8 Best BB Creams for No-Fuss Gorgeous Skin

8 Best BB Creams to Try Now

1. Best for No-Makeup Makeup Days:

CIATÉ LONDON Extraordinary BB Cream

This is our go-to for when we need our skin to look flawless and even, without any cakiness or heaviness. Good-for-you ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamins B3 and B5 offer serious hydration, while vitamin E and jojoba oil help soothe and calm your skin. Ipsters rave that it “melts into the skin, feels super moisturizing, and looks like your skin but better."

2. Best SPF Option:

PURLISSE BEAUTY Ageless Glow Serum BB Cream SPF 40

This multitasking BB cream is basically your skincare and makeup routines rolled into one. It evens out your skin tone while ingredients like bakuchiol, algae collagen, and vitamin C go to work brightening, firming, and protecting. And with SPF 40, it’s got your sun protection covered too. The texture? Light, airy, and super breathable—one Ipster with dry combo skin said, “My skin feels moisturized but can still breathe. It stays put all day, even after a 12-hour shift. I’m obsessed and want to buy this by the gallon.” Honestly, same.

3. Best for Everyday:

KOSAS BB Burst Hydrating Tinted Gel Cream

Courtesy of KOSAS

This juicy, gel-cream formula will quickly become your everyday essential. It’s ultra-hydrating (thank you, hyaluronic acid), breathable, and leaves your skin looking plump, radiant, and fresh—without looking like you’re wearing a face full of makeup. Plus, we love that it has a wide shade range with cool, neutral, warm, and olive undertones. 

4. Best for Full Coverage:

ONE/SIZE Turn Up the Base BBB Cream

If you love the idea of BB cream but want a little more coverage, this one’s for you. It blurs like a filter, covers like a foundation, and still feels super lightweight and comfy on the skin. The soft matte finish gives a smooth, polished look without feeling heavy, and the medium-to-full coverage is perfect for evening things out without looking overdone. It’s also a fave for mature skin—one Ipster said, “It didn't settle around my nose or eyes. The color was perfect for my skin, the coverage was beautifully medium, and my fine lines were not as noticeable. I’m hooked.” We totally get it. 

5. Best Drugstore Gem:

MAYBELLINE Dream Fresh® BB Cream 

Courtesy of MAYBELLINE

If you’re new to BB creams (or just love a good deal), this cult-fave from MAYBELLINE is a no-brainer. It gives your skin a sheer, dewy tint that evens things out without covering too much—basically your skin, just a little more glowy. It is packed with hydration, won’t clog pores, and has built-in SPF 30 for easy, everyday protection. We reach for this on lazy days, hot days, any days. Bonus: It’s under $10 and you can find it at basically any drugstore. 

6. Best Illuminating Finish:

PURLISSE BEAUTY Radiant Glow Illuminating BB Cream SPF 30

Want a BB cream that brings the glow? This one is it. It gives your skin a lit-from-within luminosity while covering redness, dark spots, and uneven tone. The subtle shimmer adds radiance (without being glittery!), and the lightweight formula feels like skincare-meets-makeup magic. One Ipster raves, “I have breakouts and scarring...most foundations look cakey or break me out—not this one. It’s light, buildable, and smooths on effortlessly with a natural pearlescent finish.” Bonus: It has SPF 30. 

7. Best Travel Size:

TARTE™ BB Blur Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30

Courtesy of TARTE™

Tiny but mighty, this travel-size BB cream is the ultimate multitasker for your on-the-go makeup bag. The coverage is buildable and super natural, so it evens everything out without feeling heavy or looking cakey. Plus, it has SPF 30, which we love for days when we’re running around or traveling and don’t want to think too hard about our routine. Toss it in your bag, and you’re good to go—touch-ups, beach days, last-minute plans, all covered.

8. Best Bronzed Glow:

BOSCIA BB Cream Bronze SPF 27

If you love that bronzy, just-got-back-from-vacation glow (but don’t have the time or energy for self-tanner), this BB cream is our pick. The tint is super natural and it gives your skin that warm, bronzed vibe instantly. It’s really lightweight and hydrating, so it feels more like skincare than makeup, and the built-in SPF 27 is a nice bonus.

BB Cream FAQs

What's the Difference Between BB Cream and Foundation?

Think of BB cream as your effortless, everyday go-to and foundation as your full-glam option. BB cream (aka beauty balm) is lighter, more hydrating, and usually packed with skincare perks like SPF and antioxidants. It gives a sheer-to-light tint for a natural, dewy look. Foundation is all about coverage: light to full, dewy to matte, depending on the formula.

Is BB Cream Better Than CC Cream?

It depends on your vibe! BB cream is all about hydration, glow, and a light tint—it’s your skin, but slightly better. CC cream (color corrector) is usually a bit thicker and focuses more on evening out tone, covering redness, and neutralizing discoloration. If you’re going for a natural, fresh-faced glow, go for the BB. If you want more coverage and tone-correcting magic, reach for the CC. 

What’s the Best Way to Apply BB Cream?

If you want to keep it simple and low-maintenance, just use your fingers! The warmth helps melt the product into your skin for that seamless, second-skin finish. If you want a little more polish, a damp sponge or brush works too. Start in the center of your face and blend outward for a natural look. And remember: a little goes a long way. You can always build it up if you need more coverage.