BB Beautiful

I have to admit I’m not entirely sold on the current craze for BB creams. Maybe it’s because I haven’t tried one of the swanky ones but I have tried a market leader – Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector.

BB Creams, or blemish balms, have been slowly creeping onto the market with many high street brands now having their own version. They are billed as the dream product with primer, lightweight foundation, concealer, moisturiser, anti-inflammatory and UV protection in one. They are hugely popular in Asia and launched in the UK last summer, the perfect time to embrace the dewy, lightweight complexion they give you.

I have to say I do think the cream evens out a lot of problems with my skin tone and just makes me look more ‘glowy’. People have even complimented me saying how well I look. I think it must be down the light reflecting properties it gives your skin.

Apparently the colour comes from minerals so it doesn’t block your pores, but I wouldn’t say it improves the skin either. And if you have spots then you will need something with more coverage.

The Garnier cream is perfect for those days when your skin just won’t behave and your usual make-up doesn’t work, especially if the skin is dry. The colour doesn’t emphasise any dry patches and feels comfortable on your face. It’s also great for a weekend when you don’t want to mess about doing a whole face of make-up and just want to get out there!

I do feel better knowing it will moisturise my skin and protect it from UV, but I just feel a bit too, well, shiny. I know the idea is to avoid using a powder on top to keep the look modern and dewy, but I just can’t do it. I feel too greasy. I have compromised by just powdering the T-zone so it’s not too bad. 

Price wise Garnier’s Miracle Skin Perfector is at the lower end of the scale at around £9.99 for 50ml, but if you have an Asda nearby it is £7 for 50ml until February 27.

One from the boys

No matter how diehard your feminist credentials nor how independent you are as a woman, sometimes you just need to get a man in. Or, in my case, have to turn to male grooming products to get a satisfactory result.

It’s a bit of a cliché that men will steal your expensive night cream but if that’s true in your house then it’s time to seek revenge. The range of stuff for men on the shelves of our chemists is growing by the week and although they don’t come in the same pretty packaging as products targeted at women many of them do the job better.

Take face scrub for example. The ones I get aimed at women just aren’t scrubby enough – there’s barely two exfoliating microbeads to rub together. 

Get a man’s scrub – like this one from No 7 for men and it’s a different story with plenty of grains to really polish the skin. The only one that comes close, for me, is Clinique’s 7-day Scrub Cream, which costs a lot more.

Another example (sorry it’s Boots again) is this face wash from the Botanical range for normal/dry skin. 

I really like the scent and my face just feels much cleaner when I use it in the shower. Plus it seems to control my spots, which is the order of the day.

These products aren’t the only ones though. Have you ever tried razors for men? They are fantastic at getting a clean shave without irritating your skin. I have a conspiracy theory that razors for us girls are no longer as sharp since the recession in Britain a few years ago, yet the price has gone up, but the cost of razors for the boys has hardly changed.

Similarly I love using shaving foam for men (designed for the face) on my legs as it leaves my skin feeling softer. Maybe it’s psychological but I am convinced!

Hopefully you won’t be shy in raiding the male grooming sections of your nearest chemist, or stealing stuff on the sly from your boyfriend/husband/housemate/GBF. What items would you recommend?