BB Cream Archives - Perilously Pale

Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm ~ Photos, Swatches, and Review

January 23, 2013 By Christa 6 Comments

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I began testing the Urban Decay’s new Naked Skin Beauty Balm. I had seen some other reviews and had the impression that it may be too dark for my skin and had also heard it had a bit of a tacky feel. Well I’m very happy to report that neither of those issues were present for me. The packaging of the Beauty Balm itself is squeeze tube packaging which I love for the sanitary aspects, lack of trapped/wasted product, and travel friendliness.

I thought I would show you all four sides of the outer box packaging. The front promotes the Beauty Balm as offering an SPF of 20 as well as the benefits of DNA Repair, Optical Blurring, and an Oil Free formula.

Naked Skin is so loaded with anti-aging ingredients that it can replace your anti-aging treatment. It’s that good!

• Pepha®-Protect, derived from watermelon extract, is rich in vitamins and amino acids like citrulline. It helps protect skin’s DNA against the damage caused by daily exposure to UV rays and free radicals.

• High-tech ingredients like Vitasource™ and dGlyage® boost skin firmness and elasticity while blurring fine lines, wrinkles and other imperfections.

• Optical blurring pigments diffuse light to blur flaws while giving skin an ultra-definition flawless finish that looks luminous and youthful.

• Naked Skin doesn’t contain oil or paraben.

The Beauty Balm offers an SPF of 20 via Octinoxate and Zinc Oxide. Pepha-Protect helps inhibit DNA damage and skin is firmed, and elasticity improved, with Vitasource and dGlyage. I haven’t used the product long enough to speak to any long term skincare benefits but I’m looking forward to seeing an improvement in my skin.

Ingredients:

Behold my goosebumps.

I am VERY happy with the Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm. I think it is important to note that this product performs more as an all in one skincare and primer solution rather than offering the coverage that most BB Creams offer. I am absolutely loving this as a primer. I still follow my normal skincare routine most of the time but when I am in a hurry I love that I can apply only the Urban Decay Beauty Balm and my skin feels sufficiently moisturized and prepped for makeup. It performs brilliantly as a primer. It evens out some of the redness in my skin, blurs my pores and wrinkles, and helps my foundation last all day. I found it set with a soft, smooth finish and I didn’t experience any tackiness at all. It blended really nicely into my fair skin giving me a bit of a warm glow and taking away redness. I have been using this daily as a primer since receiving it. I find SPF 20 sufficient for these winter days when I am not spending much time outdoors. In the summer I will likely layer a higher SPF underneath.

Naked Skin Beauty Balm (SRP $34) is available from Sephora, ULTA and select Macy’s stores. Or, online at Sephora.com, ulta.com, macys.com, beauty.com and urbandecay.com.

Product provided for my consideration. All reviews are always my own honest and unbiased opinions. Post contains affiliate links which help support this site.

Filed Under: BB Cream, Primers, Urban Decay

Dare to Go Bare with Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream ~ Swatches, Photos, Review

June 5, 2012 By Christa 15 Comments

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Maybelline Canada Fall 2012 Global Beauty Trends event last week in Toronto. We were shown some incredible fall trend looks by Maybelline New York’s head Canadian makeup artist Grace Lee. I received a beautiful hard cover Global Beauty Trends Book that I will try to share with you in a future post. We were also introduced to some new and upcoming products from Maybelline. One of the ones I’m most excited to share with you is the new Dream Fresh BB Cream which is available this month.

The one-step wonder for good a good skin day, every day.

Maybelline promotes an 8-in-1 solution for modern women everywhere:

Helps prevent sunburn with SPF 30.
Helps blur the look of imperfections.
Creates a natural looking glow.
Skin looks visibly smoother.
Compliments skin tone.
Hydrates all day.
Feels fresh.
Oil-free.

The Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream contains skin improving benefits such as glycerin for hydration, aloe extract to soothe, and chamomile extract to calm skin. It is a water-gel formula that glides on and blends into skin for discreet coverage.

There are so many reasons I’m excited about this new BB Cream. I will try to highlight a few of them:

Extensive shade range of 5 shades ranging from very fair to very deep. I’d heard some attendees excited about the fact this was the first BB cream they had tried that offered a deep enough shade for their skin. There are also two exceptional offerings for us pale skinned gals. The sample I was provided was in the shade Light Medium which as you’ll see is a great match. Even more exciting than that there is an even lighter shade called Light. This is also an excellent match for my skin when I am not aiming to blend in my freckles as much and for the winter months.
There is a sun protection factor of 30 from purely mineral sunscreen (titanium dioxide).
It looks amazing on skin and it’s completely invisible! It managed to do a lovely job of naturally evening out my skin tone yet I could not detect it on my face at all. Usually with any product I have at least a small amount of accumulation of product in the deep creases around my mouth and nose. With Maybelline Dream Fresh BB cream there was nothing.
You can reapply this throughout the day for additional sun protection and it still looks perfect. This part truly astounded me. When I first applied it for testing I didn’t bother setting it with a powder because I was so in love with the finish. Several hours later in the day I was going out and decided to reapply just to see what happened. Well it freshened up the finish and coverage and was STILL completely invisible. No issues with the product caking or looking unnatural. It was if I’d freshly applied it on clean skin. Later that evening when going out again I reapplied it a third time with the same amazing results. This truly impressed me. We all know we are supposed to reapply sunscreen throughout the day but on my face I never do because I’m not about to remove my makeup for reapplication every time. Now when I know I will be spending the day in the sun I will be wearing Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream!
Incredibly affordable. A 30ml tube retails for only $10.99 CA.

