Given the multifaceted nature, it can be confusing to know how to use these makeup-meets-skin-care hybrids: Should you use them in tandem with your skin care routine? Or simply treat them like skin-loving foundations? What if it has SPF? To dial up the dew even further, makeup artist Alexandra Compton, product development manager at clean beauty retailer Credo, suggests mixing your BB cream with your moisturizer or face oil. “It will change the finish from dewy to dewiest,” she once told mbg. Aside from the spectrum of coverage, you can also match a BB cream to your skin type: “Oilier complexions should ideally select an oil-free formula with a matte finish,” says celebrity makeup artist Jillian Dempsey. (Try tarte’s BB Tinted Treatment.) “For dry skin, choose a moisturizing formula.” (Like this Lily Lolo option.) Acne-prone skin may want to look for mattifying options (as acne-prone skin tends to also be oily), as well as noncomedogenic formulas—here’s a cult-favorite number from Dr.Jart+. Little bounces are all you’ll need to diffuse the pigment—no need to drag or smudge the sponge across your skin. On that note, you’ll want to apply a layer of sunscreen beforehand, even if your BB cream contains SPF. As board-certified dermatologist Angelo Landriscina, M.D., previously said regarding sunscreen-moisturizers, “The SPF of any product is based on using 2 milligrams per centimeter-squared on your skin, which is about half a teaspoon for the entire face.” (Or about a nickel-size dollop, in case you need a visual.) So to make sure you reach optimal protection, you’ll need quite a lot of BB cream—and you might not necessarily want that much coverage, which is fine, but you should use a proper sunscreen underneath in that case. As for how long you should wait in between steps, there’s no specific timestamp, but both Dempsey and Patinkin recommend waiting a few beats before moving on to makeup. “A good rule of thumb is to wait until your moisturizer or SPF feels dry to the touch before applying,” Dempsey notes. However, a powder can help tone down the shine, if that’s what you’re after. “BB creams often give a very hydrated look,” says Patinkin. If it ends up too dewy for your liking, she recommends pressing a loose setting powder onto shinier areas with a beauty sponge—typically, that’s the forehead, chin, and around the nose. Or you can skip the powder altogether and use a damp sponge with a tissue, like this makeup artist’s blotting hack. For instance, if you’re dealing with dark under-eye circles, discoloration around the nose, or blemishes, those concerns might poke through a lightweight BB cream. Keep the look breathable and avoid piling on product by applying concealer only on those targeted areas: Lightly tap the concealer into place with a sponge or the tip of your finger, says Dempsey, or check out these coveted tips to apply concealer for dark circles, blemishes, and hyperpigmentation.
