I know what you are saying…what the heck is a BB cream and why should I use one? Great question because, when I first heard about BB creams, I thought the same thing. BB stands for Beauty Balm. Most BB creams are multi-tasking products that combine the benefits of a skincare product and a makeup product into one. I’ve scoured the drugstore to find the best options across affordable brands and created a list of the best drugstore BB creams for summer.
BB creams are typically lightweight and allow your skin to breathe a little better which makes them perfect for the summertime. Swap out your foundation for a good BB cream during summer for lighter coverage and less product on your skin. Most drugstore BB creams also include SPF! SPF is so important all year round not just in the summer. Basically, you get a product that will moisturize, even your skin tone, protect from the sun, brighten, smooth and provide decent coverage! That’s a win-win in my book which is why I love making the swap!
I live in Indiana and the humidity here is REAL! It can be 80 degrees out but humidity will make it feel more like 100 degrees. And let me tell you that my oily t-zone is not having it! Because of these reasons, it’s so much better for my skin if I opt for a BB cream and skip the heavy and thick foundation.
I highly recommend trying out one of the best drugstore BB creams for summer. The only downside is that most BB creams only come in a handful of shades – like I’m talking 2 or maybe 3 – so shade matching is slim-pickins! But hopefully you can still find one that’s close enough to work.
The best drugstore BB creams for summer are ranked from best rated to worst based on Ulta’s website. However, all the product links are from Amazon. (I find that Ulta has a larger volume and more accurate makeup product reviews since it’s a beauty website but Amazon has the best prices especially if you have prime!)
NYX BB Cream
- 3 shades
- oil free and mineral enriched
- no SPF
Physicians Formula Argan Wear Ultra-Nourishing BB Cream
- 1 shade (smallest shade range out of the products mentioned)
- infused with 100% Argan oil which has great skin conditioning properties
- covers imperfections
- evens out skin tone
- SPF 30
Physicians Formula Super BB InstaReady Beauty Balm Cream
- 2 shades
- semi-matte finish
- visibly reduces pores
- neutralizes skin tone
- minimizes shine by absorbing oil but not moisture
- SPF 30
e.l.f. BB Cream
- 5 shades (largest shade range out of the products mentioned)
- anti-aging ingredients
- minimizes fine lines
- SPF 20
Physicians Formula Super BB All-in-1 BB Cream
- 2 shades
- 10-in-1 benefits: smoothing, moisturizing, protecting, firming, priming & filling, perfecting, concealing, brightening, line-softening, long-wearing
- SPF 30
Maybelline New York Dream Fresh BB Cream
- 3 shades
- 8-in-1 benefits: brightens, blurs imperfections, evens skin tone, smoothes, hydrates, enhances, oil-free
- SPF 30
L’Oreal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream
- 4 shades
- 4-in-1 benefits: primes, perfects, hydrates and corrects
- no SPF
Rimmel Match Perfection BB Cream Matte
- 3 shades
- 9-in-1 benefits: primer, moisturize, pore minimizer, concealer, covers imperfections, smooths, brightens and protects
- SPF 15
Rimmel Wake Me Up BB Cream Radiance
- 2 shades
- 9-in-1 benefits: primes, moisturizes, minimizes pores, conceals, covers, smoothes, controls oil, brightens
- SPF 20
Rimmel Match Perfection BB Cream
- 3 shades
- 9-in-1 benefits: primes, smoothes, hydrates, moisturizes, awakens tired skin, brightens, conceals, perfects
- SPF 20
Revlon PhotoReady BB Skin Perfector
- 3 shades
- hydrates, smoothes, covers, blurs imperfections
- SPF 30
My personal pick out of this list is elf! I used to use their tinted moisturizer and loved it! However, there are some days when I prefer a little extra coverage than the tinted moisturizer will give me. I love that their BB cream comes in 5 shades plus they are always priced so affordably so you really can’t go wrong!
Let’s all raise a glass and do a virtual *cheers* to a wonderful summer ahead and heat-proof makeup so we can have the best of both worlds!
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Hi Kelsie,
Thank you for this useful post! 🙂
I was wondering, would it be good to use BB cream on top of sunscreen? Of course, if I choose one without SPF…
Thank you,
Yael
Hi Yael! Thanks for taking the time to read it 🙂 You can definitely use BB cream on top of sunscreen. Even if it already has SPF, it will still provide you with other benefits like a little coverage, even skin tone, extra hydration, etc!
I’ve been considering trying a BB or CC cream because I can never find a foundation I like. Plus I think it irritates my skin. (I’m 19 and I’ve never had acne problems, but when I wear foundation a few days in a row, tiny little bumps begin to pop up on my face.)
So I have a question: is BB or CC cream gentler on skin than foundation? Also, is CC cream a better option for the non-summer months?
Thank you!
Hi Melani! It sounds like the foundation might be clogging your pores or breaking you out. Try sensitive skin options and make sure you have a good skincare routine at night to get your face clean after a day of makeup wearing! Maybe you will see a difference? BB creams have skin care properties included so in theory they should be gentler and give your skin added benefits when wearing (i.e. hydrating, SPF, brightening, etc). CC (color correction) creams are just that – usually made to correct uneven skin tone and provide coverage so not that much different that foundation. BB creams can be worn year round if you want lighter weight and coverage with the skin care properties. If you want more coverage, then a CC cream or foundation might be better. Hope that helps. Let me know if you try something and if you like it!