Why we love it: Perfect for moisturising and brightening the skin in the most gentle way, this BB cream has a vegan formula that's enriched with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and aloe vera. Ideal for evening out your complexion without weighing it down. GLAMOUR-approved: It's a perfect combination of everything I want from a lightweight complexion makeup product: feels like skincare, yet provides just enough coverage to cover my redness with an added SPF50 protection as a bonus. – Denise Primbet, GLAMOUR's Beauty Commerce Writer Why we love it: Get ready for warmer weather with this BB cream from Shiseido that's specifically made to withstand sweating. It repels, diffuses and spreads moisture, helping you maintain a natural-looking finish all day long. The best part is that it's suitable for all skin types to enjoy. Don't worry if you're not entirely sure what a BB cream is. The beauty industry can't seem to agree what it stands for, with different brands referring to it as a “blemish balm”, a “blemish base”, a “beauty balm” and “brightening balm”. It also certainly doesn't help that there are similar terms such as CC creams (colour corrector) and DD creams (daily defence) flying around.

Why we love it: Weightless and hydrating, a skin tint that blends so seamlessly with your own skin is exactly the type of TLC our faces crave. And with aloe vera and cucumber extract, it'll keep your face hydrated for up to 8 hours at a time. If they aren't already, BB creams should be on your must-have list, especially if you happen to love the TikTok-approved “no makeup makeup” look (AKA the “clean girl aesthetic”). In fact, I'll take a wild guess and assume that your very first complexion product was probably a BB cream (I know mine was). And guess what? Ten years after my teenage self tried it for the very first time, I became a beauty journalist and I'm still not ready to move on. I have reviewed some of the best foundations, skin tints and tinted moisturisers on the market, but it's safe to say that BB creams hold a special place in my heart. Why we love it: This tinted moisturizer provides protective and hydrating qualities, helping your skin look natural and effortlessly beautiful after every use. The addition of squalene certainly doesn't hurt either. Who What Wear is part of Future US LLC, an international media group and leading digital publisher.

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More recently, my heart's been set on the newly launched Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm. Seriously, this might just be my top beauty find in 2023 and is definitely something that I'll reach for in the coming summer months. Why? Long story short, it's the perfect combination of everything I want from a lightweight complexion makeup product: it feels like skincare, yet provides just enough coverage to cover my redness with an added SPF50 protection as a bonus. The way its unique colour-changing formula adapts to your skin tone is very impressive, too. Why we love it: This BB cream has just launched in the UK and our beauty editors are already in love. Not only does it provide you with light coverage, it also features SPF50 protection as well as a blend of glycerin and niacinamide to keep your face hydrated throughout the day. Why we love it: Is it makeup or skincare? Why not both? The Erborian BB cream offers full coverage along with a smooth consistency that makes it comfortable enough to wear on its own. It also contains ginseng and niacinamide, which keeps your skin nice and hydrated all day long. We're sold. Why we love it: ‘Lightweight’ and ‘easy to blend’ are two qualities we can definitely get on board with. Available in six different undertones, this makeup product combines the skincare benefits of panthenol and niacinamide to soothe and hydrate your skin while giving it a velvety glow. But fear not, full coverage lovers, because BB creams do come in various formulations, some of which will deliver just as much coverage as any good ol' foundation. Of course, there's also options with buildable and lightweight coverage that will give you that “your-skin-but-better” finish.

BB creams are ideal for creating a more natural-looking base or for those days when you don't feel like wearing a full face of makeup. They're made to provide you with just enough coverage to even out your skin tone, but not so much they mask your skin entirely. And the best part is that thanks to nourishing skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, they'll keep your face hydrated throughout the day, making it look glowy and feel extra fresh for longer.

Should you apply BB cream first or concealer?

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Why we love it: Enriched with a blend of hydrating ingredients such as glycerin and vitamin E, this affordable BB cream from L'Oreal has a lightweight texture. It blends seamlessly into your skin, making it perfect for nailing a no-makeup look and giving your face a well-deserved break. Using a BB cream is easy – you definitely don't need to be a makeup artist to nail the perfect application. All you need to do is to apply it the same way you would your foundation or tinted moisturiser. Just tap it in with your fingers before blending it out with a makeup sponge or buffing it out with a makeup brush until you achieve the desire effect.

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Personal preferences aside, BB creams are a great skincare/makeup hybrid product. They're perfect if you're after the coverage minus the cakey feel. Plus, since most of them feature skin-loving ingredients such as vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, your face will be protected and hydrated all day long. Whether you prefer a low maintenance makeup routine, you're looking for a hot weather-friendly alternative to foundation, or you simply prefer a more natural skin finish, there are plenty of reasons why you might opt to use a BB cream.