the super beautiful dark green water that happens because of it and I had to have it. It’s not the usual scent personality I go for but the color is so good and I was getting a bit bored of my usual Lush bathbomb+melt combo anyway. Very fragrant! It’s a bummer it’s not the kind of bomb you can chop up and use multiple times though, it wouldn’t be as fun that way. 
  2. Father Christmas - BOGO on the seasonal bath bombs so I picked this one up. Brandy and vanilla with pink insides apparently? Kind of describes me actually. (Just kidding) (This is a work appropriate, dry blog devoid of alcoholism) 
  3. So White - Not usually the scent I go for but I felt like experimenting. 
  4. Demon in the Dark - Got a half pound of this because BOGO. I only like 3 soaps from Lush and this is one of them. My dad likes to steal it though it’s always suspiciously low in supply at my house…. 
  5. Ice Blue Soap - Also 1/2 lb because BOGO. If you can’t tell I like super fresh, woodsy and uplifting kinds of smells, none of that rosey, floral, or fruity business is to exist in my vicinity. 

I also stopped by at Sephora to exchange a BB Cream that wasn’t working for me (this Dr. Jart+ one) for another one (another Dr. Jart+ one, the one I always use). There is nothing wrong with the one I exchanged, it just didn’t suit my skin type and the color was too yellow for me to look good. It is good if you have warm undertones and oily skin and redness, but none of that stuff applies to me. I also picked up Dr. Jart+’s Water Fuse Sleeping Mask after a talk with one of my beauty friends about it, and my skin has been hideously dry and pimply lately and this will hopefully alleviate at least some of the problems. Will keep you updated! Let me know what product you use for YOUR super dry patchy skin, I’m curious. I have CeraVe, Eucerin, Argan Oil, and now this… hopefully some combination of these things helps me out. 

Arabelle: I'm interested to hear what you think about NARS Sheer Glow, if you get around to trying it out. I just started using it and I love it! On off days, I put a little bit on over my Dr. Jart BB cream which is now my holy grail of makeup, thank you Jeezus. If you have any other medium coverage experiences, please let us know!! Thanks for being wonderful, as always.

Asked by
jawbreeaking-deactivated2013040

Aw thank you cutie, and I hope you’re having a nice Holiday so far. Right now my skin is having a rare but horrible freakout (finals+pms stress? The worst combo?) so I haven’t been wearing any makeup lately, but when it calms down I’ll probably be going to Sephora to play with stuf. Dr. Jart+ just sent me a bb cream I won from their Twitter giveaway, and it’s one of the ones I haven’t tried yet, so I’ll let you know how it compares to Water Fuse. I have quite a few bb creams in general — asian mostly — and I suppose I should get around to writing up my thoughts on all of them soon. Much love.

Favorite Foundations - For both dry & oily skin types!

Hello lovely PD readers! A recent ask about good foundations and powders for keeping oil at bay during the day made us realize that we haven’t updated our base makeup recommendations for quite a while. So here’s our favorite base makeup recommendations list!

Chi-Chi

Skin profile

I have oily/combination skin with an oily T-zone and dry everywhere else. Also, my face is prone to breaking out at the drop of a hat and is ridiculously sensitive to life in general. I prefer medium to full coverage foundations since I have a lot of old acne scarring.

My favorites (in no particular order)

  1. Dior Diorskin Nude Skin-Glowing Makeup ($48): This has been one of my holy grail foundations off and on for the past year and half for a couple reasons. It controls my oil reasonably well, it doesn’t melt off my face in my oily spots, it moisturizes my dry spots and it looks flawless hours later. It provides medium to full coverage (with the ability to be sheered out to light coverage) and has a decent color range. The only thing is that when they expanded the range of foundations, they discontinued the color I used. T_____T
  2. Fashion Fair Perfect Finish Creme Makeup ($24): A new addition to my foundation, my experience with this foundation makes me think “why did I wait so long to try cream foundations.” This I would consider to be my current HG foundation simply because it makes me look flawless for however long I decide to have my makeup on that day. It provides medium to heavy coverage and comes in a great range of colors for darker skin tones.
  3. Shiseido Perfect Refining Foundation ($38.50): This is the foundation I gravitate to when my skin isn’t reacting to anything and I just want to cover my scarring. I find that when my skin is being sensitive, this foundation just makes it worse. I love the coverage and it feels really light on the skin. Medium coverage with a minimal amount of product. 

Yeah there are no drugstore products on here. I was tempted to list the Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation but while I do like it, it takes a lot of work for my skin to look good with it. It doesn’t give me that flawfree yet skin feeling. Next on my list to try is the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. I have been staring at it for a while, so when I go to the Dior makeup counter and find that none of the colors match me anymore (</3), I’ll try the Luminous Silk.

Arabelle

Skin Profile

I have it a lot easier than Chi-Chi when it comes to finding foundation because 1. I am super white and beauty brands bend over backwards for pale people, 2. My skin doesn’t really have breakouts anymore because of my acne medication (before you ask, just check the acne tag for what we’ve tried) so I only have to deal with covering up old scars, really. I have skin that is dry in the winter and oily in the summer. I don’t really wear foundation so my recommendations aren’t very helpful — but when I do, I prefer medium coverage for an utterly flawless finish. I also have pink undertones. 

