Smashbox BB Cream - Swatches and Review

 I'm a little late to jump on the BB cream band-wagon, but here's my review of Smashbox's BB cream.


After a little research, months ago, most people were saying BB stood for Blemish Balm. Smashbox's BB apparently stands for Beauty Balm. Maybe because it's supposed to do more? I have no idea...

I adore Smashbox's boxes. If you have ever owned a Smashbox product, you'll know what I'm talking about. The feel of the boxes make the product feel that much nicer. It's a matte box; it feels smooth and soft.

Here's a nice ol' sideways picture. It's horizontal normally, but when I upload it to Blogger, it's orientation gets all messed up. Anyway, the shade I have is in light. It's a pretty good match, but it makes me a tad tan. This BB cream is available in 5 different shades.

This is the tube the product comes in. It looks just like a foundation bottle, personally. It dispenses the same way, as well.

I had a heck of a time trying to photograph this swatch. My camera would quite grasp it's orange-y undertones.

This products claims to be a 5-in-1. Here's its description:

PRIMES: Wear alone, or under your favorite foundation to create a smooth canvas.
PERFECTS: Tinted formula in 5 shades evens out skin for a flawless finish.
HYDRATES: Improves skin moisture in 4 weeks. Guaranteed.
PROTECTS: SPF 35 guards against UVA/UVB rays.
CONTROLS OIL: Minimizes shine with no chalky finish. 

What I liked:

-I love the packaging. It looks very professional.

-It has very good coverage.

-I can use this as a substitute for my foundation.

-It has SPF 35.

-The product isn't super thick, so it's easy to apply with fingers.

-I can apply it like a foundation, with stippling techniques, which I prefer.

-It does conceal oily spots; it mattifies them.

What I didn't like:

-It doesn't live up to all of it's claims. I wouldn't say it "perfects" or "primes." 

-The product does make your face very smooth but it definitely does not have all the benefits of a primer. I also think it would quite ridiculous to put this under a foundation, unless you want super-duper coverage. It feels like a foundation, so I can't imagine what it would feel like with foundation over it. 

-When I apply it, my little dry blotches are very visible. More so than before I applied the product.

I'm pretty happy with this product overall. It's going to be replacing my foundation, unless I want heavy coverage. This lasts throughout the day, and is very lightweight. 

It's $39 and is available from smashbox.com, sephora.com, Sephora outlets, and ulta.com. This may be available in Ulta stores too, but I'm not sure.

(This was sent to review by the manufacturer or their PR company. All opinions are my own and honest.)