Amid the wild red lips, thick bushy eyebrows, and dramatic kohl-rimmed eyes, all beauty experts agreed that one of the top 5 trends of Fashion Week’s runway shows for 2013 was a radiant, clean, fresh complexion.
From Dolce to Alexander Wang to Christopher Kane – this youthful, clean, impossibly-moisturized look was a clear recurring theme.
However, there’s good news for all you wistful admirers. Unlike the waif-like waists of its models, this look is actually attainable for everyone, and with just one perfect product: BB Cream.
BB Cream is the latest in scientifically-advanced beauty products, originating in Japan. Boasting nutrient-rich properties and high-tech powers, it is designed to act as a moisturizing curer of all skin ills as well as an immediate quick-fix to mask impurities – wrinkles, dullness, splotchy tone, you name it.
However, as things appear to be going these days in everything from phones to cars, no sooner had this latest technological development gone on everyone’s beauty radar, than it was already outdated by its latest “upgrade” – CC Cream!
At first I thought that the clear distinguishing difference between the two was the fact that CC Cream can act more as a Foundation Hybrid, and less like the old-fashioned tinted-moisturizer that some BB Creams appeared to be. However, after some research among the top most-respected brands, it seemed that this is not necessarily the case. While the CC Cream is a clear step up in the mineral and vitamin department, and generally more of a miracle-worker with anti-aging, some brands claimed it offered less coverage than their BB counterparts.
The solution? Go to your most-trusted makeup counter and try them on.
Clinique shows some helpful “before and after” examples of common skin ailments temporarily hidden and eventually improved or even entirely cured over time by their BB and CC creams.
At Neiman’s, you can find a good variety of BB and CC Cream brands, all with the guarantee of top-quality that can only really be found here in Charlotte at this queen of department stores.
The Estee Daywear BB Cream holds up very well amid the top brands, with its high amount of antioxidants, very light texture and pretty good coverage. However, only two shades are available and some have found that neither option is quite perfect for their skin tone.
Amore Pacific, also available at Neiman’s, has an amazing feel on your skin. It comes in a compact so you can sponge it on with more confidence in a totally even application. It is also supposed to be very “buildable”, meaning when you put it on your skin it stays, it doesn’t slip or rub into tacky clumps when you add another layer to the spots where you need more coverage (good news for this girl with a Mediterranean nose!). Amore is also a CC Cream, so there is a super long list of its antioxidant/anti-aging properties – and for this brand, the coverage is make-up worthy.
Unsurprisingly, Bobbi Brown came out a top-favorite – mostly because it was one of the first BB Creams to come in a range of colors for varying skin-tones. There are 5 to choose from!
Among its long list of benefits for your skin, I was most impressed with the fact that it contains light-reflecting pearls for brightening tired, dull skin. One reason I was so delighted by this is that this is the exact description for the “look” on the Runway according to Paris VOGUE: “Perfect Pearly Skin.”
Bobbi Brown’s BB Cream is also formulated with caffeine extracts that are extremely effective in “waking up” your skin and reducing redness.
With so much competition, only one person can come out the winner – you! The crisis between BB and CC Creams, with so many to choose from and so many varying benefits, provides you with an excellent mission for your next Saturday morning Me Time. Head straight to Neiman’s makeup counter and come back and tell us what you think!