My Favorites (in order)

  1. Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse BB Cream ($34) - Aren’t you bored of me recommending this by now? I know I’m bored of repeating it, but it’s honestly all I bother with when I bother with putting on more than concealer and powder. For the best results especially for dry, sensitive skin, apply it when your skin is still damp from cleansing or toning, it’ll make your skin so happy. I would say this is medium coverage. Best for cool toned pale people.
  2. Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation ($46) - I have only a few foundations, and I seldom use them because I simply don’t need the full coverage of them anymore. This is a nice buildable light-medium coverage foundation that works well on dry skin and when applied with a Beauty Blender or damp sponge, it provides the loveliest, natural looking finish. Breathable and light. It has a pretty decent range of shades from really pale to medium-dark.

I also don’t have drugstore foundation selections, because I already found my HG face makeup and you don’t mess with perfection. I have plenty of BB creams to play with so I can always stray if I feel bored, but I don’t love them enough to mention them. I think I’ll likely buy another sheer to medium coverage foundation — perhaps NARS Sheer Glow? — to test out for a bit but I’m not going to bother right now. 

My BB cream often gets cakey and patchy after a few hours. Is this due to the product or just user error? Is there a quick fix other than just dabbing water over it?

Asked by
shadowmello

It could be either or both. What a non-answer, sorry! But I think it’s probably not the right bb cream for your skin type — some are formulated for drier skin and some for oily. It might oxidize too fast for your skin type also, that’s a common problem for Asian formulations. I would probably stop using it and switch to a different brand, or perhaps apply a moisturizer beforehand.

I have had BB creams do that to me — Missha brand sometimes does that to me — and I stop using it for awhile until my face is a little less dry. The Dr. Jart+ brand is good for dry skin and actually works BETTER when your face is still wet from cleansing. 

IMAN COSMETICS TO LAUNCH BB CREAM FOR BROWN SKIN

Via Christina Han of NYMag.com

We think of Iman, supreme supermodel of the world, as one of those women who has the power to snap her fingers, toss her hair, and get things done right. This December, she’ll be introducing a collection of six BB creams — the skin-care/makeup hybrids that now crowd all beauty counters — to her Iman Cosmetics line. They are specifically formulated to seamlessly match her own complexion as well as 35 other skin tones. “I said if I can’t find one to match me then there’s a problem because I’m really in the middle. But I couldn’t [find one],” she told WWD. Next, she hopes to launch BB eye products, concealer, and bronzer. Obviously.

daburu:

Skin79 Dear Rose BB Cream SPF 43 PA+++ 35g (Taiwan Exclusive) Review

The claims:

Skin79 Dear Rose BB Cream is full of moisture, has a light feel on your skin without stickiness. This triple function BB cream softly permeates skin, adjusting moisture balance. Protects skin with UV A and B block, makes skin look clean and young with whitening and anti-aging effect. Recommended for those with rough and damaged skin from exposure to harmful environments. Damask Rose ingredient contains an adequate supply of moisture and nutrients which improves the condition of your skin. Hyaluronic Acid enhances moisture retention, making skin moisturized and smooth all day.

Benefits:

  • Moisturizes
  • UV Protection
  • Whitening
  • Wrinkle Improvement
  • Nourishes
  • Moisture Retention

I’ve had this in my stash for a while and finally got around trying it out today. Overall, I like it. In fact this may be my new favorite bb cream.

My skin type: Normal-Dry, hyper sensitive.

My skin tone: Neutral undertones, super pale; lighter than NC15.

Before & After

Where to buy: prettyandcute.com; imomoko; Taiwanese Skin79 shops

Pros:

  • Lightweight texture, similar to Missha Perfect cover.
  • Great coverage. I used a thin layer over my entire face to hide my redness and then layered another on acne spots and under my eyes.
  • Does not cake up even on acne. I find with my BRTC Jasmin Water bb cream even if you layer it thinly on acne it looks too thick, but not with this bb cream.
  • It’s yellow based and does not have a gray cast. [Swatch; left BRTC Jasmin water, right Skin79 Dear Rose]
  • Lasts well throughout the day. I didn’t powder at all and I found little residue on my glasses compared to BRTC JW.

Cons:

  • Floral scent. While it is not overpowering, personally I prefer my face products to be unscented due to allergies. Nonetheless, it didn’t burn (like what Missha Perfect Cover did to me) and the floral scent disappeared completely after an hour when applied.
  • Not as moisturizing as it claims. My cheeks felt just as dry as with any other bb cream.

So I'm really interested in bb creams but I also have quite a lot of freckles that I'm in love with and have no intention of covering... How will BB creams work with them/ do you know of any that won't fade them?

Asked by
toinfinityandabroad

I think for the most part, US BB creams veer on the sheer side so they won’t conceal them. I know Garnier and Maybelline’s BB creams probably won’t. It depends on the bb cream honestly, some have more coverage than others. 

I was thinking about buying the Hot Pink BB cream, and I was wondering how long it will last me. What is your experience?

Asked by
theresidentpatient

I haven’t run out yet and I purchased mine… almost 2 years ago lol. I don’t use it every day. It will last you a long time even if you do use it often (which I don’t) because you should only be using at most 2 generous pumps each time.