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BB cream, tinted moisturiser or foundation: which one suits you?

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Flawless skin, something everybody yearns for, and the beauty industry knows it. We're bombarded with different products promising dewy skin on a daily basis, but what works best for you? We've simplified skincare (if only everybody else would!) and narrowed it down to the essentials: foundation, BB creams, CC creams, and tinted moisturiser.

Foundation, the building block in basic skin care, is a skin-coloured makeup primarily used to cover up barely-there blemishes, smooth out skin, and change the shading of your skin. It is available in three forms - liquid, cream and powder. If your skin is prone to oiliness, try a foundation containing kaolin clay or an absorbent powder like silica or talc. Ingredients such as avocado oil, sesame oil and jojoba oil work best for drier skin.

Foundation has become one of the most commercial makeup products on the market, available in ranges for all skin tones and types. The creation of foundation, however, dates back many years, and has undergone a series of alterations to make it the product that it is today.

Try the Infallible 24-h matte foundation by L'Oreal Paris, R189.95. It combines extreme hold and absolute comfort. No more cakey complexions.

Are the older beauty products better than the modern products that we use now? Well it depends on the type of product you use. In this case it’s the foundation. The foundation powder or the liquid foundation. The old powder foundation gives the skin a flat and powdery look but it has a great smell. Dailymail.co.uk by Claire Coleman states that the liquid foundation is better.

So put down those bad foundations, and prepare to pay a little bit more for that perfect touch or just go natural as the saying goes, ” beauty lies within”.

We also love Lancôme's Teint Miracle foundation, R 535.00. This is Lancôme's 1st foundation that helps to recreate the aura of perfect looking skin. Your complexion will instantly appear flawless and luminous, as if lit-from-within.

The ancient Greeks and Romans were among the first societies to use foundation. They used a deadly mixture of white lead and mercury to create a fair complexion.

Nowadays, foundation is a vastly successful beauty product. Formulations are constantly changing with the emergence of different cosmetic brands, with thorough research going into quality improvement. Talc-based formulations remain prominent, as well as silicone-based ones for soft and natural-looking skin. Other creations involve minerals such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide which have been appraised for their irritant-free advantage, although some brands are known to add harmful chemicals to their formulation, for example, dyes.

One of the most innovative types of foundation most recently is the airbrush system. Established in the 1970s, the airbrush system consists of a liquid foundation that is sprayed with a compact compressor. It is primarily used in the movie and modelling industries, ensuring a long-lasting and glowing effect on the skin. Innovations such as this leave a promise for the development of even better foundation in the future.

So, what are BB and CC creams and where did they come from?

BB Creams, short for blemish balms or beauty balms, were first created in in Germany in the 1950s. The founding dermatologist, Christine Schrammek, developed the first cream to soothe and protect the skin of patients who had undergone facials and other skin treatments. The cream became popular in Korea, esteemed for its numerous benefits, and soon became a common skin product of Asia.

BB Creams eventually reached the US and have become prominent in South Africa in recent years. However, CC Creams, or colour correcting creams, have according to The Huffington Post, now emerged and snagged a spot on the shelves. Unlike BB Creams, CC Creams concentrate on correcting existing skin defects as opposed to preventing them. They are also lighter the skin more than BB Creams, making it ideal for summer.

Many women have moved on to the more advanced CC Cream, while others continue to enjoy the benefits of its forerunner. A DD Cream, or “daily defence”, was recently released by Julep, showing little difference to its predecessors. With the continual development of these multifaceted skincare products, the formation of an EE Cream is highly likely in the near future.

Need hydration and light coverage?

Blemish balm, or beauty balm (BB), is the all-in-one cream and "the only product you'll need after you wash your face", according to cosmetic chemist Ni'Kita Wilson. Whereas foundation covers up, BB creams moisturise, act a sunscreen, concealer, and primer. These multipurpose creams will save you hours of your daily skincare routine. A must for any women on the go.

Kiehl's Dermatologist solutions actively correcting BB SPF50, R 525.00              
Launching this month, this BB cream is currently our our beauty editor's favourite make-up product. It conceals imperfections while working to correct skin discolorations. It also reduces the appearance of pores and fine lines while providing all-day hydration and broad-spectrum SPF 50/ PA+++ protection. It leaves your complexion looking flawless.

Want to correct existing skin tone defects?

Try the Colour Control, Complexion Corrector, Colour Correction, or simply put, CC creams. They are similar to BB creams in that they hydrate, offer SPF protection, and cover up. CC creams are lighter than BB creams and its main purpose is to kiss colour-related skin issues goodbye. Thanks to CC, you can bid redness, sallowness and dark spots farewell.


CHANEL CC Cream, R960, works in 5 fantastic steps. It corrects, soothes, moisturises, protects and protects agains skin damage. The smell is also out of this world amazing.

Crave glowing skin?

Tinted moisturiser might contain less moisture than face cream and less coverage than foundation, but has the added bonus of a long-lasting tint, leaving you with a glowing skin. A cream with subtle or light-reflecting particles is recommended by The Guardian's Sali Hughes. Tinted moisturiser won't cover up unruly spots and can't be used as replacement for your usual day cream, but it will leave you looking like the epitome of health. Yes, please!

Opt for Eucerin's tinted sun creme, R179.99, to achieve a long-lasting glow in winter instead of using a self-tanner that will leave your skin looking unevenly yellow.

More beauty?








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