Monday 15 July 2013

Etude House BB Magic Cream

available for £9-£12 online 
available in oily skin and dry skin variants

--What does the promo say?--
"Contains skin soothing and nourishing Aloe Vera, Chamomile, Madecassol and Centella Asiatica. Promotes flawless complexion with a natural 'No Makeup Look'. BB Magic Cream offers natural looking coverage that nourishes, corrects skin complexion and protects against sun damage."

--Packaging--
Despite appearances in the picture above, the box is actually a very shiny metallic blue, with the tube itself being pale blue. Comes with a screw top lid.

--Application--
'Pat' onto the skin rather than rubbing or blending in the same way as a foundation or tinted moisturiser. Don't ask me why, but it does seem to make a difference with BB creams in terms of how the final result looks. This is easy though; it doesn't take long to get the hang of it. Finish with concealer and powder if you wish. Equally, some people like to precede the application of BB creams with primer, but this really isn't necessary, making this a great product for express makeup routines. A little goes a long way, so don't go mad with the quantity.

--Appearance and coverage--
Can initially appear dull and lacking in coverage, but just give it a couple of minutes to adapt to your skin tone. Greater radiance is apparent quickly, and while I wouldn't say this conceals blemishes 100%, appearance is still much improved. There aren't that many shades available, though, and these tend to be at the paler end of the spectrum, which could disappoint some (although what I have works perfectly for me).

--Texture and consistency--
Not especially stiff. Almost verging on being too runny - if your fingers are already warm it will begin to melt almost immediately upon contact, so work quickly. This is strange, though, given how long it lasts once it's on your face.

--Longevity--
The strange part is that its runny, almost melty quality, once the BB cream is on your face, it will survive even hot summer evenings completely unscathed. Will not rub off or fade on your face in the course of a normal night out.

--Effects on the skin--
Like all good BB creams, this has a good SPF (of 30 in this case) and contains several other positive natural ingredients to improve skin condition over time. It also contains madecassol, which is known to treat wounds and scars. This all suggests that provided you're not allergic to any of these ingredients, you should see a good improvement over time. The differentiation between oily and dry skin types is encouraging, too (I have the oily skin version).

--Value for money--
Mine was bought for me as a present, but I would still pay what's being charged online for this (£9-£12 depending on retailer, including postage). It provides good coverage rain or shine, doesn't require primer as backup to help keep it in place, and is packed full of good stuff to improve skin condition over time. Would definitely purchase a new tube when this one runs out, as this is without doubt comparable to the best of Western BB creams (Clinique, Bobbi Brown...) with a much lower price tag.

perfect partners*
Dear Girls Be Clear Pact Compact Powder, £11
Dear Girls Be Clear Moisturizer SPF30, £9
Baking Powder Pore Cleansing Cream, £13
Baking Powder BB Deep Cleansing Foam, £12
Baking Powder Crunch Pore Scrub, £12
Oh My Goodness! Trouble Break Mist, £15
Golden Ratio Face Glam Highlighter, £14
Wonder Pore White Clay Clear Mask, £18
Baking Powder Pore Cleansing Tissue, £9
Surprise Stick Concealer, £7
Surprise Concealer Kit Cover for Skin Blemishes, £8 

*none of the prices listed above include postage.

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