Have BB creams gone the way of the dinosaurs? Certainly not. BB creams are here to stay no matter how many alphabet creams come after. It revolutionized the way everyday makeup should be, with its thinner texture, skin-friendly ingredients, and high SPF protection. Think about the options we had before BB creams came. This type of makeup opened up a whole dam of possibilities!

This week, I'll be talking about some of the newer BB creams I have in my kit. :) Let's begin with the best one I've tried to date: the Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF35 PA+++ (P2,000+).

Yes, you heard it right - this is my new favorite! The best thing about it is that it comes in five shades* that are yellow-toned and works best with our Asian skin. You never have to worry if your face flashes gray or beige (a chronic problem with BBs); you can easily find a perfect match! I have yet to see a locally available BB cream with a better shade selection that this one.

Texture, coverage, and finish. The Bobbi Brown BB cream has a light yet creamy texture that would suit dry to combination skin best. It has a dewy, illuminating finish that looks like second skin - a trademark characteristic of all Bobbi face bases. Coverage is sheer but can be layered up to medium. It looks really beautiful when worn!

Do you notice how I rarely review skincare or foundation here? I might feature them and give a bit of information about them, but I probably don't use 90% of the facecare products I receive. It's because I am deathly afraid of breakouts. They come in swiftly if I happen to use a product that has ingredients I am reactive to. They multiply even if I only use the product once. It takes about a week to heal the damage, and a couple of months to fade out the acne scars left over. 

This is the "unfun" part of beauty blogging. It's always a serious risk to try a new face product, so I usually only test those from brands I already trust. Stuff from brands I'm not familiar with get relegated to the "I'll Review It Someday When My Face Is Clear Enough To Take Any Potential Damage" box. Something like the Dermalogica Sheer Tint SPF20 (P2,250).

Dermalogica is a brand that's famous for cosmeceutical products. I remember severely wanting to try their spot corrector and exfoliator after Lisa Eldridge talked about them, but I was unsure where I could find them. Apparently, there's Dermalogica in Rustan's! I checked out a display once and found a wide selection of items to choose from. Also, the pricing isn't unjustifiably far off from the US price. Always a good sign.

So okay, let's talk about the Dermalogica Sheer Tint! This is primarily a gel-based illuminating moisturizer that promises to improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of dehydration lines with powerful plant extracts. A mouthful, but the summary is that this. Stuff. Works. It immediately brightens up my skin and makes it feel smoother and healthier after application. It's also a great makeup base, in the sense that it helps your makeup adhere better, though not necessarily last longer.

Many tinted moisturizers/ BB creams today are foundations masquerading as part skincare. The Dermalogica Sheer Tint is primarily a skincare product. You can feel it once it sinks on your skin.

Ola! It's almost the end of July. Next week I'll be in Hong Kong with my parents, a trip I'm looking forward to! It's going to be my first time there so I'd love to read your advice on where to shop and eat. ;) I'm not looking for makeup per se. I'm more interested in clothes and shoes at bargain prices. 

Anyhoo, today I'll be talking about the latest products from Celeteque. It's been a while since I've used Celeteque, so the level of quality in its products is a surprise to me! The BB Cream and Brightening Body Cream are pretty good, ha. I'll be reviewing them quickly in this post.

The Celeteque Anti-Stretch Mark Cream has elastonyl (to improve elasticity), phyto collage (derived from soybeans, for plumping), alchemilla vulgaris (herb that has medicinal qualities), and shea butter, four ingredients that are said to lessen the appearance of stretch marks. It is recommended for women who just gave birth, to help stop stetch marks in their tracks as the skin tries to regain its elasticity. 

And here is the star of the trio, for me! The Celeteque Multi-Benefit BB Cream (P325) brightens skin instantly and has a yellow-neutral tone to it that should match light to medium skin. It has the texture of a long-wearing face base - it's water-based, a bit difficult to spread, and sets completely in half a minute. It kinda reminds me of the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Foundation (liquid) and Estee Lauder Double Wear Light in terms of texture.

BB creams and CC creams are easily available in the market. However, if you want to save a few bucks by simply re-purposing some beauty products you already have, then make your own! It will rock. You will probably be able to get a better shade match and a skin-beneficial product in the bargain.

It begs the question: why don't you just apply these things seperately and call it a day? That works too but it's a lot more time consuming. With a (home-made or store-bought) BB/CC cream, you can skip several steps in your routine!

