Summer is here in all its radioactive glory and stripping off the clothing layers also means we’re pairing back our makeup routines as well.
It’s time to invest in hardworking multitasking favourites and nothing flexes its muscles better in hot weather than a good BB cream.
Light enough to not look cake-y, just a enough coverage to smooth things out a little, a quality BB will take you from your desk, to the beach and and last a night of tabletop dancing at a Bondi rooftop bar without ending up looking like a sweaty smeared-face disaster.
Here are a few we’re not leaving the house without this season…
Giorgio Armani Luminessence BB Cream
While this Giorgio Armani BB cream is most expensive on our list, we think it’s worth every cent. There’s a lot to love about this product, from its velvety feel to its radiant finish, so much so we’re calling it the Elixir of Youth of BB Creams.
Don’t be put off by the single ‘Greige’ shade, this universally flattering cream is lightweight and buildable to conceal every little blemish. Blended with Blueberry Fruit Acids, it also exfoliates and refines your skin’s texture while it’s at it.
The clincher for us is its SPF 50 UV protective formula, which makes it the ideal summer companion.
Lancôme Hydra Zen BB Cream
In the case of this Lancôme gem, the name says it all. Designed to suit even the most sensitive of skin, this BB balm melts into your pores to give each one a big calming hug.
Rich in botanicals, whether your skin is feeling a little red and puffy because of last night’s Netflix binge or late-night bender, with this rose scented balm will conceal your sins.
We’ll reserve this one for days in the office, so we can hide behind cubicle walls to stroke our satin-smooth face — kidding, we don’t have cubicles — but do layer this SPF 15 balm with a broad spectrum sunscreen if you’re planning to spend a good chunk of your day outdoors.
Shu Uemura Stage Performer BB Cream
This makeup artist’s best-kept secret boasts a 5-in-1 innovative formula that combines the technologies of a hydrating mask, essence, primer, concealer and illuminator to emulate that coveted dewy runway glow.
On blazing hot days – the ones that you have wolf down your Golden Gaytime in less 30 seconds or it melts – we recommend you top off your application with a dust a little powder to ensure nothing budges on your picture-perfect face.
Best of all it comes in a handy tube for touch ups on the go – not that you’ll need it – because this Japanese magician doesn’t oxidise one bit.
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Oil-Free Spf 20
Forget foundation, forget primer, forget all your life’s struggles because Laura Mercier have designed a little magic cream that’s a free-radical’s worst nightmare, a fine-line’s best friend and sensitive skin’s soulmate.
Packed with a super-brew of vitamin C, vitamin E and antioxidants, you end up with a beautiful semi-matte finish that not only gives you that lit-from-within glow but works to give your skin a little love at the same time.
Want this to last a little longer than a day at the beach? Dust with a translucent finishing powder for ultimate staying power.
Philosophy No Reason To Hide Instant Skin-Tone Perfecting Moisturiser
Philosophy’s minimalist packaging gets us every time, but this American import offers just as much substance as it does style.
Straddling the line between a BB cream and moisturiser, this pick from Philosophy blends the lightness of a moisturiser with the coverage of BB cream to keep face sweats to a minimum.
It’s pump packaging makes sure you don’t over dispense the amount of product you need, and keeps its light-and air-sensitive ingredients stable while you use it.
Kiehl’s Actively Correcting And Beautifying BB Cream
Kiehl’s is known for being one of the as-natural-as-it-gets skincare brands and this BB cream is no different.
Its formulation is free of naughties such as parabens, silicone, mineral oil and fragrance, which is great is you have ultra-sensitive skin.
The ultimate BB cream buy for dry and combination skin types, it comes in three shades ranging from fair to medium. A squeeze the size a five cent coin will give you more than adequate SPF 30 UV protection without the chalky residue.
Nude By Nature Sheer Glow BB Cream
One for those that prefer a lighter touch to their summer makeup routines, this boasts a blend of Australian Kakadu plum and aloe vera for an overall effect that’s super moisturising while it evens out your complexion.
Ideal for layering, mix it with a touch of your normal foundation if you want to take stretch it out into the night.
Invisible Zinc Tinted Daywear SPF 30+
Is it weird to write a love-letter to a skin cream? Because we want to lay it on thick when it comes to this wallet-friendly sun-fighting favourite.
While not officially a BB cream (they don’t claim to be more than a mere ‘tint’) it’s a ridiculously intensive Zinc Oxide packed sunscreen that’s pigmented enough to work double-duty off the beach too.
Put it in your handbag, pack it in your suitcase, take it literally everywhere because there’s not many situations in life where you’re not going to want to wear a sunscreen that protects while making it its mission to help you look a little more gorgeous at the same time.
Heck, marry it off to your daughter while you’re at it.
Shop our favourite BB Creams below
Looking for more hard-working beauty buys? Here are 5 of our favourite dual-purpose beauty buys for December 2017.
