BB Creams, or beauty balms, are a popular choice for those who want a fresher makeup look. Unlike traditional foundation, they tend to have a rich skincare base and care for the skin as well as providing a soft level of coverage. For this reason, they’re great for anyone short on time who wants to get ready as quickly as possible.

“BB Cream stands for Beauty Balm, and it’s partly skincare and partly cosmetic,” explains makeup artist and brand founder, Ruby Hammer. “A BB Cream has a lighter finish than standard foundations. They combine skincare with pigment for a sheer finish, and act as a multitasker in your routine, saving you time in the morning.”

Like skincare, they’re best applied with the fingertips, starting in the centre of the face and working your way outwards for an even blend. “If you love a natural looking finish and you’re need hydration, BB Cream will be great for you.” Keep in mind that coverage is softer in BB Creams, as opposed to CC Creams – or colour correctors. Those are targeted more specifically to evening out any discolouration in the skin from things like redness, pigmentation or sun spots.

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The best BB creams for 2026 are:

  • Best overall– Kosas BB burst tinted gel cream: £34, Sephora.co.uk
  • Best budget buy– Garnier BB cream oil-free: £9.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best for a no-make-up look– Dr. Jart BB premium beauty balm: £33, Lookfantastic.com
  • Best for dry skin– Clarins BB skin detox fluid: £38, Clarins.co.uk

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  • Bestoverall BB cream
  • Why we love it- Available in 24 true to skin shades

  • Unique gel texture that works for dry, combination or oily skin types

  • Take note- It separates so we recommend mixing before application

If fresh, healthy-looking skin is your goal, this BB cream from Kosas is a brilliant choice. The gel consistency of the formula is hydrating without being oily, and gives the skin a fresh sheen. Though not heavy in coverage, this imparts enough colour to blur over any discolouration.

The formula is unusual and separates a little, which is something to keep in mind, so I would advise applying it first to the back of your hand, mixing it together and then applying straight to the skin – I found that the result is worth the faff. It wears well through the day and keeps the skin feeling hydrated, so is a great option all year round.

Key specifications

  • Coverage level:Light to medium
  • Finish:Satin, fresh

  • Key ingredients:Copper peptides, zinc oxide and glycerin

  • BestBudget BB cream

  • Why we love it- Gives the skin a fresh, healthy look without shine

  • Housed in recycled packaging

  • Take note- The clean, powdery scent is quite prominent

  • Available in three adaptable shades.

Garnier is home to many variations of its BB cream, but the oil-free version was my favourite. This offers slightly more coverage than its counterparts from the brand, leaving the skin looking healthy and perfected.

The formula feels like a creamy gel, offering moisture but drying down to keep the skin free from shine. It lasted well throughout the day and was the most budget-friendly of the many I discovered. Be mindful that the scent is rather prominent, and the shade range is limited.

Key specifications

  • Coverage level:Medium
  • Finish:Satin

  • Key ingredients:Hyaluronic acid, aloe vera extract

  • Bestflawless finish BB cream

  • Why we love it- Very easy to apply
  • Sits well over skin texture

  • Gel like formula that will work well for dry, combination or oily skin

  • Take note- Comes in five adaptable shades

Perhaps the most well-known of the BB creams I tried, and indeed Hammer’s favourite, it’s easy to understand why this one is so popular. This gel-like formula will work well for dry, combination or oily skin types, and applies evenly and quickly using just fingertips.

Available in five adaptable shades, it remains lightweight and fresh whether you use a small amount or build up to a fuller coverage. Skin looks healthy and not overly done, but still perfected. There’s a very soft powdery scent to this, too.

Key specifications

  • Coverage:Customisable, anywhere from light to full
  • Finish:Natural

  • Key ingredients:White ginseng, glycerin and SPF20

  • Bestoily skin BB cream

  • Why we love it- Lightweight
  • Natural-looking

  • Flattering over any skin texture or fine lines

  • Take note- Six adaptable shades

If your skin is more prone to becoming oily throughout the day, the soft matte finish of this BB cream will work well for you. Though not entirely velvety, this dries to an egg-shell finish and creates a more even-looking skin tone. I also found that it was lightweight while delivering a natural-looking finish.