So, I've decided to make a tutorial on how to make your own BB cream and CC cream. BB creams are technically mid-coverage bases with a lot of SPF and skincare properties thrown in. CC creams on the other hand are also beneficial to the skin but have sheerer, more illuminating coverage. To create one, all you need to do is tweak your DIY or store-bought BB cream. ;)

Let's get started!

These are the basic things you need. The beauty is that you don't have to use these exact same brands posted here! Just use skincare that works for you and your favorite liquid foundation. I will also include alternatives.

1. Moisturizer with SPF. It ain't a proper BB/CC cream without SPF. ;) If you use an SPF 50 cream, don't expect that number per application since it will already be diluted. What I used: Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF50 PA+++

Oh dear. Did you know that there would be a DD Cream coming out next month? It's from this nail polish brand called Julep. "DD" is supposed to stand for "Dynamic Do-All" since it has the skincare properties of BB cream with the color correction of CC cream. All I can say is - whatever.

When BB creams came out, people were truly astonished. There wasn't anything quite like it. Tinted moisturizers were the predecessors, but about seven years ago they came in very limited shades and textures. BB creams offered so much more - skincare actives that promise whitening, anti-aging, brightening, and a whole host of other desirable effects.

Tinted moisturizers gave us little more than a bit of coverage and moisture. BB creams promised to be preventive, and beneficial over time while providing much-needed coverage in an instant.

And then CC creams came to town.

Pond's joined the BB cream bandwagon rather late, but they believe they came out with something that's totally worth the wait. True enough, the Pond's Flawless White and Age Miracle BB Creams (P399) did not disappoint. It's fairly good considering how much it costs.

I'm pleasantly surprised by how nice the texture of this Pond's product is! It's water-based and therefore non-greasy, and it does help brighten and even out the complexion instantly. It's easy to apply and it also dries in a few minutes. You won't even need a setting powder if you're not particularly oily, but if you want to extend the wear time then you must set it with foundation or at least a face powder.

By itself, this BB cream lasts for about 3 hours before it starts to fade. I don't like to think of it as foundation - it's really more of a skincare/ makeup base, the way BB creams were originally supposed to be.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: BB creams have come a long way. No longer are they thick and unwieldy, they're now more comfortable in humid weather, with a more perfecting finish. Well, the shade selection is still limited but if you fall in the fair to medium range then you shouldn't have any trouble.

Now three of the BB creams featured here are too light on me, but that's because I didn't get the chance to choose the right shade. That notwithstanding the formula of these BB creams are amazing! Here's why I highly recommend them. :)

The Fairydrops Candy Bar BB Cream is hands down my favorite BB cream ever. It stays put, matches my skin perfectly (luckily), and has such a flawless, photogenic finish. It's definitely something I would buy when I run out!

A lot of people don't like that this doesn't have SPF - it's unheard of for a BB cream to have no SPF! - but for me that feature is a boon. At least this product can be worn pretty much any time during the 24-hour day. It's not a big hassle for me to just use my preferred SPF moisturizer/base if I am going out in daylight.

Best for: girls with oily skin, who need a photo-ready face base. Light to medium range only (two shades).

I'm sure you've already seen the raves about the Fairydrops Candy Bar BB Cream (P1,550) from the other beauty bloggers. No question about it, this stuff is da cheese! It's a great face base for two reasons: the flawless satiny finish and color match (at least on me). It's also the first BB cream I've encountered that has no SPF whatosever.

While other BB creams focus on skincare claims and sun protection, the Fairydrops Candy Bar is all about perfecting the skin. A Japanese newscaster, who needed something that will look good on harsh studio lighting, is credited for helping formulate it. It's supposed to have micro-gold pigments and soft focus powder in the waterproof formula.

Here's what I think!

What I love about the product

• It makes my skin look fantastic. Not just good or nice, but fantastic both in person and on camera. It has light to medium coverage, which evens out my skintone well. It won't cover major blemishes or acne but it can give brighter-looking skin.
• This has no perceptible shimmer. It has a satin finish which means that it's not glowy or dewy; more like matte but with a bit of fresh lustre to it. Like real skin.

I've always thought of BB creams as just another form of foundation. Most of them have pretty good coverage already, but of course with the added SPF and skincare properties that can't be found in your usual bottle of face makeup. It's a marvelous idea for women who need multi-tasking products - who doesn't want their sunscreen, serum, moisturizer, primer, and coverage in one bottle? Provided that there's a good shade match that is.

One of the latest BB creams to hit the market is the Etude House Precious Mineral BBdation (P848 / with applicator P1,678). It's an out-and-out foundation that promises "zero defect skin", whitening, and anti-wrinkle. Let's go back to the zero defect skin part. What? Is that even possible? Well not really! However this does a bangin' job making skin look great. It doesn't cover dark blemishes but it blurs out lighter ones and fills in pores/ minor wrinkles as well, thus delivering a super smooth finish. You'll see a photo later.

