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Aldi Lacura BB Cream
by ladybracknell
Like many women, I've been seduced by all the media hype about BB creams and have been on the hunt for the perfect one. Since giving up work, I seem to live in jeans or trackie bottoms and full make up doesn't go well with that more casual style of clothing but I need to wear some make up when going out so as not to scare the natives. ... I'm searching for a lighter, more natural looking make up base and so far I've tried, and rejected, Garnier which failed on all counts and Nivea which was far too dark in colour. I'd more or less decided to give up and simply stick with a light foundation when I spotted a Lacura BB cream on sale in Aldi for £4.99, a price which cried out to my inner skinflint.
What is a BB cream?
There's a question mark over what these initials actually stand for and to be perfectly honest, I don't even think the manufacturers have decided exactly what BB cream is. For some it's beauty balm and for others it's blemish balm. As far as I'm concerned, BB cream can be one of two things: it's either a foundation with a touch of moisturiser or moisturiser with a hint of foundation. The Lacura BB cream falls into the latter category.
All the different BB cream manufacturers claim their creams are multi-functional ranging from a basic 3-in-1 formula right up to a somewhat unbelievable 10-in-1, and with prices to match. This one falls somewhere in the middle and promises to:
Blend in with your skin tone
Conceal imperfections
Smooth fine lines
Provide 24 hour moisturising
Has SPF15 UV protection
To be fair, Lacura delivers on three out of those five so that's how many stars I'll be awarding.
What's in Lacura's BB cream?
The ingredients list is very long and totally incomprehensible to anyone without a degree in chemistry, so it's reassuring that Lacura confirm in writing that this cream 'is carefully forumulated with the finest ingredients to provide the perfect daily skincare routine.' Whilst trying to decipher what's actually in it, I did notice a couple of ingredients with names which end in 'paraben' which some may find off-putting.
How does Lacura BB cream stack up against the rest?
This is the cheapest BB cream I've used but there's nothing cheap looking about the quietly understated cream and black cardboard packaging nor in the squeezable plastic tube inside. The 50mls of cream comes in two shades: Light or Medium and being somewhat sallow, I chose the Light shade.
The product itself is of a lovely creamy consistency, quite thick but applies easily and evenly onto the skin. The scent isn't strong but it isn't the most pleasant I've ever encountered either. It has a rather medical smell and reminds me a little of calamine lotion. The scent soon dissipates, however, so that wasn't a major drawback.
This BB cream is marketed as a beauty balm rather than a blemish balm, which is just as well as I certainly found it didn't do anything to disguise even the most minor skin blemishes. I have an allergy to tree pollen so I'm currently giving Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer a run for his money. This cream doesn't cover any of that redness but with regard to the rest of my face, it does fulfil its promise to even out the skin tone and it leaves my complexion looking slightly shiny which I guess is what passes for a healthy glow but, again, it doesn't cover any minor blemishes, not even the faint freckling I've developed on my cheeks.
It does deliver on the promise of 24 hour moisturising, however. This product really leaves my skin feeling soft and well moisturised but I'm afraid the fine lines it's supposed to smooth remain stubbornly in evidence.
I'll have to take Lacura's word on the SPF15 rating but I was doing a spot of gardening during the recent hot weather and my face remained unburnt whilst my décolletage turned a rather unattractive shade of lobster red.
A final nail in this cream's coffin is the fact that only the cardboard carton is recyclable.
To summarise
This cream is really more of a tinted moisturiser than anything else. The coverage is very light and would be ideal for someone in their teens or twenties with a beautiful complexion requiring only a little protection. For anyone older, this probably won't be effective enough. On the other hand, it's an excellent moisturiser which gives skin a slightly dewy look and is fine for very casual days.
I'll continue to use this occasionally but for me this cream simply doesn't give enough coverage. It seems my search for the perfect BB cream continues.
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Revlon PhotoReady Concealer
by kookii
I bought this concealer because I was in desperate need of a concealer ... ANY concealer. When I was in Boots I noticed that Revlon had a 3 for 2 and of course naturally I had to make use of this offer. I don't know why I was just drawn to this concealer ... I guess it was destiny! I love this stuff!
PRICE
This is ... priced at 6.49 in Boots. This looked quite pricey as you only get 3.1 grams of product but I would recommend that you wait until there is a 3 for 2 on Revlon -which you don't have to wait too long for as there is almost everyday a 3 for 2.
You get 3.1 grams of product and when I saw the tester in the store I immediately thought 'Oh boy, this is gonna run out soon' but I have to say, a little goes a long way!
PACKAGING
I think the packaging is quite handy and practical. I have never owned a roll up concealer before so it was some thing new. Some people may have some problems with using the concealer stick directly on the face and any blemishes as it is quite unhygienic. To overcome this I just rub some on the tip of my fingers and then tap it on any blemishes.
SHADES
One of the downside of this is that it doesn't come in many shades. It comes in Light, Light/ Medium and Medium. Which is quite disappointing. Luckily, I was able to find one that suit me perfectly.
PRODUCT
The product itself I love! I didn't think I would like because I have very dry skin especially around any blemishes. However, I thought that its summer and I think a stick concealer will be better and it is. I originally just used this for my under eyes. I chose a colour that was only one shade lighter than my skin so it didn't really brighten my under eyes. On blemishes its a whole different story. The texture is quite creamy and think so when you put it on a blemish it won't budge or move. But you have to be careful as the texture is thick if you don't use it properly it can look cakey! As I said I have dry skin and it works perfectly and I seriously this will work even better on oiler skin because its so thick and creamy. Oh I forget to say it has SPF 20 which is always a bonus! ^.^
Pros
-Good coverage
-Great for blemishes
-Good price especially with 3 for 2
-Has SPF 20
-Good Packaging
-Creamy texture
Cons
-Doesn't come in a variety of shades
-Unhygienic
-Not that amazing for under the eyes
OVERALL
I love this product and I think its great for all skin type and will cover any imperfection that you may have. I really recommend you give this a go, you won't be disappointed. Will I but this again? Hell Yeah!!
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