In my eternal quest for that product which will miraculously render me if not beautiful, then at least damn-I-look-good, I’m always open to trying something new. This month, I have two contenders, both of which can be compared, favorably or not, to the Laura Mercier and Bare Minerals I’m already using.
The first is Bobbi Brown BB Cream. You have heard about the BB creams, haven’t you? Of course you have. But let me review: the BB creams are an Asian, of-the-moment import. They are touted as having miraculous curative powers and, in fact, the BB stands for Blemish Balm. The backstory is that BB was developed in the 60s by a German dermatologist for her post-laser patients to use to cover the immediate effects of the laser and to speed healing. From Germany, BB migrated to Korea and became a popular favorite for Asian women wanting that porcelain look. Europeans took it up soon after and now, because we must have whatever they’re having, it has come to America. Depending on the manufacturer, the formulations of the BB cream are different–and so are the promises.
Bobbi Brown’s BB Cream is touted as a moisturizer, treatment, spf and foundation, all in one tube. It’s got a bunch of unpronouncable, but seemingly natural products that are meant to, among other things, reduce dark spots, boost collagen production, protect from the dreaded free radicals and provide broad spectrum UVA/UVB spf. Not only that, but ”Light Reflective Pearls instantly brighten dull skin.”
I got a sample at Nordstrom’s and here’s what I found: it’s thick and even the lightest application makes for a dense coverage. I can see why it would be great for covering blemishes, but that’s one problem I don’t have. It also feels heavy, almost like a skin on top of my skin, and I can feel myself sweating underneath it. Finally, it has very quickly settled into my pores, which makes for a most unappealing mottled effect. Excuse me while I go wash it off…
Obviously, I won’t be returning to the Bobbi Brown counter for a full-size tube, but that’s just me. What I want in a foundation of that sort is something very light. I’m not looking to create the illusion of perfect skin; I just want a product that will kinda even things out. If you’re looking for more coverage, then definitely try this. Go to Nordstrom; get a sample; see what you think.
The CK One 3-in-1 Face Makeup is part of the recently released cosmetic line coming from the Calvin Klein brand. Note that I say ‘brand’ because I’m not sure that Calvin himself ever sees any of “his products” these days. Still, the CK brand is a good one, that I associate with classy simplicity which sounds to me like a very good thing for a makeup line.
The 3-in-1 part of the CK One is that a serum, primer and foundation have all been mixed together, ostensibly saving time and, I suppose, money. The promotional bumpf reads, “Triple-treated pigment technology mimics skin for an effortlessly natural, radiant finish.”
CK One is another relatively thick foundation but it applies very easily (yes, I used a brush). Just one pump from the bottle did my entire face, and the coverage was excellent. It dried to a matt finish and felt weightless on my skin. Yes, it was “effortlessly natural”; as for “radiant finish”, not really (it’s a matt, after all). It’s oil-free, non-comedogenic and has an spf of 5. The low spf isn’t an issue for me, especially since I’ll use the CK One as an evening foundation for when I’m pulling out all the makeup stops.
So that’s one hit–the CK One 3-in-1–and one miss–the Bobbi Brown BB Cream. Not bad–especially considering that the miss was a sample. The moral to the story is to always try to get samples of new products. Most stores will accommodate that and some on-line sellers have lenient return policies.
Have I tempted you to try one of these new foundations? Tell me why or why not in the Comments.
Tagged as:
age spots,
Bobbi Brown,
Calvin Klein,
CK One,
cosmetics,
foundation,
makeup base,
midlife beauty,
midlife makeup,
midlife skin,
skin care,
spf
