Skin79 BB Cream Miniature Set

So all of a sudden I got the urge to try bb creams again. After my first venture with Missha M BB Cream Watery SPF27 PA++, I was, well, indifferent at best. I guess for those who wear some form of foundation regularly, bb creams are really a multi-purpose, one size fits all, *#*-in-1 step that really cuts out several layers of products (moisturizer, whatever else, sunscreen, foundation, etc.). But I don't even wear foundation to begin with, and though the moisturizing factor is nice, when I need a moisturizer the last thing I think about is bb cream. As for sunscreen, I already explained why skincare/makeup products with sunscreens are completely useless, so I have no interest whatsoever in the "sun protection" in bb creams. I guess I don't really have an explanation for why I want to try bb creams again after all ^.^

Skin79 BB Cream Miniature Set Black

I've looked in several Korean makeup boutiques around the area, namely Missha and Skinfood, but all the prices are jacked way up, so naturally I looked into Ebay :P Luckily, there are well known bb cream brands with miniature sets so curious folks like me can sample what's out there. I decided to get the Skin79 BB Cream Miniature Set - Black, which includes 4 miniatures of the Super Plus BB Cream Gold, Super Plus BB Cream Triple Function (hot pink tube), Diamond Collection The Prestige BB Cream, and Diamond Collection Luminous Pearl BB Cream.

From left to right: Gold, Triple Function (hot pink tube), The Prestige, and Luminous Pearl

From left to right: Gold, Triple Function (hot pink tube), The Prestige, and Luminous Pearl

Clockwise from bottom left: Gold, Triple Function (hot pink tube), The Prestige, Luminous Pearl

- Super Plus BB Cream Gold: out of the 4 minis, this one is the most moisturizing, thickest in texture (feels like a light cream), and has the best coverage. I don't really care for any coverage, but right now my skin is super dry so I like the feel of this one best. And although the color looks a bit ashy swatched on the back of my hand, it blended well when applied to my face. I apply very little anyway, only a pin's head amount on the forehead, cheeks and chin and then spread and blend. I wore this several times, most recently on a night out to Tokyo Tower with hubby.

- Super Plus BB Cream Triple Function: out of the 4 minis, this one in the hot pink tube ranks #2 in all aspects: moisturizing, thickness (feels like a lotion), and has some coverage. This may make an excellent all season bb cream if you have dryer skin. For someone with dry combination skin like me, it's not moisturizing enough when my skin is driest but at the same time will probably be too moisturizing for summer wear. So yeah, I will have to find a period of time between fall or spring to wear it, but otherwise this hot pink one not quite there for me. This one swatched a bit less ashy than the Gold but again it blended into my facial skin upon application.

- Diamond Collection The Prestige BB Cream: this one is even thinner in texture than the previous two, less moisturizing, and has less coverage. It feels like a runny liquid translucent foundation. When swatched, it matched the skin on the back of my hand almost perfectly. On my face, it looks and feels like a veil of translucent base. The [big] problem I have with this one is that it's not moisturizing enough for me to use at this time of the year and made my cheeks and mouth area even more flaky than they already are! I will have to try this again in the summer. Will update then.

- Diamond Collection Luminous Pearl BB Cream: this one confuses me greatly. I'm not sure why it's called a bb cream because it's basically a liquid highlighter. It's runny, has no moisturizing properties whatsoever and no coverage either. It is shimmery, though the shimmers are very fine and pearly and not sparkly or gaudy, but it is quite potent. Look at the swatch and judge for yourself! I tried this once and first it dried out my skin, then its shimmers attract all the attention to the dry flakes. Urgh. Actually, I don't hate it, because surprisingly, it makes a nice concealer/brightener/highlighter for my under eye area ^.^ I just can't use it right now because my skin is so dry, so this one is deferred to the summer use as well.