I had no idea what BB cream was until earlier this year when I sent for a free sample of this Maybelline
Dream Fresh BB cream. I had heard the term 'BB cream' mentioned but really had no idea until my sample arrived, exactly what it was.
After using up the two sample sachets I had been sent, I was left fairly impressed with this BB cream and so when spotting a tube on offer at just over £5 instead of the usual £7.99, I decided to treat myself.

BB cream seemed to appear around last year sometime, although it was earlier this year when I eventually got around to trying it as it became one of the biggest beauty trends around.
BB stands for Blemish Balm or Blemish Base, but BB creams are meant to be more than just the concealer you may think it will be, as these are multi-function creams with both coverage and skincare properties.

Maybelline state their Dream Fresh BB cream is a one-step wonder for dream skin every day. Described as an 8-in-1 skin perfector, this cream is designed to give perfect looking skin instantly.
Imperfections look blurred and your skin will look smooth and have a fresh feel after application. As well as this, the BB cream hydrates and protects your skin with SPF 30, which is something I personally look for in all facial moisturising products, so it was good to see it included here. Indeed the inclusion of SPF 30 was a major factor in my decsion to purchase a tube of this Dream Fresh BB cream after using up my free samples.

This BB cream is also described as oil free, non greasy and will give your skin a natural looking glow. I must admit it all sounded a little too good be true when I first read all this, as up until trying this cream I had yet to find the ultimate skin perfector.
Available in fours shades, light, medium, dark and universal glow, the sample I had received was medium and so this was what I purchased when I bought a tube afterwards as it seemed to suit my skin tone best.

I am quite a fan of Maybelline Dream Mousse foundation and so I was really looking forwrard to trying this Dream Fresh BB cream, wondering if it would eliminate the need for foundation or whether it would be similar to their Dream Mousse concealer.
When I first applied this BB cream, I still used my usual moisturiser first as it did state you could apply this on top of moisturiser and having also tried it without using moisturiser first, I now personally prefer to use a moisturiser as otherwise my skin felt dry. I never go without using a daily moisturiser on my combination skin of both dry and oily parts and I hate it if my skin feels dry and tight. I found when trying this BB cream without a moisturiser my cheeks felt dry and I hated the feeling so much, I have never repeated this since.

The cream was not as light as I thought it would be in terms of its texture, but I was surprised by how light it feels upon application. It gives a sheer coverage which works like a combination of concealer and foundation but with a lighter feel. I still find the need to use a little foundation to totally mask blemishes when using this BB cream and so it doesn't provide me personally with a flawless complexion, but I was still left fairly impressed with this cream, as it does make my skin look and feel quite good and evens out my skin tone whilst hiding most imperfections.

The BB cream doesn't last all day however and after a few hours I notice oily patches beginning to appear which I can correct with a dusting of powder. This is something I find happens with all foundations or concealers I have used and so this doesn't cause me too much bother.
Whilst I would not describe Dream Fresh BB cream as a wonder cream, I do think it is helps you achieve a smooth complexion, especially if you have blemishes or redness. It works much like a tinted moisturiser but with concealing properties and the added SPF is also a bonus. It eliminates the need for concealer and you can get away without using foundation or a much smaller amount I find. I still prefer to use a foundation if I am going out at night for example or somewhere special, but for day to day use then Dream Fresh BB cream suits me fine and feels light and fresh.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB cream usually retails for around £7.99 from Maybelline stockists. Look out for 3 for 2 offers from places such as Boots or other promotions and you may be able to buy it cheaper as I did.