We’ve handpicked what we consider to be the best BB creams in the UK to suit all skin types and budgets
Part moisturiser, part foundation, the best BB cream is one that enhances and illuminates tired skin while providing natural coverage.
Depending on where you live, BB stands for “blemish balm,” “blemish base” or “beauty balm”. It’s a marketing term for a cream that combines the benefits of multiple products in one.
As a result, choosing the best BB cream for your skin type can save you money and time.
Below we’ve picked the best BB creams for oily, dry, combination, sensitive and mature skin to suit all budgets. If you need to pair it with a good foundation or moisturiser, check out our best foundation and best moisturiser lists.
£16.50 | Buy now
Olay Why we love it: The Olay Total Effects BB cream is classed as an anti-ageing, 7-in-1 product because it “gives your skin everything it needs most during the day.” Including broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and SPF 15.
Not only does help even out your skin tone, thanks to containing a touch of foundation but the more you use it, the better your skin will look.
This is because it contains niacinamide (Vitamin B3) as well as a range of antioxidants (Vitamin E).
In this way, this top entry in our best BB cream list helps reduce the impact that stress can have on your skin, and it protects you from environmental pollution – all while brightening the complexion.
Olay Total Effects BB Cream additionally, and gently, exfoliates the skin to enhance its texture and boost its natural self-renewal process for healthier-looking skin.
Then, the seven benefits it brings in tackling the signs of ageing are:
1. Reduces the appearance of wrinkles
2. Moisturises
3. Evens skin tone
4. Refines the look of pores
5. Smoothes the texture of the skin
6. Brightens
7. Helps to restore skin’s firmness
It doesn’t feel greasy on the skin, nor does it dry it out. It absorbs quickly and promises not to clog your pores. This means it shouldn’t cause breakouts – and in our experience, it never has.
FURTHER READING: What does non-comedogenic mean when it comes to makeup and skincare?
Buy now from Boots
£9.99 | Buy now
Garnier Why we love it: Voted Harper’s Bazaar Beauty Hot 100’s Best BB Cream, the Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector Daily All-In-One BB Cream formula has remained in the best BB cream lists ever since.
This product is the perfect solution for tired, dull skin because it combines natural-looking colour with sheer coverage as well as skin treatments to give a natural glow.
Garnier claims it is formulated for combination to oily skin because it gets rid of unwanted shine without making the skin look too flat or matte. It also contains broad spectrum SPF 20.
Daily usage – in place of your daily moisturiser – will even skin tone and boost its natural glow, plus it offers 24-hour hydration.
It provides a light alternative to foundation with a non-greasy, oil-free formula that smoothes skin, blurring imperfections.
FURTHER READING: What’s really in your foundation?
Buy now from Lookfantastic
£49 | Buy now
Estee Lauder Why we love it: Next on our best BB cream list is Estée Lauder’s DayWear, a multi-protection anti-oxidant sheer tint moisturiser.
The unique tinted formula gives skin a healthy glow and creates an even, unblemished complexion.
A combination of antioxidants gives the skin everything it needs to fight damage and combat any premature signs of ageing.
The solution hydrates and protects the skin, leaving your face with a radiant glow.
The cream is extremely lightweight, smoothing the skin and giving an even tone, while the non-comedogenic benefits mean that that formula won’t clog the pores.
Estée Lauder has produced this in one sheer shade that is beneficial to almost every skin tone.
It’s also possible to buy a travel-sized version of this best BB cream for £10. This gives you the chance to try the cream before committing to spending so much money on it.
FURTHER READING: Estée Lauder Double Wear review: Does the iconic foundation still reign supreme?
Buy now from Lookfantastic
£16 | Buy now
No7 Why we love it: No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream offers a 3-in-1 formula that is light on the skin and provides plenty of benefits to the face.
The unique solution aids in covering imperfections whilst also giving an even and enhanced skin tone.
The touch of colour brightens the face and gives it a summer glow.
