Not to blow my own trumpet, but lightweight, glowy makeup is kind of my thing. While many of my friends were testing out the best foundations on the market, I was busy putting products such as tinted moisturisers and skin tints to the test in order to see what would help me achieve that "my skin, but better" look. While all of these products were great, in my opinion, nothing can ever beat a BB cream.
Yes, this product is my secret weapon for making my skin look fresh and radiant, while still letting my natural features shine through. Below, I've spoken to an expert to learn more about BB creams, and I've included my tried-and-tested roundup of the best BB creams that money can buy.
What Is a BB Cream?
So, what actually is a BB cream? "A BB cream is short for beauty balm or blemish balm," explains makeup artist and global artistry ambassador for Fenty Beauty, Naima Bremer. "BB creams were the first hybrid products that provided both skincare benefits and coverage to the skin. It is all about providing light coverage while also delivering skin-loving benefits like hydration and sun protection," she says.
What's the Difference Between a BB Cream and a Tinted Moisturiser?
You might be thinking, well what's the difference between a BB cream and a tinted moisturiser? "A tinted moisturiser is a moisturiser with a bit of pigment, and it focuses on hydration with sheer coverage," Bremer tells me. "A BB cream tends to offer a few more skincare benefits to tackle certain skin concerns, such as brightening and sun protection."
Can a BB Cream Work for All Skin Types?
The great news is that this product can work for all skin types. "Everyone can benefit from BB creams because it is a very multifunctional product," says Bremer. The trick is choosing the right one for your skin type.
If you have oily or combination skin, Bremer recommends looking out for words such as matte or oil-controlling. If you have dry skin, you instead what to opt for a hydrating option with hyaluronic acid, while those of you with sensitive skin will want a soothing formula that is fragrance-free.
How to Apply a BB Cream
"I love applying lightweight coverage products such as a BB cream with my fingers," Bremer says. "Your fingers make sure you don’t lose any coverage, which is what sometimes happens with a brush or sponge, and it is really easy to blend and melt [the product] into the skin."
Now that you know all that, keep on scrolling for my edit of the best BB creams on the market.
The Best BB Creams, Tried & Tested
- Best BB cream overall: Kosas BB Burst Tinted Gel Cream
- Best luxury BB cream: Hermès Plein Air Complexion Balm
- Best affordable BB cream: Garnier SkinActive BB Cream Tinted Moisturiser
- Best BB cream stick: Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Balm Serum Boosted Skin Tint
- Best BB cream concealer: Erborian Super BB Concealer
1. Kosas BB Burst Tinted Gel Cream
Formula: Gel-like
Number of shades: 24
This is easily one of my favourite BB creams of all time, and it seems that the rest of the Who What Wear UK beauty team agrees. "I'd say Kosas's BB Burst Tinted Gel Cream feels very fresh on the skin but also gives a good amount of coverage without being overly dewy," says beauty editor, Eleanor Vousden. Oh, and did I mention that Hailey Bieber is also a fan?
The hydrating formula features plumping peptides and barrier-boosting squalane and offers light, buildable coverage with a natural, slightly radiant finish. The best bit is that it feels completely weightless on the skin.
Pros
- Hydrating formula
- Buildable coverage
- Fresh, natural finish
- Lightweight
Cons
- Might not be the best choice for very oily skin
2. Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Balm Serum Boosted Skin Tint
Editorial assistant Brittany Davy is also a fan of this BB cream.
Formula: Solid
Number of shades: 16
If you want something that is super quick to apply and that you can top up on the go, let me introduce you to the Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Balm. The clever stick formula means that you can swipe this product onto the skin in seconds and top it up whenever you need. I originally thought that this could be quite drying on the skin, but it's packed with nourishing ingredients such as jojoba seed, shea butter and hyaluronic acid.
The brand says that the product offers sheer to light coverage, but it's definitely buildable, too. What I love about this product is that it evens out my skin tone and leaves me with a silky, dewy finish that never looks greasy.
