5 best BB creams for glowy, natural-looking skin
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If they aren't already, BB creams, otherwise known as beauty balms, should be on your must-have list, especially if you happen to love the TikTok-approved “no makeup makeup” look, also known as the “clean girl aesthetic.” In fact, I'll take a wild guess and assume that your very first complexion product was probably a BB cream - I know mine was. And guess what? Ten years after my teenage self tried it for the very first time, I became a beauty journalist and I'm still not ready to move on. I have reviewed some of the best foundations, skin tints and tinted moisturisers on the market, but it's safe to say that BB creams hold a special place in my heart.
The best BB creams I've tried, at a glance:
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Now that the clocks have gone forward and summer is finally on the way, there’s no better time to invest in a good BB cream - or one of the best BB creams with SPF - if you’re after a little extra protection. Personally, I’ve never been a heavy foundation wearer, and during the day I’ll almost always reach for a tinted moisturiser, skin tint or BB cream instead. So what actually is a BB cream? According to Dr Nabil Jetha, Aesthetic Doctor and Founder of Dr Nabil Jetha Clinic, “BB cream acts as a hybrid between skincare and makeup, providing light coverage while offering benefits like hydration and antioxidants.”
Whether you’re completely new to BB creams or just on the hunt for a new formula to add to your routine, I’ve done the research and tried and tested the best options out there. From skin-loving formulas with added skincare benefits to lightweight bases with sheer-to-medium coverage and sun protection, these are the BB creams worth knowing about for every skin type.
How do BB creams work?
BB creams are ideal for creating a more natural-looking base or for those days when you don't feel like wearing a full face of makeup. They're made to provide you with just enough coverage to even out your skin tone, but not so much they mask your skin entirely. And the best part is that thanks to nourishing skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, they'll keep your face hydrated throughout the day, making it look glowy and feel extra fresh for longer.
In the past, most BB creams had a limited shade range and only came in one colour, which wasn't particularly helpful in catering to all skin tones. Thankfully, nowadays brands like Rare Beauty have taken it upon themselves to offer more options. However, if you're used to something that offers full coverage, a BB cream may not be enough for you. And while they've certainly come a long way in terms of their formulation, even the best BB creams sometimes need to be paired with a little bit of concealer, especially if you're looking to cover up any blemishes, dark spots or dark circles.
How I tested BB creams:
As a beauty writer, testing products is literally part of my job — but I only recommend the ones I’d actually tell someone are worth spending their money on. So no, this doesn’t mean swatching a BB cream on my hand once, filming a quick video and calling it a day. Every product in this guide has been properly tested over weeks, sometimes months, to see how it really performs in real life. I' talking long office days, press events, dinner dates and even the odd after-work gym session.
When I’m testing, I also take a proper deep-dive into the ingredients list to work out whether a formula is actually going to benefit my skin over time, or just make it look nice for five minutes. I’m also looking at texture, coverage, smell, whether it goes patchy throughout the day, and how it layers over my skincare and with the rest of my makeup. And while I write about skincare for a living, I always make sure to include expert commentary too, so the guide covers the questions that are better answered by a professional.
Why you can trust me:
I’ve been a beauty writer for six years now - five at The Mirror and the past year at Glamour - and in that time, I’ve tested more base products than I can count. But BB creams are one category I’ve always had a soft spot for. I’ve actually been wearing them since high school, back when makeup was basically banned, but I still wanted something lightweight enough to look like my own skin while giving me just enough coverage to tone down my angry teenage pimples.
So yes, BB creams definitely hold a special place in my heart - but that also means I’m quite picky about them. Every product I recommend has been thoroughly tested by me, or by another trusted member of the Glamour team, and we’re always honest about the downsides too, whether that’s patchiness, a scent we didn’t love or a poor shade range. The goal is always the same: to give you a fair review of what’s actually worth buying.
Scroll to view the GLAMOUR-approved edit of the best BB creams…
At a glance: If you want a BB cream that really earns its place in your makeup bag, this is it. You’re getting light-to-medium coverage, SPF50 and skin-friendly ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide, all in one chic pump bottle.
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Glamour-editor review: “This was easily my favourite of the bunch. The texture is everything I look for in a BB cream: lightweight, hydrating and with just enough coverage to make it obvious you’ve got something on, while still looking like your skin - just better. Because it already contains hydrating ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide, I decided to skip my usual moisturiser and apply it straight onto bare skin first. I wanted to see exactly how it blended and wore on its own, without any other products getting in the way or causing pilling. Don’t worry though, I also tested it with the rest of my skincare and makeup to make sure it played nicely there too.
