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Garnier Skin Active BB Cream Review

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BB creams are hands down my favorite facial makeup product. BB is officially short for ‘blemish balm’ or ‘beauty balm’ (totally depends on the day if you ask me). It not only provides coverage but also improves your overall complexion thus rendering it a highly versatile product. The reason why so many women across the globe are so enamored with this product is because it’s all-encompassing.

BB creams provide an SPF, moisturizer, primer, and foundation all in one go. This saves a monumental amount of time getting ready in the morning which for me is the biggest benefit. I can honestly think of nothing worse than going through a ten-step program just to make my face look human. It’s also impossible to mess it up. You just apply it like your daily moisturizer and bam, you’ve got yourself revived, healthy and glowing, even skin.

As if the appealing price tag wasn’t enough, the fact that Garnier is so environmentally conscious is a huge bonus. A common phrase you’ll see thrown around their website is “beauty responsibly.” Personally, this is exactly what I try to do when it comes to my skin care and cosmetics.

The fact that a big cosmetics company is endorsing it is not only comforting but crucial in raising awareness of our environmental and social responsibility as consumers. Garnier’s BB creams are pretty up there when it comes to easy, affordable coverage. They blend active natural ingredients into fool-proof formulas. If you’re looking for a go-to BB cream Garnier is the place to start.

Garnier BB Line Explained

Wouman with four dots of makeup on her face.

BB creams are meant to nourish the skin.

When looking for the perfect skin product most brands advertise things like ‘silky smooth’ or ‘velvet finish’. Garnier’s BB creams are made to nourish the skin, and this is clear from just a glance at the names of the product. ‘Wrinkle-free’, ‘even skin tone’ and ‘hydrating’ are just some examples of how Garnier’s BB creams are not just about making your skin look ‘perfect’ but really help the skin itself. The fact that Garnier focuses on the skin benefits of their BB creams says a lot about what they represent as a brand.

The shade range of Garnier’s BB creams is pretty small. But this is the case with most BB creams as they’re not a foundation. Foundations are meant to give you that full coverage and therefore tend to be a little thicker and heavier. This means that they need to match your exact skin tone. BB creams, on the other hand, are more of a tinted moisturizer in the sense that they blend in with your skin and don’t provide a full layer of makeup.

There are only two options of shades in Garnier’s BB line: Light/Medium or Medium/Dark. If you don’t think you fit into one of these shades I wouldn’t worry too much. It’s sheer enough that it shouldn’t drastically affect your blending.

The anti-aging aspect comes from ingredients like Caffeine which reduces inflammation and Pro-xylane™ Antioxidant Apricot which infuses the skin with Vitamin C to restore collagen production. Honestly, these benefits are not only anti-aging but just an all-around skin boost!

Garnier 5-in-1 Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream Anti-Aging Medium/Deep Review

A BB cream is meant to be a ‘more than one benefit’ product. But was surprised to see how most of the benefits in Garnier’s BB cream revolved around anti-aging properties. I just thought I’d see a more general set of benefits. Garnier 5-in-1 Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream Anti-Aging Medium/Deep aims to reduce the look of wrinkles, firm skin, even out skin tone, hydrate and provide an SPF. Considering all these benefits this is one of the most cost-friendly BB creams out there.

Garnier’s 5-in-1 Miracle Skin Perfector provides super light coverage (thicker than a tinted moisturizer but weightless unlike a foundation). If your skin is between tan and dark, you’ll benefit from this Garnier BB cream. The fragrance is heavy though which might irritate sensitive skin.

The scent comes from the Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Water (Kiwi fruit in laymen terms). This is used as a fragrance but is also rich in Vitamins A and C to up your antioxidant intake. Antioxidants are vital in maintaining a youthful complexion as they eliminate free radicals which hinder collagen production.

The fact that this BB cream is anti-aging basically means that it’s super hydrating. This is made evident from the presence of Glycerin. It’s a humectant which means it attracts water from the air and locks it into the skin. Another ingredient that promotes anti-aging qualities in this Anti-Aging BB cream is Rosa Canina Fruit Oil. An antioxidant as well a skin-conditioning emollient. Rosa Canina Fruit Oil has endless benefits. To be honest, your body can never get too many antioxidants regardless of your age.