Pros
- Hydrating formula
- Easy to apply
- Dewy finish
Cons
- May be a little too dewy for oily skin types
3. Hermès Plein Air Complexion Balm
Formula: Balm
Number of shades: 13
It doesn't get chicer than a Hermès BB cream. Yes, the packaging is great, but the formula is even better. Infused with hyaluronic acid, antioxidant-rich vitamin E and soothing evening primrose extract, it feels hydrating and calming on the skin, and it even contains SPF 30, too.
The coverage leans towards the light side of things, but it does a great job of evening out the complexion and adding a luminous-looking finish. That being said, it's not overly dewy, so even oily skin types might like this one. The only downside? There isn't a huge range of shades available, and it would be great to see more shades from the brand in the future.
Pros
- Looks chic
- Hydrates the skin
- Naturally luminous finish
Cons
- Not a huge range of shades
- Expensive
4. Erborian Super BB Concealer
Formula: Liquid
Number of shades: 5
Erborian is known for its amazing BB cream, but did you know that the brand also does a BB concealer? This is one of my go-to products when I want a light, glowy base.
Because it's a BB concealer, I didn't expect the coverage to be very good, but somehow this product manages to cover dark circles and blemishes while still keeping your skin looking fresh and natural. It has a super creamy formula that doesn't cling to dry skin, but my one tip would be to set it in place with a little bit of powder.
The formula contains a Korean white ginseng complex to hydrate the skin, niacinamide to brighten and SPF 25 to help protect. Yep, this product does it all.
Pros
- Creamy formula
- Good coverage
- Natural finish
Cons
- Not a big range of shades
5. Clarins BB Skin Detox Fluid
Formula: Balm
Number of shades: 4
When I first got my hands on this BB cream, it felt a little thicker than others I had tried, so I wasn't sure how it would sit on the skin. Turns out, I had nothing to worry about. Suitable for combination, dry and oily skin types, this product melts into the complexion and leaves you with an even skin tone and a radiant glow.
It definitely provides a little more coverage than your standard BB cream, but what I love about it is that it still manages to let your skin texture shine through. The slim bottle and pump feature is also great for travelling, and I recently took it on holiday with me when I wanted something light and fresh to wear. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the fact that there are four shades available. Again, I would love to see more shades from the brand in the future.
Pros
- Suitable for all skin types
- Good coverage
- Adds a natural glow
Cons
- Very limited shade range
6. Dr.Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm
Formula: Balm
Number of shades: 4
This Dr.Jart+ BB cream went viral on TikTok, and for good reason. In fact, the whole Who What Wear UK team is obsessed with this product. Dr.Jart+ is a skincare brand first and foremost, and the benefits of this are what really sold me on this product. The formula is packed with skin-loving ingredients such as niacinamide and glycerin alongside SPF 50, and the silky smooth texture applies like a dream.
"Although I test several new foundations and skin tints in my job, for day-to-day, this is what I always come back to," says Eleanor. "I don't know what sorcery Dr Jart+ put into this formula, but it somehow manages to make my skin look radiant and even, even when my skin is at its most irritated. It has a cushiony texture that glides over pores and effortlessly disguises redness and blemishes, while simultaneously feeling weightless and non-sticky on the skin. The formula contains niacinamide (great for acne and soothing the skin barrier) and glycerin to hydrate. It's like a first-aid plaster for your skin when your skin requires both coverage and a little extra support. I was initially disappointed to see just four shades, however, I'm reassured by colleagues with different skin tones that they do flex from deep to tan and fair. It does have a dewy finish, so you may require some powder on top if you're oily or prefer a more mattified finish."
Pros
- Packed with skin-loving ingredients
- Silky texture
- Weightless on the skin
Cons
- Might not be the best choice for oily skin types
7. Garnier SkinActive BB Cream Tinted Moisturiser
Formula: Balm
Number of shades: 3
This was the first BB cream I ever tried, and I have repurchased it time and time again. Not only is it affordable, but the "your skin but better" finish is pretty unbeatable.
Offering lightweight coverage and natural luminosity, this BB cream does pretty much everything you would want it to do. It delivers a subtle blurring effect and evens out the skin tone, while a formula enriched with vitamin C, glycerin and grapefruit extract adds that "lit from within" finish that can be so hard to recreate.
Pros
- Affordable
- Creamy formula
- Natural finish
Cons
- Not a large shade range
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
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