However, it’s not simply covering the blemishes, the nutrient-enriched formula helps the skin to fight off spots and imperfections.
As well as replenishing the skin, it also protects against the sun, with SPF 15 and 5p-star UVA technology to defend it from sun damage.
This allows your skin to stay looking youthful.
FURTHER READING: We’ve ranked Boots No7 foundations from worst to best, from Stay Perfect to Beautifully Matte
Buy now from Boots
£18 | Buy now
Why we love it: The Bioderma Sensibio AR BB Cream has evolved from advanced research creating the exclusive Rosactiv anti-redness patent.
The name comes from a skin condition called rosacea that causes inflammation and redness.
This solution biologically tackles such redness, causing it to reduce its intensity over time and prevent it from coming back. You can read more about rosacea in our guide to the best rosacea creams.
The formula has a number of other benefits, including hydrating and restructuring agents that encourage the reinforcement of skin barrier function as well as dermatological soothing ingredients that relieve sensations of discomfort and heat.
It also offers UV protection, thanks to its SPF 30 rating, and enhanced skin radiance. This cream gives a ‘naked skin’ effect, keeping your face feeling and looking light and glowing.
This is the perfect BB cream for sensitive skin or when you’re experiencing flushes.
FURTHER READING: Best rosacea cream: Our fave creams that reduce redness, inflammation and acne caused by rosacea
Buy now from Sephora
£20.50 | Buy now
Erborian Why we love it: Erborian BB Creme is pricey but that’s because it’s a 5-in-1 Korean formula that gives excellent results. The creme gives the skin sheer coverage, leaving it looking visibly better.
It enhances the complexion using the expertise crafted within Korean beauty technology and this includes a bunch of herbs that enrich the creme to become “one with the skin.” All whilst retaining a lightweight feel.
The formula gives an even and matte complexion whilst refining the skin’s texture and it helps reduces blemishes and leaves the skin velvety with a non-greasy finish.
This is a perfect BB cream for mature skin because it plumps and smooths the skin with ease, leaving you looking radiant and youthful.
FURTHER READING: Korean skin care and K-beauty brands: Where to buy the best Korean makeup and skincare in the UK
Buy now from Boots
£10.99 | Buy now
Why we love it: No wonder this much-loved BB cream is often sold out on KIKO’s website, it offers a host of skincare and coverage benefits for a highly affordable price.
These benefits include protection from harmful UV rays, a balanced, more even skin tone and keeps your complexion hydrated.
The formula is packed with Sea Kale extract, which is high in Vitamin C.
This energises and brightens your skin and you can read more about why this antioxidant is so important in our guide to the best foods for healthy skin. The KIKO Daily Protection BB Cream also contains SPF 30.
Elsewhere, it offers buildable coverage and leaves your skin with a natural finish. All for just £10!
FURTHER READING: What is Vitamin C good for and how does it improve your skin?
Buy now from Amazon
Considered a wonder cream, BB creams can be used for a variety of beauty tasks.
It can be used as a primer for makeup. It can balance your complexion by covering blemishes and reducing redness. You can use it in place of concealer or moisturiser, and most brands offer SPF protection.
More expensive BB creams usually have anti-ageing ingredients too.
BB creams are great for mature skin because they’re lightweight enough to not cling to texture or fine lines, while giving a natural-looking radiance and glow. This all gives the appearance of a youthful complexion with minimal effort.
If you’ve got sensitive or irritated skin, look for BB creams that have a green tint or are designed for rosacea. This will help calm the skin while covering the redness. These are often good for dry skin too, as can BB creams that contain ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin.
If you’ve got oily skin, look for BB creams with oil-free formulas that promise to mattify the skin.
READ NEXT: How moisturiser actually works
Victoria is founder and editor-in-chief of mamabella, freelance journalist and Mum. She has a passion for empowering people to feel beautiful whatever their age, size, skin type and budget
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