The lack of dewiness in this formula will make it an ideal option for anyone hoping to avoid drawing attention to any texture in the skin or fine lines, and the added vitamin B3 will be especially great for those susceptible to dark spots. This is a hydrating cream that feels comfortable, lightweight and easy to wear.

Key specifications

  • Coverage level:Light to medium
  • Finish:Soft matte

  • Key ingredients:Vitamin B3 and SPF50

  • Bestsheer BB cream

  • Why we love it- Contains a high SPF50 for extra UV protection

  • Lightweight and comfortable to wear

  • Take note- Sheer coverage so best as a general skin enhancer

  • four adaptable shades

With Korean skincare roots, the Dr. Jart BB cream works as a simple, everyday skin enhancer that sits virtually undetectable on the skin. For someone busy who wishes to create a slightly more even skin tone, but doesn’t necessarily want to look made up, this is a great lightweight choice.

It dries down to a sheer, skin-like finish, and while it’s only available in four shades, these are said to adapt to your skin tone. The formula features SPF50, too, and has a gentle citrus scent. As of April 2026, this has been reformulated to comprise 84 per cent skincare and now comes in eight flexible shades. This offers a very sheer coverage and would be best used as a general skin enhancer.

Key specifications

  • Coverage level:Sheer to light
  • Finish:Natural

  • Key ingredients:Niacinamide, glycerin and SPF50

  • BestOn-the-go BB cream

  • Why we love it- Available in 16 adaptable shades
  • Travel-friendly format
  • Moisturise well to prevent product gathering in dry areas

For those who travel a lot or like to touch up make-up throughout the day, this stick formula BB cream is easy and quick. Though rich in hydrating ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil, this goes on creamy and dries to a satin matte finish. Keep this in mind for a weekend away, a no make-up day or simply a complexion refresh. When it comes to application, my recommendation is to ensure you have thoroughly moisturised before applying it, to avoid any product gathering in dry areas. But I like that this is available in 16 adaptable shades.

Key specifications

  • Coverage level:Light
  • Finish:Satin matte

  • Key ingredients:Peptides, collagen and shea butter

  • Bestfull coverage BB cream

  • Why we love it- Offers completely full coverage with a comforting skincare base

  • Doesn't budget once dried down

  • Take note- Shade range isn't as forgiving original Erborian BB cream

For those with oily skin or perhaps needing more coverage, the super BB from Erborian offers a great solution. Another skincare-based formula from the brand, this one is more dense in texture, giving a slightly more waxy skin finish.

This may need slightly more manipulation on the skin to ensure that it doesn’t gather in fine lines and pores. But once it dries, it’s set for the day and offers a completely flawless finish. For those wanting complete coverage, it feels comfortable even for long-wear. One drawback is that the thickness of this finish means that the five-strong shade family feels much less flexible than the lighter coverage options from Erborian.

Key specifications

  • Coverage level:Full
  • Finish:Natural

  • Key ingredients:White ginseng, licorice root extract, niacinamide

  • Bestdull skin BB cream

  • Why we love it- Adds instant glow to the skin with a pearly, healthy sheen
  • Vegan-friendly formula

  • Comes in eight adaptable shades

  • Take note- Textured skin types may prefer something less luminous

  • Price is steeper than many competitors

If you are hoping to add radiance to dull or tired-looking skin, this BB cream will be great for you. Available in eight adaptable shades, it gives an instant and lasting glow to the skin, yet still dries adequately so as not to feel too heavy.

Due to the richer coverage in this formula, the fade in the wear was slightly more noticeable as the day went on. It’s also worth noting that if you have textured skin, you may prefer something with a less luminous finish. You might also wish to use a setting powder to minimise shine in any areas that can be prone to becoming oily.