At first, the shade looked a little dark when I squeezed it out - I went for Medium-Tan - but once I blended it in with my Refy brush, it matched my olive skin tone really well. I love that it has SPF50, so I’m getting solid protection at the same time, and it gives my skin the nicest tanned glow, like I’ve just come back from two weeks in the sun - who doesn't want that? I love wearing this one on its own, but it also looks so good with a liquid blush on top for a bit of extra colour. I don’t have many bad things to say about it, but I will say the shade range is limited, and quite a few shades seem to be sold out across multiple sites - which honestly says a lot about how good it is.”
- Best for: All skin types
- Coverage: Light to medium
- Finish: Fresh, healthy, skin-like
- Key ingredients: Glycerin, niacinamide
- Shades: 4
- Pros: Blends beautifully, good everyday coverage, SPF50, feels comfortable on skin
- Cons: Limited shade range, hard to find some shades in stock
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2. Best dewy BB cream: Kosas BB Burst Tinted Gel Cream
At a glance: No-makeup makeup lovers, this one’s for you. If you want your skin to still look like skin - just a bit glowier, healthier and more hydrated - Kosas BB Burst is a really lovely option. It’s packed with plumping peptides and barrier-supporting squalane, and it's super refreshing to see 24 different shades to choose from!
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Glamour-editor review: “I’d heard a lot about this BB cream - mainly because Hailey Bieber is a fan - so I obviously had to put it to the test. I won’t lie, my first impression wasn’t amazing because the formula separated almost instantly on the back of my hand which isn't ideal. But once I actually applied it to my skin, it blended out beautifully and looked so much better than I expected.
I'd say the texture is quite watery, and feels super lightweight on the skin - so because of this, it gives a lovely dewy, radiant finish - which is ideal for me, who has dry skin. That said, the smell isn’t great - it’s quite strong - and because of the way the formula looks when first pumped out, I wouldn’t say it’s the easiest to pair with lots of other products, especially oils. Still, if you like that fresh, juicy skin look, it’s a really great pick.”
- Best for: Dry skin types
- Coverage: Light to medium
- Finish: Fresh, dewy, skin-like
- Key ingredients: Collagen-supporting copper peptides, and zinc oxide to visibly reduce redness
- Shades: 24
- Pros: Hydrating formula, buildable coverage, lightweight, good shade range
- Cons: Product seems to separate at first & strong scent
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3. Best K-Beauty BB Cream: erborian Ginseng BB Crème
At a glance: A true hybrid formula, this BB cream blends skincare and make-up with a Korean white ginseng complex to hydrate, smooth and create that signature ‘baby skin’ effect. Expect light-to-medium coverage with a naturally dewy finish.
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Glamour editor review: "I’ve been a fan of Erborian for a while now – their CC Red Correct has firmly earned a place in my everyday routine – so I couldn’t wait to put this BB cream to the test. I also recently went to a K-beauty event where I learnt more about the power of ginseng in skincare, a Korean ingredient known for its smoothing and revitalising properties, so I was especially curious to see how this would perform. I went for shade Doré, which turned out to be an ok match for my skin tone - maybe a little too light if I'm being super picky - but nothing a good cream bronzer can't fix.
In terms of texture, it’s slightly thicker than some of the other formulas I’ve tried, so it does take a bit more effort to blend – I found it worked best when properly buffed into the skin. That said, once it’s in, it does a great job of smoothing texture and giving a more even, perfected finish while still looking like skin. It feels nicely hydrating and leaves a soft, dewy glow. The only things to note: the bottle is on the smaller side for the price, so I’m not convinced it’ll last ages, and with SPF 20, it’s not the highest BB cream with SPF out there – so I’d definitely pair it with your usual face sunscreen underneath."
- Best for: Normal to dry skin
- Coverage: Light to medium
- Finish: Dewy, skin-like
- Key ingredients: Korean white ginseng complex
- Shades: 5
- Pros: Smooths texture, hydrating, natural glow
- Cons: Takes longer to blend in, lower SPF (20), and not a huge shade range
4. Best luxury BB cream: Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint
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At a glance: One for anyone who wants their skin to look fresh, glowy and ridiculously healthy without layering on loads of makeup. The water-light formula is packed with tiny micro-droplet pigments that blend into the skin for a sheer tint and the most gorgeous sun-kissed glow, while still looking completely natural - can you tell I'm obsessed?
