BB Creams for All Skin Types

A BB cream is a type of face makeup that isn’t quite foundation but also isn’t a tinted moisturizer. Rather, BB cream is in a league of its own as it offers skincare benefits and light coverage. The name BB cream comes from beauty balm or blemish balm, which makes sense, as it is a multitasking product that evens out the skin tone, can have brightening benefits, offers SPF protection, and imparts a fresh, radiant finish. It’s perfect for creating a five-minute face in the morning that’s low maintenance, but gives you that “I woke up like this” glow. Other hybrid complexion products you might like include our Super Stay Skin Tint and Instant Age Rewind Perfector.

A BB cream is meant to take the place of several products in just one step. You get hydration, lightweight coverage, and, depending on the formula, SPF or blemish-fighting ingredients. You can expect brightening, blurring, smoothing, and overall complexion-enhancing benefits.

You use a BB cream similarly to any other face makeup product, applying a small amount to clean, moisturized skin and then blending. Because a BB cream is such a lightweight formula, you can easily apply and blend it with your fingers, but if you prefer more of a sheered-out finish, go for a sponge. A brush will offer the smoothest finish and will allow you to layer, in case you want more coverage. In most cases, your BB cream can be the first step in your makeup routine after skincare, but if you’re prepping oily skin, you may want to use a primer like Fit Me® Matte + Poreless Primer, which will help lock in your look all day and prevent your complexion from getting too greasy.

The best BB cream for you will be dependent on your skin type and concerns. See below for a guide that will help you choose.

The best BB cream for oily skin: Dream BB Pure BB Cream
The best BB cream for brightening the skin: Dream BB Fresh BB Cream
The best BB cream for acne-prone skin: Dream BB Pure BB Cream
The best BB cream for a fresh, radiant finish: Dream BB Fresh BB Cream

No, BB creams do not clog pores. Most BB creams, including Maybelline’s, are lightweight, making them non-comedogenic (meaning they won’t clog the pores) and are tested for daily wear. In fact, certain formulas, such as our Dream BB Pure BB Cream have ingredients that will actually help to unclog the pores and treat/prevent breakouts. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, it’s smart to look for the phrase "non-comedogenic" on labels to ensure non-pore-clogging formulas.

Apply Maybelline BB cream in the same way that you would apply any other BB cream, in a small dime-sized amount, after you’ve applied your moisturizer. You can use your fingers, a sponge, or a brush to blend. We recommend applying in the center of your face first, as the nose, chin, and forehead are usually where the most redness is, and then blend outwards. To keep your coverage in place and give it a more long-wear finish, dust some Fit Me® Loose Finishing Powder over the top of your BB cream, especially in areas that are prone to creasing and getting greasy, like under the eyes, around the nose, and on the forehead and chin.

To apply BB cream for oily skin, the goal is to mattify and regulate oil production, so starting with a mattifying primer and finishing with powder is key. Before you apply your BB cream, go in with Fit Me® Matte + Poreless Primer, then apply your Dream BB Pure BB Cream and finish with Fit Me® Loose Finishing Powder on top for a smooth, matte finish.

BB cream typically lasts on the face for 6-8 hours. Of course, this is dependent on your skin type, the weather, your activities while wearing it, etc. But, to help lock in your look for longer wear, it’s smart to start with a primer and finish with a powder and/or a setting spray to extend your wear. Try spritzing Lasting Fix Setting Spray in a “Z” shape across your finished face makeup to ensure it’s fully covered.

Although BB cream will hydrate the skin, it’s not meant to replace your moisturizer. Instead, we recommend using your go-to moisturizer and following that up with your BB cream. This is especially important for those with dry skin, as BB cream alone will not offer all of the hydration that your skin needs. For even more hydration and extended wear of your BB cream, try pairing it with Poreless Jelly Up To 24hr Hydrating Blur Primer, which has a unique water jelly technology that delivers weightless hydration while minimizing the appearance of pores.

Yes, BB cream can replace your foundation, should you want lighter coverage. BB creams provide a light, luminous tint to skin, giving it an even glow and reducing redness, but they won't necessarily cover more intense blemishes or discoloration like a full foundation can. For more coverage, you can layer your BB cream with a light foundation such as our Super Stay Lumi-Matte Foundation. You can easily sheer out the coverage by using a damp makeup sponge to apply it.

Yes, BB cream is suitable for all skin types, but depending on your skin type, you may want to tailor your application and prep to best meet your needs. For instance, oily skin would opt for a mattifying primer like Fit Me® Matte + Poreless Primer and setting powder on top, whereas dry skin might do best with Poreless Jelly Up To 24hr Hydrating Blur Primer first and a spritz of Facestudio Glass Spray on top. We recommend Dream BB Pure BB Cream for oily or acne-prone skin, and Dream BB Fresh BB Cream for drier skin.

Yes, BB cream can be a good option for acne-prone skin as it’s lighter weight than other face makeup formulas. BB creams are often tested and deemed non-comedogenic, meaning they won’t clog the pores, and they can even contain soothing and acne-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid. Find it in our Dream BB Pure BB Cream, which is specifically formulated for oily and blemish-prone skin.

Yes, you can wear BB cream by itself; in fact, BB cream is designed to be worn alone, which is why it combines the benefits of both coverage and skincare. As a hybrid face makeup product, BB cream provides coverage, can even out the skin, smooths, blurs, and hydrates. Depending on your skin concerns, you can also find BB creams that are formulated with certain ingredients, such as those with SPF for sun protection, like our Dream BB Fresh BB Cream or our Dream BB Pure BB Cream, which has salicylic acid for treating and preventing breakouts.

Yes, BB cream is ok for older skin, especially when paired with other hydrating formulas to help plump and smooth mature skin types. Hydrating serums with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, followed by a primer like Poreless Jelly Up To 24hr Hydrating Blur Primer helps to boost moisture and should be used ahead of your BB cream. Go for Dream BB Fresh BB Cream, which will give you a fresh, radiant finish. For a little extra coverage, try pairing your BB cream with our Instant Age Rewind® Eraser Multi-Use Concealer, which will help boost brightness under the eyes for a healthy, youthful glow.

Yes, BB cream is great to use daily, as it’s lightweight, low maintenance, and non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores. This helps keep skin smooth, healthy, and blemish-free. Just remember to remove it at the end of the day with a gentle cleanser or micellar water for the best results.

Although both are types of face makeup, BB cream is different from foundation because it’s lighter weight and offers skincare benefits as well as sheer coverage, making it great for everyday wear. Foundation, however, is more pigmented and better suited for full coverage and more glam looks.