Shade comparison to the Marcelle BB Cream in Light Medium:

Before and after:

Click to enlarge.

*Please note products provided by company for my consideration. All reviews are always my own honest and unbiased opinion.

Filed Under: BB Cream, Maybelline

It’s Love: Marcelle BB Cream – Swatches and Review

January 26, 2012 By Christa 14 Comments

I first introduced you to the Marcelle BB Cream in my Coming Soon post. I’m going to share that information again with you here today as well as give you my thoughts on the formula and swatches.

Marcelle® proudly introduces the first Canadian-made BB Cream formulated specially for Canadian women in pharmacies as well as mass retail stores! The Marcelle® BB Cream will be in stores on February 6, 2012.

BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION
Inspired by a trend that perfected skin and enhanced complexions all over Asia, Marcelle® formulated its own BB Cream to cater the needs of Canadian consumers. This multi-purpose skin care cream is more than a tinted moisturizer or simple make-up base. It perfects the skin to reveal a more even epidermis and well-hydrated, flawless complexion, all in one. Ideal for any age and any skin type, the Marcelle® BB Cream comes in two shades and is suitable for a wide variety of carnations thanks to its self-adjusting pigments that transform and adapt to skin tone.
What’s a BB?
Moisturizing skin care, tinted corrector and make-up base all in one, Marcelle® “BB” stands for Beauty Balm, as it truly enhances your natural beauty.
We have also seen the expressions Blemish Base, Blemish Balm and Beauty Base.

The Marcelle BB Cream can be used in many ways. You can just use it as a day cream/tinted moisturizer or use it as a base under foundation for more coverage and lasting power. I will be receiving a press sample of the BB Cream and I cannot wait to share my thoughts with you on it. I have been eager to try a BB cream for ages and I am ecstatic that my first experience will be with the first Canadian offering!

8 IN 1 MULTI-BENEFITS

This Beauty Balm with self-adjusting pigments, powerful antioxidants, aloe and chamomile does it all for your skin:

Minimizes the appearance of imperfections and pores

Evens out skin tone

Provides an excellent make-up base and replaces primers

Matifies skin and controls shine

Offers immediate and long-term hydrating benefits

Soothes and calms skins

Protects from premature aging and environmental stresses

Promotes skin regeneration

It perfects the skin to reveal a more even epidermis and well-hydrated flawless complexion, all in one.

FEATURES

Ultra-lightweight formula leaves skin with “nothing on” feel
Oil, paraben and perfume free
Ultra-hygienic airless tube-pump
Non comedogenic
Dermatologist tested
Suitable for all age groups and skin types.

KEY INGREDIENTS

Hyaluronic Acid
Aquaxyl
Glycerine
Vitamin E
Aloe Vera
Green Tea & Camomile
Soft Focus Powders

BENEFITS

Improves skin elasticity, helps minimize wrinkles, hydrates
Moisturizes and helps correct imperfections
Hydrates
Antioxidant to protect skin
Soothes & hydrates
Stimulates, reinvigorates & soothes
Light-reflecting, enhance complexion

Here is a swatch of the Marcelle BB Cream. You are probably thinking the same thing as I was. “That’s going to be way too dark”.

Well I was wrong. It blends into my skin effortlessly and somehow morphs to match my skintone. The lighting makes it appear a bit yellow against my pink skintone but let me assure you this product is very neutral. While blended this is still a fairly heavy swatch. I find the product to be very beige. No overt orange or pink tones.

The first day I tried this I tweeted that it must be some sort of voodoo magic. The smooth, creamy texture blends right into the skin and seems to be invisible while at the same time evening out my skin tone and blurring pores and flaws. I’m addicted. I’ve been wearing this almost everyday since receiving my press sample. If you want more coverage you could easily use this product as a primer underneath or mix with your favourite foundation to boost the coverage. For most days just the Marcelle BB Cream with some concealer under my eyes is all I need to feel more perfected yet completely natural.

I can’t speak to the long term benefits of this product yet but so far I’m very impressed.

You’ll be seeing this BB Cream in action in lots of upcoming FOTD posts.

The Marcelle BB Cream will be offered in limited quantities online as early as January 16, 2012. Sold at its regular price of $22.95, shipping is FREE with any purchase over $25.00 before taxes at shop.Marcelle.com. Offer starts January 16, 2012. The Marcelle BB Cream should be available in stores on February 6th, 2012.

* This product was provided at no charge for my consideration and honest review.

Filed Under: BB Cream, Marcelle