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"I've used this skin tint pretty much every single day sine it landed on my desk a few weeks back. As you can see in my before and after photos, the finish is subtle - so it's not one to cover up those blemishes or redness, but what it will do is give you fresh, healthy-looking skin that'll get those compliments.
When it comes to application, I gave it a little shake and applied it directly to my bare skin. You also get a small (and I mean tiny) Chanel brush included with the tint - but applying with this is tricky - so I'd suggest using your hands, or a larger brush. This was probably the product that blended the easiest into my skin, and looked the most natural. For such a lightweight base, it's surprisingly long-lasting, and works really well with my other products layered on top. A big fan, but the price? Not so much."
- Best for: Normal to dry skin
- Coverage: Sheer to light
- Finish: Fresh, radiant, skin-like
- Key ingredients: Ultra-concentrated micro-droplet pigments
- Shades: 12
- Pros: Gives a beautiful glow, lightweight, works well with other makeup, looks very natural
- Cons: Expensive & could be too sheer for some
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5. Best BB cream for coverage: Jones Road Just Enough Tinted Moisturizer
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At a glance: If you like your base to have a bit more coverage, but still want that glowy, skin-first finish, this is a good one to know about. It’s packed with hyaluronic acid for hydration and gives skin that fresh, bronzed look without having to reach for a foundation.
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Glamour-editor review: “To be honest, I haven’t used loads from Jones Road, but the products I have tried - mainly Miracle Balm and the eyeshadow stick - have really impressed me. And while this is technically a tinted moisturiser rather than a BB cream, it gives a really similar finish to a lot of the formulas in this guide. As the name suggests, it gives ‘just enough’ coverage to tone down redness and blemishes, while still letting your real skin come through.
That said, it is a little thicker than what I’d usually reach for every day. I wore it for a full week, and for me, it looked best as part of a full face of makeup rather than completely on its own. I do love how hydrating it feels on the skin though, and the subtle golden tan it gave me. I went for Medium Honey - a medium-to-tan shade with neutral undertones - and it matched my olive skin tone perfectly. Maybe not my go-to for every single day, but if you want something a bit weightier than a BB cream that still gives that healthy, skin-like finish, this is a really good one to have in your makeup bag.”
Best for: Both dry and oily skin types
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Glowy, healthy, skin-like
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin and vitamin E
Shades: 16
Pros: Good coverage, hydrating, makes skin look fresh and even
Cons: Slightly thicker coverage than others in this guide
Your FAQs, Answered:
Meet our expert:
| Dr Nabil Jetha | Aesthetic Doctor and Founder of Dr Nabil Jetha Clinic |
What is the difference between CC and BB creams?
“BB creams, or ‘beauty balms’, typically offer lightweight coverage with skincare benefits such as hydration and sometimes SPF. CC creams, meaning ‘colour correcting’, are designed to neutralise redness, pigmentation or uneven tone. Both can improve the appearance of the skin, but neither should replace a proper sunscreen. Even if they contain SPF, they’re applied too sparingly to provide adequate protection.”
What is BB cream used for?
“BB cream acts as a hybrid between skincare and makeup, providing light coverage while offering benefits like hydration and antioxidants. Many patients use it as a daytime alternative to heavier foundation. However, it’s important to apply a medical-grade or dermatologically recommended SPF 50 underneath, as UV protection remains the most important step in preventing premature ageing and pigmentation.”
Is BB cream better than foundation?
“BB cream isn’t necessarily better than foundation - it simply offers a lighter, more natural finish. From a skin health perspective, the most important factor isn’t the coverage level but ensuring proper sun protection underneath. Whether you wear foundation or BB cream, an SPF 50 should always be applied first.”
Do you need to apply SPF if your BB cream has SPF in?
“Yes - absolutely. BB creams with SPF do not provide sufficient protection on their own. To reach the labelled SPF, you would need to apply a much thicker layer than most people are comfortable wearing. An aesthetic doctor would always recommend applying a dedicated broad-spectrum SPF 50 as your base layer, then using BB cream on top for cosmetic coverage. This approach helps protect against UV damage, pigmentation and premature ageing, while still allowing you to keep your routine simple.”