Texture. It's a bit mousse-y, surprisingly. It applies thinly and is very emollient so I'm inclined to think that it moisturizes skin. You will only need one full pump to cover your whole face, which makes it economical.

Oooh my first time to try Laneige! Other bloggers have raved about the brand so naturally I want to see what the fuss is about. That said, I got the Laneige Snow BB Soothing Cushion (P1,950 with refill) a few weeks ago and have been using it every so often. Not as often as I would like, to be honest, only because I chose the wrong shade. 

First off, this is not foundation. Laneige primarily describes it as a whitening product with SPF which is pretty much how many BB creams are. The Snow BB provides just enough coverage to even out skin and give it a dewy glow, but it won't hide blemishes or pimples you might have. It's really more of a tinted makeup base that anything else.

Here's a quick rundown!

What I love about the product

• Gives a dewy, super natural finish on skin. It doesn't look like makeup because it's sheer and allows your real skin to show.
• Has SPF50 PA+++. That's a pretty good number if you're looking for extra sun protection!

I have so many new finds that I'm just bursting to share with you guys! That said, however, I don't want Project Vanity to be a blog that just keeps pushing you to buy things you may not even need. This whole beauty thing is not about getting the hottest products in the market. More than anything, it's about finding, out of the hundreds of products out there, the one that works for you. That's the bottomline.

So yeah, that's why I write about the things I love. :) One of my new favorites is the VMV Hypoallergenics Skintangible SPF30 (P1,050). This for me is the ideal tinted moisturizer/ BB cream. It makes my skin look healthy ang glowing, with SPF30 to boot!

Texture and oil control. If you love the Armada Face Cover 30 then you'll definitely love Skinangible with the same sun screen properties plus a skin-enhancing tint. It has the same light texture that dries down quickly and doesn't feel sticky. It also would not exacerbate oiliness - in fact, in my case (combination skin), this product helps with oil control!

Oily girls, listen up! I have a great reco for you: the Etude House Precious Mineral Sun BB Cream (P978). It's a long-lasting, water and oil resistant BB cream that has SPF50 to boot. It's ideal for those days when you need to hustle under the sun for long periods of time - super useful here in our country where summer is the default weather.

I'm really diggin' this product, and here's why!

Coverage and finish. The Sun BB Cream has a medium to heavy coverage. It can hide minor blemishes and eyebags - really useful for those who have far from perfect skin. The finish is quite matte (not flat though) and very smooth. Just remember to blend it very carefully to avoid uneven coverage.

Shade selection. There are three shades available, Light Beige (for fair skin), Natural beige (fair medium), Sand Beige (dark medium). The one I have, Natural Beige, is roughly two shades lighter than my skin upon application but it settles down to one shade lighter.

BB or blemish balm creams have gone a long way. From being overly thick and white just a few years ago, they have now evolved into light textured semi-foundations that come in different shades. Everybody wins, really! 

Today I'll be reviewing the Etude House Precious Mineral BB Cream (P798). It's a nice BB cream with heavy coverage and the lasting power of your average liquid foundation. No, it can't be categorized as tinted moisturizer. It's a nice brightening foundation that comes in four shades which can accommodate Pinay skin.

What I love about the product

• It delivers an even, smooth finish that looks like skin. It has brightening properties so you get a glowy finish!
• Medium to heavy coverage with only a small amount.
• Has SPF30 PA++! Pretty good sun protection, so even if you only use a little, you still get adequate cover from the sun.

I've been awake since 5 am today and so many things have been running through my head. Work, random bits of information, what I'm going to say online today. Those kinds of things. In the wee hours of the morning when I am the most alone, it's my dog who keeps me sane.

So! It's going to be an extremely busy week! To kick it off, here's a review of a couple of Estee Lauder CyberWhite Brilliant Cells products.

I'm not really into BB creams per se, but I do like tinted moisturizers when they actually have skincare benefits. The Estee Lauder CyberWhite Brilliant Cells Extra Intensive BB Cream is a skincare product first and makeup second. It doesn't have much in the way of coverage, but my skin always feels smooth and bright after using it.

It's the kind of product you throw on when you just want an evened complexion and SPF protection (it has SPF35). It does stay on for at least four hours, and works with my combination oily skin once set with powder.

