How To Apply BB Cream Correctly: Makeup Artist Tips For An Effortless Blend

In my humble makeup opinion, there is no base product as versatile as a BB cream (or CC cream, but that's another story entirely). These K-beauty stalwarts tend to have skin care properties jammed into the formula—the "BB" stands for "blemish balm" or "beauty balm," to reflect its double-duty status. 

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? 

Not all BB creams are created equal. First, they differ in consistency: You can find opaque, pigmented options, as well as lightweight veils that function similarly to a tinted moisturizer. Choose a formula based on how much coverage you want to have—be it a dewy, velvet, or natural-looking wash. 

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. 

As noted, a beauty blender (or beauty sponge, or makeup wedge, or whatever you like to call 'em) is your best bet for blended, even coverage. However, if your BB cream runs a little on the thicker side, Patinkin suggests applying the product with a brush first, then tapping a clean, damp beauty blender on top "to lift away any excess product and help set it in place." 

Absolutely! While BB creams can have skin care benefits (SPF, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants, to name a few), they shouldn't replace your skin care routine. Even if you combine a BB cream with moisturizer to thin out the consistency, you'll want to have a moisturized base before you start. 

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. 

The thing is, you don't have to do anything when it comes to makeup—do what makes you feel more comfortable and beautiful. So, no, you don't need to set BB cream with a powder: In fact, most BB creams contain priming agents in the formula, says Dempsey, so powder isn't totally necessary in terms of long-wear. "The cream is likely effective enough to keep your makeup in place," she notes. 

"BB Cream should be treated the same as foundation," says Patinkin. "Apply it first, and then touch up where you need to with concealer."