Glowy Skin Is My Thing—These BB Creams Make Me Look Like I've Had a £500 Facial

Not to blow my own trumpet, but lightweight, glowy makeup is kind of my thing. Whilst many of my friends were testing out the best foundations on the market, I was busy putting tinted moisturisers and skin tints to the test in order to see what would help me achieve that "my skin, but better" finish. All these products were great, but 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, whilst still letting my natural features shine through. Below, I've spoken with 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 whilst also delivering skin-loving benefits like hydration and sun protection," she says.

BB Cream vs. 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 they are 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'll want to opt for a hydrating option with hyaluronic acid, whilst those with sensitive skin will want a soothing, fragrance-free formula.

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 [foundation] 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 and Tested

• Best Overall: Erborian BB Cream, £39
• Best Luxury BB Cream: Hermès Plein Air Complexion Balm,£65
• Best Affordable BB Cream: Garnier SkinActive BB Cream Tinted Moisturiser, £10
• Best BB Cream Stick: Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Balm Serum Boosted Skin Tint, £44
• Best BB Cream Concealer: Erborian Super BB Concealer,£28

1. Erborian BB Cream

I don't know anyone on the Who What Wear UK team who hasn't fallen in love with this BB cream, and one team member in particular is a huge fan. "Due to their white mineral filters and, in turn, an ashy cast, finding a BB cream that actually works on dark skin has been a challenge, to say the least," says Who What Wear UK junior writer Brittany Davy.

"However, as someone who's always seeking that 'my skin, but better' look without heavy foundation or overly thick concealer, I've spent ages trying them all. And believe me when I say that Erborian's BB cream in the shade Chocolat is the best I've personally tried. The hue seamlessly blends into my skin without leaving a grey or white cast, making it ideal for days when I simply want to spot conceal for a 'no makeup' makeup look. It can also be built up with ease without looking thick or cakey. And as someone with both eczema and dry skin, I'm very grateful for the plumping peptides and barrier-boosting squalane that give me a radiant finish that lasts all day."

2. Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Balm Serum Boosted Skin Tint

If you want something super quick to apply and easy to 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.

3. Hermès Plein Air Complexion Balm

It doesn't get chicer than an 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 it. The only downside? There isn't a huge range of shades available, and it would be great to see more from the brand in the future.

4. Erborian Super BB Concealer

Erborian is known for its amazing BB cream, but did you know that the brand also makes 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 whilst 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.

5. Clarins BB Skin Detox Fluid

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, it 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.

6. Dr.Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm

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, including niacinamide and glycerin, and offers 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 Who What Wear UK beauty editor Eleanor Vousden. "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, whilst 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 to fair. It does have a dewy finish, so you may require some setting powder on top if you're oily or prefer a more mattified finish."

7. Garnier SkinActive BB Cream Tinted Moisturiser

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. Vousden also counts herself as a big fan.

8. L'Oreal Paris C'est Magic BB Cream

I didn't really get why this was called a "magic" BB cream until I tried it myself. It might sound strange, but the formula is actually white at first, as it's infused with mineral pigments that are released when applied to the skin to match both your skin's texture and tone. I wasn't sure how well this would actually work, but it really is like magic. I don't think I've ever tried a makeup product that has blended into my natural skin so well.

It has a very lightweight formula, and although it doesn't provide much coverage, it does a great job of evening out my skin tone. I wouldn't say it's overly glowy, but it's not matte either. It's just that perfect in-between product that I can see myself reaching for every day.

9. Kiko Milano Daily Protection BB Cream SPF30

Underrated Italian makeup brand Kiko has one of the highest-rated BB creams that I've tried, and it's really reasonably priced. "This is definitely one for those who prefer sheer coverage and a natural finish," says beauty contributor Grace Day. "It really does feel like a tinted moisturiser because it's so lightweight and hydrating, but still helps to even out skin tone and mute any underlying redness."

10. Missha M Perfect Cover Serum BB Cream Pro

Since BB creams originated in Korea, it only made sense to include some of the best Korean BB creams in this edit, too. "Missha is a K-beauty hidden gem, and its base makeup products in particular are brilliant," says Day. "I think mature skin types in particular will appreciate this formula, as it's really rich and creamy and is packed with skin-firming and brightening ingredients."

11. Mizon Snail Repair Intensive BB Cream SPF50+

Snail filtrate might not appeal to everyone, but if you have sensitive skin, this cult Korean ingredient will work wonders. In a potent 35% dose alongside soothing allantoin, it helps to reduce redness and irritation. "This is a real skincare-makeup hybrid, as all the best Korean makeup products are," says Day. "I love how silky the formula feels and that it builds really smoothly and easily, so you can actually get quite strong coverage but without skin looking or even feeling like it has makeup on it."

How We Tested

Our beauty team is obsessed with BB creams, and several have passed the Who What Wear UK beauty desk. We put the best BB creams to the test, rating them on their shade range offering, the performance of the formula and their skincare benefits. We've tested every single formula on this list, so you know it comes editor-approved.

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 over the years—spanning skincare, makeup, hair and nails—and work closely with trusted experts including dermatologists, makeup 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.