The Best BB Creams for 2021

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Ready for your picture-perfect makeup look to get elevated? The Smashhbox beauty balm has everything you need to get camera-ready in as little as one minute. The formula covers your skin effortlessly and smoothly while keeping it hydrated all day.

Stay protected no matter where you go with the added SPF 35 that guards your skin against harmful sun exposure that could lead to early signs of aging. With its perfect mix of breathable and blemish-blurring, this balm is nothing short of a beauty must-have for your makeup bag.

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Smashbox has some pretty amazing products on its roster, and their blemish balm is no exception. This tinted moisturizer/broad spectrum UV protector/primer is a multifunctional product that controls oil and leaves a matte finish, all while leaving you hydrated. It fixes uneven skin tone while still letting your natural skin shine through.

Perfect for all skin types, this BB cream is the perfect addition to your no-makeup makeup routine. It helps cover fine lines and large pores as well as provide excellent sun protection in one product. Take a selfie (or two, or ten) while you’re at it — it’s called the Camera Ready BB cream for a reason!

PROS AND CONS OF THE SMASHBOX CAMERA READY SPF 35

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Wondering which blemish balm to add to your K-beauty collection? Ulzzang fanatics, rejoice! The Missha Perfect Cover has everything you want in a product: it’s highly hydrating, great for dry skin, and includes protection against harmful UV rays to reveal a flawless complexion.

Consider this balm a full-coverage yet amazingly lightweight cream that will make you feel confident leaving the house even without foundation. The formula includes rosemary leaf extract and chamomile oil to soothe and nourish the skin in no time.

PROS AND CONS OF THE MISSHA PERFECT COVER

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Nothing’s worse than applying a full coverage foundation and having it break into cakey little bits in the middle of the day. People of most skin types can suffer from this — from dehydrated skin to normal. 

The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint sees to it that you won’t ever have to go through that again! Not only does it have a smooth finish that stays on effortlessly, but it’s packed with hyaluronic acid too. That means hello to moisturized skin and goodbye dullness.

People with a damaged skin barrier might love this hydrating BB cream as the hyaluronic acid locks in moisture into the skin. Over time, the ingredients help boost suppleness to prevent early sagging and visible aging. The formula is oil-free, non-comedogenic, and great for almost every type of skin. It also comes in 10 different shades.

PROS AND CONS OF THE HYDRATING TINT – NEUTROGENA

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Want blemish-free skin on a budget? Maybe Maybelline’s the answer. Their Dream line comes with different kinds of BB creams perfect for every skin type, occasion, and wear. The Dream Fresh cream has made it to tons of “best of” lists this year, and for a good reason.

According to Maybelline, the product includes 8 skin-loving benefits in one package. The formula is sheer and lightweight to bring out your natural glow with a buildable coverage so you can pack on or stay light as needed.

PROS AND CONS OF THE MAYBELLINE DREAM FRESH BB CREAM

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If your skin loves all-natural products, Burt’s Bees is a great brand to start looking. This BB cream + broad spectrum SPF is great for no-makeup makeup looks when you’re feeling just a tad bit lazy or maybe you want to let your skin have a little breathing room. 

Either way, the coverage this product gives does not disappoint. It’s quite buildable so you can go for sheer one day and full the next. It also boasts a formula rich in moisture and vitamins so you can stay protected and hydrated at the same time.

It’s ideal for anyone, whether they have sensitive skin or combination skin, and it’s pretty much a solid choice for any makeup look. We say: it’s an all-around must-try!

PROS AND CONS OF THE BURT’S BEES

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Natural is still the way to go, so don’t be afraid to let your skin breathe every once in a while. If you’re looking for a light foundation-type cream that won’t clog your pores but still provide enough cover to blur out blemishes, then this tinted moisturizer will do the trick.

This Laura Mercier skin tint is by no means a new product, but it’s stood the test of time for a reason! Its new and improved formula features kukui seed oils and macadamia for some all-natural skincare goodness.

The Laura Mercier skin tint is great at evening out skin tone without feeling like too much, if you know what we mean. Your skin will look picture perfect without feeling a little caked after a full day of errands. It’s ideal for acne-prone skin, normal skin, sensitive skin, you name it. They even have a version of this product with an oil-free formula.

PROS AND CONS OF THE LAURA MERCIER TINTED MOISTURIZER

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If you think you’ve seen all sorts of beauty or blemish balms, think again. This skin tint leans toward a gel-like formula for a more hydrating, fast-drying application. Our favorite part? It comes in 20 shades so you can choose the perfect match for your skin tone. Oh, and it’s also vegan.

The BareMinerals Complexion Rescue is perfect as a foundation substitute, a makeup base, or even a tinted moisturizing cream, being packed with mineral electrolytes for added hydration.

It’s also loaded with SPF to protect the skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays that cause fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots. With its medium coverage, your natural skin will shine through! 

PROS AND CONS OF THE BAREMINERALS BB CREAM BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 30

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When it comes to makeup and skincare benefits, you can’t really beat E.L.F. At this product’s price point, you are getting a ton of value. Their foundation sunscreen slash tinted moisturizer is easy to apply and great for a sheer-coverage to a medium-coverage base. It’s almost a hydrating lotion, too — jojoba, aloe vera, and vitamin E are just a few of the ingredients you’ll find in the formula. 

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that may be helpful in reversing harmful sun damage. It covers fine lines without sinking into them and gives a natural matte finish that can brighten skin in no time. However, those who have a problem with excess oil might find this formula a little heavy.

PROS AND CONS OF THE E.L.F. CREAM

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Want a tinted moisturizer/broad spectrum SPF that actually offers enough protection to be effective? Look no further. The Dr. Jart balm is great for beauty enthusiasts who can’t live without sunscreen and vitamin C. That’s right — this oil-free formula is infused with Vitamin C, a skincare wonder proven to eliminate dark spots and brighten the skin.

This cream glides on effortlessly and works well with different skin tones. Like many BB creams, this balm has a lightweight formula that doesn’t sink into the skin’s lines. It’s a pretty mild formula, too, so there’s no problem of potentially irritated skin. 

PROS AND CONS OF THE DR. JART PREMIUM BEAUTY BALM BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 40

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Nothing worse than feeling greasier as the day goes on, right? If you’re plagued with particularly oily skin, then worry not. The Garnier Skinactive is a great solution. 

It’s an oil-free mix of nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, as well as protective components like SPF and caffeine. We definitely recommend it to those who struggle with finding non-greasy products that are actually moisturizing too. 

The Garnier Skinactive is long-wearing and requires only a couple of touch-ups. Its blurring effect is great for its price, however, it’s not as strong a redness corrector as some of the others in this list.

PROS AND CONS OF THE GARNIER SKINACTIVE MIRACLE PERFECTOR