There has been a lot of talk lately about Beauty Balms, Blemish Balms or Brightening Balms (depending on who you ask), a tinted skin treatment that started in Korea and quickly spread across Asia and then to North America.
BB Creams are the perfect blend between makeup and skincare and contain anti-agers, antioxidants, brighteners, moisturizers and SPF. They are truly the all-in-one super-tinted moisturizer. There are a number of different brands available, Clinique Age Defense BB Cream SPF 30 ($37), Smashbox Camera Ready BB ($50), and Dr. Jart + Premium BB ($49).
I chose the Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream ($12.99), which I found at London Drugs and Walmart. I don’t usually wear foundation on boating days, but I do wear a moisturizer and sunscreen. The idea of combining the two and adding a “little airbrush” appealed to me. I prefer to use a sponge to apply foundation and used to buy the big red bags of sponges at London Drugs, but they have switched manufacturers, and they only sell the flimsy, small triangles. Thank goodness Superstore stepped it up and now carries Joe Fresh Latex-Free Cosmetic Wedges, a bag of 8 is only $2 (hallelujah). As always, I use a spritz of Evian Facial Mist Spray to finish blending and set my makeup for the day. The Garnier BB cream feels no different from a moisturizer and lasts all day; it doesn’t feel oily and leaves my skin feeling very soft.
