Studio Bambini

The first day I walked into the office wearing BB cream I got comments – unsolicited, I swear – about how great my skin was looking.

BB cream entered my life via a woman who always rides the crest of the new-beauty-products wave. Unlike her I never wear foundation (just mineral powder) as I don’t like the feel of it and, with my oily skin, it seems to float across my face and settle into my lines. Not flattering.

According to sales assistants at beauty counters all over Australasia, this just means I need the right foundation, primer, concealer, and loose powder. It all looks great when they put it on me but a couple of hours later I invariably resemble a Halloween fright mask.

No longer! BB cream wears well, gives great coverage, and I don’t feel like I’m all clogged up with make-up. Best of all, it’s actually good for my skin.

BB cream (the BB stands for Beauty Balm or Blemish Balm) was, according to Wikipedia, first developed in Germany to help laser-surgery patients protect and nourish their skin. Add a bit of tint and choose from a selection of anti-aging, pore-refining or skin-tone-evening formulas, and there you have your BB cream! Some people use it as primer, but all I like to add is a light dusting of loose powder at most.

BB cream has been popularised in the last few years by stars in Korean dramas, who are widely imitated all over Asia. Song Hae Gyo, pictured above, was one of the first to use the product. I found my beautiful BB at Missha, a Korean beauty products store, in the Queen Victoria Building.

It retails for about $36. Here’s a picture.

Lots of other beauty houses have jumped aboard the BB wagon, including Estee Lauder and Clinique.

While doing my shopping research I found this brilliant blog with as much information about BB cream as anyone could need. Have a look at the products, videos and testimonials and find the right BB cream for you!

You’ll thank me.