Garnier Extra Light BB Cream review

Just the BB cream and a bit of eye makeup. Voila! 

When it comes to foundations, I suspect we’re all a bit like Goldilocks in the fact that it has to be ‘just right’. I’ve tried hundreds, yet there’s only a handful that have ever made the cut and become a permanent fixture in my makeup bag.

I recently did a bit of an experiment to give up foundation for a week and see what impact it had on my skin. Although I didn’t notice any huge changes, what I have realised is that I’m happier using much less product than before. While I'm not going to be giving up foundation completely, I've fallen in love with tinted moisturisers and bb creams and there's one in particular that's become a firm favourite over the past few weeks.

Garnier’s BB cream has been a high street hit for several years but up until now, the shade range never worked for me. So when I saw they had launched an extra light version, I knew I had to get my hands on it immediately! There aren’t many budget-friendly BB cream options out there for us pale ladies, so you’ll be happy to know that this one is an absolute star.

Extra Light BB Cream really is extra light – no sneaky orange tint here ladies. It blends out perfectly on my skin giving a nice, light coverage with a slightly glowy finish to it. Like the original formula, this is designed to be a ‘my skin  but better’ finish, however if there are areas you feel need a little more coverage, you can layer it up without the product going cakey.

BB creams traditionally blend skincare ingredients in with pigment and the Garnier formula promises to hydrate skin for up to 24 hours with just one application. It also features vitamin c which helps to brighten your skin and add luminosity, making it a great choice for those dark winter mornings when you wish you could spend an extra hour or two in bed (basically every day right now)!

I tend to use a mixture of my fingers and a brush for a flawless finish – either works just as well, but the brush is great for getting in around the nose area and adding a bit of extra product to help cover my red bits (thanks winter!). I love the fact it makes me feel like I’ve made an effort with my makeup, but it only takes about a minute to apply.

You can find BB Cream Extra Light at Superdrug priced £9 99.

Your questions answered with Garnier

To celebrate the launch of their brand-new Extra Light BB Cream, I held a Twitter chat a few weeks ago with the team over at Garnier. We answered lots of your questions around the new Extra Light BB Cream, plus a range of questions on all things beauty. Thank you to everyone who joined us for the chat, it was great to hear from you! You can read all the questions and answers below – and if you’ve got a question you’d like answered, just drop us a tweet to @GarnierUK using the hashtag #BBxLight.

What sort of coverage does Extra Light BB Cream provide?
Extra Light BB Cream gives a light, sheer coverage for a naturally looking finish. It can also be layered up if you have areas that you’d like a little extra coverage on.

Is it suitable for all skin types, even oily skins?
Yes, definitely! It works well on all skin types from dry through to oily. If you prefer a more matte finish, pop a light dusting of powder over the top and you’re all set.

Does it contain silicones?
The formula uses small amounts of silicone to help the product apply smoothly, however it’s been fully tested to ensure it’s non-comedogenic and won’t block your pores.

Will Extra Light be available in your oil-free formula? 
At the moment Extra Light is only available in our original formula, but we will be listening to customer feedback to see if the demand is there for us to launch it in other formulas.

I wish my makeup would let my freckles shine through – any ideas?
BB cream is perfect for this! As it offers a sheer, light coverage it helps to even out your skin without masking your freckles.

I struggle with BB cream not staying in place but I still want that dewy look. Help!
Try applying a little primer first and then adding your BB cream over the top. The primer should help extend the wear time of the BB cream. You could also add a dusting of powder over the top for an even longer-lasting finish.

Do powders or creamier formulas (like blushers and highlighters) work better over BB cream?
Either will work well, it just depends on your preference. But I’d recommend using any liquid and cream textured products before you apply any powders, as this way of layering makes them last longer on the skin.

Are there any plans to launch your BB crema range in darker shades, it’s so hard to find one that’s dark enough? 
At the moment it’s not something we have in the pipeline, but it’s definitely something for us to consider investigating for the future.

*written in collaboration with Garnier