Garnier 5-in-1 Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream Anti-Aging Light/Medium Review

This BB cream in Garnier’s range is actually exactly the same formula as the Medium/Dark 5-in-1 Miracle Skin BB Cream.  This one is obviously a lot lighter and the sheer finish doesn’t feel thick or cakey on the skin (which is a pet peeve of mine with most foundations). That silky feel comes from the Dimethicone in the formula.

This substance forms a barrier to prevent moisture loss and give your skin a soft feel. Its also an emollient so improves the texture of the product and helps it glide along the skin. This glowing finish is not for everyone though so just apply finishing powder on top to reduce that shine and you’re good to go.

I love that Garnier’s BB creams come in a tube form. It’s the most hygienic way to apply anything to your face. One of the reasons I replaced my usual daily moisturizer with a BB cream was because I didn’t like the way I had to stick my fingers into a tub to apply it to my face. You should use your fingers to warm up the product.

Garnier’s BB cream blends really well that way. It leaves fewer streaks if you use a beauty blender but as I said, I’m not really the kind of person who gets too fancy with their day-to-day makeup routine. If you wouldn’t classify your skin on the tan side, then this Light/Medium BB cream will have your fair skin looking even in no time.  

Which Garnier BB Cream Products Have Been Discontinued?

Woman browsing in supermarket.

A lot of Garnier’s BB creams have been discontinued.

Garnier BB Creams have been discontinued. If you were to go and purchase a Garnier BB cream a year or two ago you would have had a much larger range of options. Now the only options available are the two Anti-Aging ones. The Oil-Free, as well as the Anti-Acne, have both been discontinued.

As have the Fair/Light shades and the original Skin Perfector 5-in-1 without the anti-aging properties. In my humble opinion, they did at one point have too many BB creams on offer and it was difficult to decide which to choose from. Now that the range has drastically narrowed down this cream is much more of a go-to. Fewer options mean fewer opportunities to go wrong in some cases.

Nevertheless, there are many different skin types and having only two options does severely cut down the options for anyone who doesn’t fit into the two choices on offer. For example, you can’t go wrong using an anti-aging cream, but it does seem to speak to a certain demographic over another. Meanwhile, those of a ‘younger’ age range may (mistakenly) feel that this BB cream is not for them and miss out on all its undeniable benefits.

Also, the limited shade range (aka missing Fair/Light and jumping straight to Light/Medium) means Garnier’s BB cream won’t work for some women. Despite this, the sheer finish of the two existing options means that those of us with paler skin could probably get away with the Light/Medium shade.

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Conclusion

For quite a few years now women have become increasingly aware of the multi-benefits of a BB cream. It’s convenient, effective and doesn’t break the bank. Garnier’s Skin Active BB cream, like everything else in their Skin Active line, is a gentle formula. It contains 96% naturally-derived ingredients that not only make your skin look better but nourish it from within.

The fact that both formulas contain Pro-xylane™ Antioxidant Apricot, as well as Glycerol and Rosa Canina Fruit Oil means that this BB cream is a catalyst for healthy looking skin. Your skin is protected from environmental factors with the SPF 15.

If you want a simple, effortless beauty routine (yes please), just dab on some of Garnier’s BB cream for light coverage that boosts your skin. That ‘I just woke up like this’ look has never been easier. It blends well, avoiding those streaks you get with a foundation, whilst still evening out the skin. Hello natural glow, goodbye caked-up complexion. Speaking of natural glows, I like to make sure my products not only contain naturally-derived ingredients but are also cruelty-free.

In this vein, I was disheartened to find out that while Garnier as a brand doesn’t test on animals, they allow other countries to do so if it’s required by law. I guess you can’t have everything though, so meanwhile, I’ll take what I can get. If you want a BB cream that delivers, then Garnier’s Miracle Skin Perfector 5-in-1 is a good place to start.