Bb Cream Vs Concealer : What’s The Difference?

Concealers and BB creams are both makeup products meant to cover up blemishes, but they have different purposes. 

It can be tough to determine which one of these two products is right for you, especially if you’re new to the makeup world.

BB Cream vs Concealer – What’s the Difference?

The main difference between concealer and BB cream is the type of coverage. A BB cream is an all-in-one product that provides light coverage, hydration, and sun protection. On the other side, a concealer is best for covering up dark circles, redness, and other minor blemishes.

Keep reading to know more about the difference between a concealer and a BB cream. Which one is right for you, and which one should you use?

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What Is BB Cream?

A BB cream is a “blemish balm” or “beauty balm”. It’s usually described as a combination of skincare and makeup. It is an all-in-one product that you can use to even out the skin tone while getting a minimal makeup look. It’s more pigmented than a tinted moisturizer, and it provides more benefits to the skin.

BB creams have a lightweight formula that can be easily applied to the skin. The ingredients vary depending on the brand, but most BB creams can have glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and some antioxidants in them as well as SPF protection.

An example of a BB cream is this Glow Time Full Coverage Mineral BB Cream. It’s one of the best BB creams available in the market. It has an SPF17, and it helps to smooth and brighten the skin.

Since bb creams have a moisturizing base, they work the best on people with dry skin. There are some great BB creams for oily skin too. For example, this Clean matte BB cream has a matte finish. It works great on oily skin and doesn’t look greasy or cakey.

BB cream is thicker than CC cream, which is known as a ‘color corrective’ cream. CC creams are meant to reduce redness and hyperpigmentation on the skin while eliminating the ‘uneven skin tone’ look.

Related: CC Cream Before and After Photos

How To Apply BB Cream Correctly? What Is The Best Way?

Unlike a concealer, a BB cream can be applied to the entire face. Start by applying a few dots to the back of your hand. Then, use your fingers or a makeup brush to spread the product evenly across your face.

Focus on the areas that need more coverage, such as the cheeks or around the nose. Blend using your fingers, a makeup sponge, or a foundation brush.

Using a makeup brush can help give you the most coverage instead of a sponge or your fingers. Wet makeup sponges absorb any excess product and can provide the skin with a very sheer finish.

As you may know, BB creams provide light coverage, so blending them with a sponge is not the best idea if you want to get the most coverage possible.

You can also build up the coverage by adding more product if you need to. You can apply more than one layer of BB cream, and it won’t look cakey.

When To Wear BB Cream?

If you want a light, natural look, use a BB cream since it gives the sheerest coverage. It’s an excellent choice if you’re creating a minimal everyday makeup look.

A BB cream can’t cover up extremely dark circles or red blemishes. So, if you’re looking for something that can provide more coverage, you can use a concealer or a foundation.

BB cream is also great for someone with dry skin. The moisturizing base of the BB cream helps to hydrate the skin and provide sun protection, which is something that you usually don’t get from a concealer.

According to dermatologists, it’s essential to protect your skin from sun damage because it can lead to hyperpigmentation.

A helpful tip is always to wear a separate sunscreen and never rely on a built-in sunscreen. For example, a bb cream can’t replace sunscreen.

It would require a lot of makeup to provide the same level of protection as regular sunscreen, and most people don’t wear that much BB cream as it looks heavy on the skin.

Read More: Should you apply sunscreen before or after primer?

What Is Concealer?

A concealer is a product you apply on top of dark circles and blemishes to mask them. It’s more pigmented than a BB cream, making it great for covering minor imperfections.

Since concealers are thicker than BB creams, they provide more coverage.

Concealers are not meant to be applied to the entire face. Make sure to spot conceal blemishes and dark spots, and don’t apply too much because this can cause your concealer to look cakey.

If you have good skin with no dark circles, you can skip using concealer and go for a BB Cream.

There are many types of concealers: 

– Liquid concealer which is usually quite pigmented and it comes in a tube.

– Cream concealer comes in a small pot, and you can use it to hide minor blemishes. Cream concealers are thicker than liquids and they can be harder to blend.

– Stick concealers which are convenient if you’re on the go because they are easy to carry around. They provide more coverage than other types of concealers, but they have a thicker formula.

An example of a concealer is this Photoready Candid Concealer. It has a creamy formula that blends easily under the eyes and gives medium coverage.

How To Apply Concealer?

If you have dry under-eyes, make sure to moisturize the area before applying your concealer. Using concealer on hydrated skin will help prevent any creasing during the day.

The best way to apply a concealer is by using either its doe-foot applicator or a small brush.

Start by applying some product under the eye area to brighten up this area.

You can use a color that’s ONE shade lighter than your skin tone for the under-eyes to get a brightening effect. Avoid choosing a very light color, so your concealer doesn’t look ashy.

Plus, if you apply a very light shade, the concealer can make your eyes look smaller.

A quick tip is to choose the correct undertone to avoid your concealer from looking orange.

To get the most coverage, let the concealer cook before blending. Use a makeup sponge to blend the product for a natural and flawless finish.

Can I Use BB Cream As A Concealer?

Yes, you can use BB cream as a concealer.

Choose a BB cream with a thicker texture and a creamy formula to get the most coverage. I like to use this Clean matte BB cream as a concealer because it provides medium coverage and doesn’t look cakey on the skin. Avoid very liquidy BB creams as they might not give you enough coverage.

To use a BB cream as a concealer, you can apply the product with your fingers or a small brush and build up the coverage if needed.

However, if you have very dark under eyes, a BB cream might not be enough to cover them up. In this case, you should use a concealer instead to get a flawless look.

One thing that’s worth mentioning is that BB creams are not available in a wide range of shades. In this case, you might not be able to find your correct shade match for the under-eye area.

Try choosing a bb cream with a peachy undertone to cancel any blue tones and brighten up the under-eye area.

If you have very oily skin, make sure that you set your concealer with a loose or pressed powder to not crease throughout the day.

BB cream Vs CC Cream

CC creams are very similar to BB creams, and they both have built-in skincare benefits, making them perfect for everyday use.

The main difference between a BB cream and a CC cream is the coverage. CC cream has a lighter formula that helps to reduce the look of redness and dark spots.

A CC Cream can be used as a color-correcting primer underneath your foundation. Depending on your sin type, you might need to wear a moisturizer under your CC Cream.

A BB cream hydrates the skin, and it provides very sheer coverage that makes the skin look natural.

BB and CC creams are excellent multi-tasking products. They can both simplify your makeup routine, and they can help you save time while getting ready in the morning.

Related: BB Cream Vs Foundation

Final Thoughts

The difference between BB creams and concealers is the formula and the type of coverage they both provide.

Concealers are meant to be applied only on top of dark circles or blemishes to cover them up, while BB creams are more lightweight and give the skin a natural coverage, with added skincare benefits.

Choosing which one you need depends on your skin needs and the look you’re going for. If you want a natural and lightweight makeup look and don’t have many imperfections to cover, go for a BB cream.

If you need more coverage, you can use a concealer to cover the dark spots. Keep in mind that a concealer has a thicker formula, and it’s not meant to be applied to the entire face. Instead, you can use a BB cream and a concealer together for a flawless look.

Make sure to apply your BB cream before your concealer and let it set for a couple of minutes. Then, conceal any blemishes, dark circles, or imperfections by using a small amount of concealer where needed.

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