Review: Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream

I want to start off this post by saying how badly I wanted to like this product. Smashbox markets their BB Cream as "a 5-in-1 complexion miracle-worker proven to moisturize, prime, perfect, protect and control oil in a single step."  In theory, this BB cream sounded like everything I was looking for: something that evened out my skin tone but didn't look "made up". And in reality, this product did make my skin look better, but at the expense of making it feel a whole lot worse.

When I initially tried out Smashbox's Camera Ready BB Cream, I was surprised by how thick and dry the consistency of the product was. Having never tried a BB cream before, I was expecting something more moisturizing & liquid, more like a tinted moisturizer. I wanted to give it a chance though, and as long as I blended it in over some moisturizer, I had little to no problems with streaking or working it into my skin.  The first day I wore this BB cream, I was in love! It really did seem to do everything Smashbox claimed: my skin looked more even yet still natural, and it seemed to control the oil in my T-zone nicely. Also, there was no flash-back in photos that can sometime come about from wearing foundations with SPF.

The first two days I was so happy in thinking I had finally found my HG face product. But then something strange started to happen. I have combination skin and while my t-zone can get quite oily throughout the day, my cheeks & forehead are usually very comfortable.  I rarely have much of a problem with dryness. The second night after I had been using this BB cream, I noticed the skin around my temples & forehead was feeling extra dry, tight, & uncomfortable (strange for me). I thought it might just be the weather drying out my skin & so I added an extra layer of Origins A Perfect World moisturizer over my normal Yon Ka moisturizer before I went to bed. The next morning I applied this BB Cream over my facial moisturizer as normal, but by the afternoon my forehead was so dry and itchy I actually had to put more lotion on OVER my makeup, which I never have to do.

To make a long story short, this product dried my skin out like nothing ever has before. My normally combo skin was flaking, tight and irritated after only 3 days of use. My best guess as to the culprit is that one of the main ingredients listed on the packaging is actually a form of alcohol. After what I experienced, I would say if you have normal to dry skin, steer clear!! This product may work wonders for someone with very oily skin though, as it did control the oil breakthrough in my t-zone nicely. 

As for now, I am still on the hunt for my perfect Springtime face product. I took advantage of Sephora's VIB 15% off sale and ordered the Too Faced Beauty Balm & will see how my skin gets on with that when it arrives in the mail. 

Thank you for reading & I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Lots of Love,

Louise

P.S. I want to apologize if my posts have been a bit more sporadic this week. I'm sorry if this is TMI, but I had to undergo surgery on Tuesday to correct a fracture in my right foot. A few months ago I slipped while grocery shopping (cool, I know) and unfortunately the break never healed. But I'm happy to say that it looks like I am on the mend & rocking my purple cast, if I do say so myself ;)