You'll remember that I really liked the Tony Moly Baby Doll BB Foundation, so I was looking forward to try other BB creams from the brand. I just waited until my pimples cleared up before trying the Tony Moly Dear Me Petite Cotton BB Cream (P348). I was super relieved when I didn't break out again! I think I'm hiyang with Tony Moly face products, thank goodness.

Anyway, the Dear Me BB Cream has a few interesting things to offer, enough that you may want to check it out for yourself.

What I love about the product

• Good for oily and sweaty skin! It's creamy but it dries up quickly when you apply it - and stays that way. It's more or less water resistant, and it also doesn't melt in a goopy mess even under the midday heat. Perfect for the schizophrenic Manila weather, if I do say so myself.
• Great coverage. It covers light blemishes and eyebags pretty darn well. Actually, I think it's an excellent undereye concealer.

Now that the mega drugstore retailer, Watsons, carries BB creams in their shelves as if they were candy, there is no doubt that the Philippines has been converted to the BB cream religion. And why not? BB creams are extremely convenient for the busy career woman - or even man, for that matter - and they usually provide instant sun protection which is a must in the tropics.

I use one or two BB creams on occasion, myself, usually when I step out of the house. These creams are great, but just don't expect them to deliver their promise of being skincare too, because they're not. BB creams are now completely makeup, far from their original lofty ideals of being "blemish balms" for damaged skin.

That said, meet some of Watsons best BB creams! (And don't forget to read my BB cream/ tinted moisturizer battle royale post).

The Gluta & Placenta BB Cream by Glorious Skin (P169) is probably the cheapest one out there. It's perfect for teens who want to try their first foundation, especially since this one provides natural but good coverage at a nice price.

Someone over on Facebook asked me about tinted moisturizer brands to try. Since I knew that my answer is bound to be pretty long, I decided to blog it instead! I included BB creams in this list because they are actually tinted moisturizers just called differently - they work on the same principle of providing sheer, natural coverage and moisture in one product.

I made a list of all the TMs/BB creams I've ever tried according to budget and what they're best for. Please note that it's a given that the shades are very, very limited plus TMs/ BB creams in general are not designed with morena skin in mind. Sad but true - still, I have a couple of TMs here that might have a shade for darker skin!

Click the links to see the detailed review!

Super affordable

Myra Vitaglow tinted moisturizer (P150)

Pros: Incredibly cheap at P150 but still works pretty well for the price. Provides natural coverage and comes in two Pinay skin friendly shades (they're light but they blend in nicely). Has SPF15 and Vitamin E.

Are you a makeup snob? I wouldn't call myself one because I do use drugstore brands that do wonderful things for the price. However, in my experience, the more expensive products tend to work better than their affordable counterparts. That's why I would rather save my money and spend it on big-ticket beauty items if I'm going to have to buy a specific type of product anyway.

Take foundation, for instance. The best foundation I've ever tried hurt my wallet pretty badly, but it was one of my best buys ever. I have found that foundation is something that's difficult to get right so the good ones tend to cost a really pretty penny. That's why I kinda don't know why I purchased the Tony Moly Baby Doll BB DollFoundation, because it's just P398. I didn't know exactly what I expected from it!

Well, I was impressed when I swatched it in the store and thought it was quite interesting. The clincher though was the fact that Tony Moly was new and I want to try something new. Good thing that this foundation is actually a nice product so I feel that my 400 bucks went to the right place.

Coverage and finish. I wouldn't call the Tony Moly BB Doll Foundation a proper "foundation" though. It's really more of a BB cream or tinted moisturizer to me, judging by the texture and coverage.

I visited Rustan's Makati yesterday for my regular "what's up" checkup. Guess who I ran into! Why, Carrot of Bobbi Brown! She was doing her usual counter visits at La Mer and Bobbi, looking all fresh and pretty even though I know she's probably already mega stressed by that time (as all the Estee Lauder girls are!). I asked her if there's anything new, so she told me about Bobbi's latest product: the Bobbi Brown BB Cream with SPF35 PA++.

Developed by Bobbi Brown for customers who want a product with serious skincare and makeup benefits, this all-in-one cream perfects and smoothes skin’s appearance—instantly and over time. Its easily buildable formula evens out and gives skin a lit-from-within glow. Skin is filled with moisture as oil and shine are kept at bay. Plus SPF helps protect skin against UVA/UVB damage.

In a short while, fine lines and wrinkles appear less noticeable, visible redness is reduced and pores appear more refined.

This new BB cream is so popular that it's already sold out within the month! According to Carrot, they will restock by the end of June or early July so BB cream fans, you have to wait 'till then. In the meantime, I have swatches and first impressions for you.