Key specifications

  • Coverage level:Medium
  • Finish:Luminous

  • Key ingredients:Pectin, argan-seed oil and SPF15

  • Bestdry skin BB cream

  • Why we love it- Looks naturally radiant
  • Super flattering

  • Offers a generous coverage whilst feeling lightweight

  • Take note- Very limited in shades (four adaptable shades)

Something that Clarins complexion products seem to have in common is adding radiance to the skin in a way that doesn’t look artificial. It would be brilliant to see this in a wider shade range, as anyone with the fairest or deepest of skin tones will be unlikely to find a close match.

A lightweight yet rich formula, this cocoons the skin in moisture but dries down to a low maintenance satin finish. It would be ideal for city living, as the skincare base is designed to protect the skin against environmental aggressors such as pollution.

Key specifications

  • Coverage level:Medium
  • Finish:Satin

  • Key ingredients:Acerola seed extract and SPF25

  • Bestglass finish BB cream

  • Why we love it- Allows for an authentic Korean BB cream experience

  • Inspired by the glass skin trend

  • Take note- Only available in three adaptable shades

A very specialised choice, but one that I felt deserved a mention, the most unusual BB cream of those I tried was the Glow breathable blemish balm. A popular choice in the Korean beauty market, this simply comes in three shades: a pure white, a soft beige, and a chocolate brown.

Upon initial inspection, it would appear these shades alone are in no way suitable for most skin tones. The idea, however, is that they are designed to be adaptable, so each shade can be sheered out and will span various skin tones. For everyday ease, they wouldn’t be the most practical choice. But if you like the idea of customising your everyday foundation, these are designed to mix well and can add skincare benefits and a glass skin finish to your favourite base.

Key specifications

  • Coverage level:Sheer
  • Finish:Satin

  • Key ingredients:Glycerin

  • Bestblurring BB cream

  • Why we love it- Available in 15 shades

  • Soft, barely there finish that blurs the look of skin and achieves a smoother 'no-makeup' makeup look

  • Take note- This is quite velvety in finish and is not necessarily designed to impart coverage. It would be best for normal to oily skin types seeking light coverage

For those who want a soft-focus makeup finish, this BB Cream is a lovely choice. With a velvety soft finish, it’s incredibly easy to apply using just the fingertips and blends out seamlessly. If you have oily skin or you want a very light coverage, you’ll like the veil of colour that this gives you.

It would be great for a make-up beginner or someone who doesn’t want to look like they have much on, as it softens the look of texture and reduces the look of oil. Rather than imparting reams of coverage, this gives the skin more of an airbrushed natural glow.

Key specifications

  • Coverage level:Light
  • Finish:Soft focus velvet

  • Key ingredients: Diamond powder, lipoamino acid, mineral pigments

  • Bestconcealer for targeted coverage

  • Why we love it- Offers buildable coverage

  • Sets to a natural looking finish, creating a healthy skin look

  • Take note- This offers a generous coverage, suitable for most skin concerns

  • Given the rich skincare base, you may wish to use a more makeup-dominant concealer for more challenging areas of colour, like hot red skin

As the original pioneer of BB Cream, it is no surprise that Erborian created a densely pigmented concealer formula to sit alongside its range of skincare and make-up hybrids. This concealer is a brilliant option for anyone who prefers these kinds of formulas, merging high pigment with the comfort of a skincare cream.

The doe foot applicator is helpful for reaching into high contrast areas like the inner eyes or under eye socket. Though this offers 12 hours of general wear, I found that coverage remained the most flawless for the first 8 hours. If your skin leans more to the dry side, you’ll like this hydrating formula, though it sets to a natural finish that will work well for dry, oily or balanced skin types.

Key specifications

  • Coverage level:Medium to full
  • Finish:Natural
  • Key ingredients:White ginseng, niacinamide, escine