Alisha Bhojwani is a Sydney-based digital strategist and content specialist. When she's not reminding her friends to wear SPF, you can find her drenching her face in Vitamin C and consuming copious amounts of peanut butter. You can find her on Instagram here @alishabhojwani_. Show Alisha Bhojwani is a Sydney-based digital strategist and content specialist. When she's not reminding her friends to wear SPF, you can find her drenching her face in Vitamin C and consuming copious amounts of peanut butter. You can find her on Instagram here @alishabhojwani_.  Let me start this article by saying this: I’m VERY sceptical of beauty trends and skincare TikTok hacks. And for good reason. Once, I saw a woman smear period blood on her face as a remedy to cure acne. I repeat. PERIOD BLOOD. You do you, but also... why?! So, when my editor asked me to test out the that recently went viral on TikTok creator Charlotte Hyatt Willis’s account, I was a little hesitant. But because I am a woman of the people (and very bored in lockdown), I rose to the challenge. So, I’m here to give you my HONEST opinion as to whether this homemade BB cream delivers on its promise of radiant skin, with a smooth blurred finish. You can watch more road-tests of TikTok beauty trends in this YouTube video below. What is a BB Cream?But first, let’s breakdown what BB cream actually is and whether it’s the same as a tinted moisturiser. BB cream is short for ‘beauty balm’ or ‘blemish balm’, a product category that originated in Korea. BB creams are designed to be ‘all-in-one' complexion products that combine skincare ingredients with a light amount of coverage that promises to conceal imperfections. Typically, they’re much lighter in weight than your average foundation, leaving your skin with a healthy glow, but with more coverage than a standard tinted moisturiser. In terms of the coverage hierarchy, think of is as tinted moisturiser > BB cream > foundation. What is the TikTok DIY BB Cream?Now we’re all on the same page about what a BB cream can do, let’s delve into why making your own BB cream at home went viral on TikTok. Thanks to working from home life, more and more people are gravitating to sheerer foundations over their old favourite full coverage products. Naturally, a DIY BB cream recipe popped up involving mixing together your sunscreen, primer, moisturiser, full coverage foundation and highlighter. The main claim or benefit to making your own BB cream at home is you can customise the formula by changing the ratios to build coverage, add extra glow or more hydration to suit your skin needs. Plus, you can reduce wastage by using up half-opened bottles of foundation or products. Intrigued? Let’s get into the reason you clicked onto this article in the first place, my honest TikTok BB cream review. Here are the products I used to make a BB cream at home - side note, I love all of these on their own:
Watch this TikTok at-home BB cream video below, or read on for the full details of how it went down... My TikTok BB Cream Review.In Charlotte’s video, she mixed a few drops of each of the above products together - including the *sunscreen - to make her DIY BB cream. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS. Just don't, OK? No matter what, never mix other products like foundation or illuminator into your sunscreen, because it may alter the effectiveness of your SPF and compromise your sun protection. Instead, apply a generous amount of sunscreen as the last step of your skincare routine. While you let it sink in, you can start mixing your four-ingredient BB cream. I mean, aside from the whole sun safety/protecting yourself from skin cancer and premature ageing, it'd be rude not to allow your sunscreen to give you this GLOW. Next, I guestimated how much of the remaining products to add to my mixing dish for maximum radiance and minimal coverage:
After mixing for a few seconds, I was left with a concoction of beige liquid that radiated the light from every angle. Then, it was time to put this TikTok makeup hack to the test. At first, I was pleasantly surprised by the texture. It felt light and airy, but still managed to conceal some redness and blemishes. I applied it using a damp beauty sponge, and it looked pretty good in front of a ring light. But when I went to admire my handiwork in sunlight, that’s when I realised this hack was not for me. Yes, the BB cream provided a decent level of coverage and didn’t pill, but it also accentuated my skin texture and imperfections I wouldn't have usually noticed. At one point, I caught myself staring at my chin bumps and then realised, it was just the addition of the highlight that had magnified my pores ten-fold. So... it kind of defeated the main purpose of being a skin-perfecting BB cream? I still wore it all day to observe how it lasted with a full face of makeup. Here's how it looked. If I was looking for a positive, it photographed fairly well (with my flattering selfie camera, mind you). But then again... an event foundation designed to photograph beautifully and last all day would be a lot less effort. Final Verdict...I promised I'd be brutally honest, so while TikTok beauty hacks and trends provide me with endless entertainment, the at-home DIY BB cream is a solid no from me. If you're after a BB cream/sheer coverage foundation recommendation, M.A.C COSMETICS Studio Radiance Face & Body Radiant Sheer Foundation would be my suggestion. But if you want to fill in some time with a beauty experiment, go for it! Just maybe don't use your expensive products... Want more of our honest thoughts on TikTok beauty trends?
*SPF is only one part of sun protection! Always seek shade, and wear sunnies, a hat and protective clothing. Use sufficient sunscreen for all unprotected areas and reapply sunscreen as directed. Always read the label. Relating to testimonial-like content around SPF products, these opinions are solely those of the individuals involved, and not of Adore Beauty as a business. Testimonial-style content around SPF, supplements and selected devices from Adore Beauty staff are in full compliance with TGA guidelines. Which brand BB cream is best?10 Best BB Creams to Use for Flawless Skin. Garnier Skin Naturals Instantly Perfect Skin Perfector BB Cream.. L'Oreal Paris True Match BB La Creme.. Maybelline New York BB Cream.. 4.LA Girl HD Pro BB Cream.. POND'S White Beauty SPF 30 Fairness BB Cream.. MISSHA M BB B.B CREAM Boomer.. Can I use BB cream instead of foundation?"A BB cream can help make your routine easier as they typically have skincare benefits, can be used in place of a foundation and primer, and have SPF," says Davis. The coverage of BB balms is typically sheer, but it acts as a great multitasking product that evens out your skin tone and offers added skincare benefits. Is it safe to use BB cream every day?BB creams are safe to use on a regular, daily basis, but as one of the most versatile skin care products on the market, they're especially useful when you don't have time to apply, a moisturiser, primer and foundation: Just throw on a bit of BB cream (preferably one with SPF) and you're ready to conquer the day! Is BB cream good for older skin?Warren Tricomi Salon expert stylist and makeup and brows artist Mehria Aziz explains, “As we age, our skin gets drier, so to keep it moist and healthy — and to blur out the fine lines — the best option is always BB cream. |
