Product Review: Maybelline NY Dream Pure BB Cream for Oily Skin

Hello lovelies!

Another review for you today, this time on the Maybelline BB Cream. I was never much of a believer in BB creams; I thought they were essentially tinted moisturisers reinvented under another name by cosmetics companies. Having had very little love for tinted moisturisers in the past, I steered well clear of BB creams. I figured, if I was going to go to the trouble of putting something on my face, I would just use a foundation, that way I knew it would last as long as I needed it to and cover what I wanted it to.

I did however decide to purchase this one on an impulse one day (this is a much too common occurrence and I’m sure many of you can relate). I’d been working for four hours in the beauty isle in Coles doing some promotional work, and was essentially so bored that I spent my time looking at every single makeup product in that isle. When I saw that this BB cream was specifically designed for oily skin, I was intrigued. I was hoping that perhaps it was specifically designed with the extra staying power that a product requires to adhere to my delightfully oily complexion. Alas, this was not the case. I think that in stating it is for oily skin, they are referring to the presence of salicylic acid in the product, which is great for people with oily skin as it helps prevent blocked pores and breakouts that tend to occur more frequently with oily skin.

Despite the fact that it didn’t have the staying power I was hoping for, I actually really like this product. I have noticed such a difference in my skin since I have stopped wearing foundation as often and worn this instead. I have markedly less breakouts, the texture is much smoother and it appears brighter. That’ll be the salicylic acid working its magic. The coverage is light to medium, and definitely build-able. I also really love the fact that it literally feels like moisturiser on your skin; it’s so light and refreshing, which you rarely get from a full on foundation. You can use this product with or without moisturiser, I choose to use it on its own as I feel my skin would get super oily if I moisturised as well. Another plus with this product is obviously the price; it’s around $15.00 AU and available in supermarkets and pharmacies.

As I said before, the one downfall of this product is its staying power. However, I find that with a few tricks I can make it last almost as long as my normal foundation, and if I need to touch up with a powder throughout the day I can do so without it caking up. It comes in only three shades, but as it is a BB cream it has a technology in it which means it adjusts slightly to suit your skin tone as it oxidises.

The fact that I can get the coverage I like from a product that is actually making my skin better is amazing. I have already repurchased it. I would definitely recommend this product. For those of you with dry skin, I would recommend the version that does not contain salicylic acid, as this can really dry out your skin. There is a version of this product that comes without it (in the pink packaging). If you have oily or blemish-prone skin, I would definitely give this product a try. It took me a while to get used to not having as much coverage, however now that my skin has improved I find I don’t even need it anymore. I do still crack out my foundations if I’m doing dramatic makeup that requires a flawless base or if I need my makeup to last for 10 hours, but I think this product is perfect for everyday wear.

 

Product Review: Benefit Cosmetics ‘The Porefessional’

 

This product is probably one of the most talked-about beauty essentials of the last year and a half. Bloggers from all over the world have hailed this product as their answer to any woes that pores present. It is a silicone based product which claims to smooth skin and fill pores, allowing for easier makeup application and a more flawless looking face.

The first thing that I want to say about this product is to clarify that it is not in itself a primer. I feel as though it is mistakenly marketed as one, not necessarily by Benefit but by various beauty bloggers/vloggers. This product’s sole purpose is to smooth the skin, and it does this extremely well. However, it does not in any way improve the longevity or staying power of your makeup. As someone with oily skin, I feel as though this product must also be paired with a primer otherwise my makeup will be moving around my face within a couple of hours. As a result, there are now even more products on the skin, which can cause makeup to look much less natural and in some cases even cakey. For oily skin, I would recommend an oil-minimising primer instead of The Porefessional.

For dry skin, this product can tend to cling to any dry patches, so it is essential to moisturise well before applying it. It is also helpful to exfoliate well to ensure that any flakey skin is removed, as this product will only highlight it.

As far as its actual purpose goes, this product does fairly well. It minimises the appearance of pores and makes the skin silky smooth. It can be worn on its own to smooth the skin, underneath foundation, or over the top. Although it is a silicone based product, it does well in that it is not too heavy on the skin, nor does it apply too thickly. This tends to be the case with some cheaper alternatives. I would recommend this product for normal to dry skin.

I do like this product, however given the price and the fact that I have oily skin I don’t think I will be repurchasing it as it does not suit me as well as some other primers might. I also believe there are some great drug store alternatives for this product that can be bought at a fraction of the price, for example the L’Oreal Miracle Blur.

Let me know what you guys think of this product!