Summertime Foundation: Garnier B.B Cream Miracle Skin Perfector

So now that the sunny weather is here it’s time for a more fresh approach to makeup.  No one wants a full face of makeup while out in the sun, you want to look fresh and natural.  That’s why when the sun comes out I switch from my normal medium to full coverage foundations to light coverage foundations or bb creams. 

My current go to product during our lovely heat wave is the Garnier B.B Cream Miracle Skin Perfector for combination to oily skin.  When Garnier launched the original a few years back I bought it and LOATHED it. It just didn’t suit me at all.  The colour was too dark, the consistency too thick and the cream was so oily on my skin! I tried it once or twice and then gave it away.  But this BB cream works so much better for me.

The BB cream claims to perfect skin by:

               

• Controlling oil and shine
• Blurring lines and imperfections
• Evening tone and boosting glow
• Moisturising the skin without making it oily
• Protecting the skin with SPF 20 UV protection

First off the formula is very liquidy and just spills out of the tube so be careful not to pour out too much.  It glides onto the skin and is absorbed easily leaving behind a matte finish. It’s moisturising but thankfully not greasy.  The lightweight formula means it doesn't feel like you've much on your face.  It does an ok job of blurring my pores (nothing magical but there’s a definite improvement) and does give my skin the nice glow it claims to.

One main problem with it is the scent. The smell of alcohol is so strong with this cream, it really hits you once you put it on your face. The smell does leave after a while but if you've sensitive skin this may cause you to break out.  Alcohol can be quite drying and this is why it gives such a matte finish but I’d steer clear of this if you've sensitive skin. It’s worth mentioning though that this product didn't dry out my skin or leave it feeling very tight.

The coverage is a light to medium coverage with this b.b cream. I like the glow it gave my skin and it covered the redness in my cheeks quite well. But if you've spots or red marks on your face I’d recommend using a concealer under it as it won’t cover everything.  I either use my Real Techniques expert face brush or beauty blender to apply it as I feel they give the best result with it.

A great use for this cream is wearing it under foundation if you’re going out or just want a fuller coverage as it will keep the face matte and act as a makeup base but be aware that the SPF may cause photo flash back.

As you can see . . . . .not the same as my skin tone

This BB cream I have is in shade “light” and if I’m honest it’s still quite dark. I think Garnier need to produce a shade in fair. In the picture below I only applied the cream to my face and didn't blend into my neck and the difference in colour is obvious.  It’s just not light enough!!

VERY white neck!!

Once blended LOTS it does even out to a nice glow but I've to be careful to make sure I haven’t missed a spot otherwise it will be more than obvious.  The photo below is of me just wearing the b.b cream but this time I've also blended it onto my neck.  

Pros:

Matte finish

Controls oil and shine

Good staying power

Spf 20

Costs under €10

Cons:

Strong alcohol smell

Colour is far too yellow and dark

Even though the colour doesn't match great and it smells quite strong I still find myself reaching for this most days now that the sun is shining.  It doesn't look like I’m wearing any makeup while I’m wearing it, it’s quick and easy and I don’t have to worry about shine while I’m wearing it.  So for during the sunshine this has to be one of my go to products.

So what is your go to summer product?

p.s  This does contain silicone (Dimethicone) so for anyone who is trying to avoid silicone based products this isn't for you.

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