How to Apply BB Cream Like a Makeup Artist (Because Application Is Everything)

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(Image credit: @sashamei)

Have you ever heard that saying that goes, "It's not the tool; it's how you use it"? Well, that certainly applies to beauty products. For example, it doesn't matter how soothing an exfoliating product claims to be. If you overuse it, it will likely cause dryness and irritation. Similarly, it doesn't matter how expensive a hair dryer is. If you're using it incorrectly, you probably won't get the fluffy '90s blowout of your dreams.

The same thing goes for BB cream. It might be known for providing a fresh-faced, natural-looking complexion, but if you don't know the best way to apply it, it might not give you the exact results you're looking for. That's where the professionals come in. We asked makeup artist Courtney Hart to share her best tips. "A BB cream can be applied to the skin in different ways depending on the final look you want," she says. Ahead, learn everything you need to now about how to apply BB cream. Plus, shop the 10 best BB creams on the market. 

What Is BB Cream?

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(Image credit: @claire_most)

First, let's distinguish BB cream from other complexion products like CC cream and traditional foundation. "BB cream, short for 'beauty balm,' is a multipurpose product that combines skincare benefits, such as moisturizing and sun protection, with light coverage," Hart says. 

"Compared to foundation, BB cream has lighter coverage and provides additional skincare benefits. A CC cream, short for 'color correcting,' is a type of makeup that is specifically designed to correct skin discoloration and provide more coverage than BB cream but less coverage than foundation." 

The best part? Hart says BB creams are suitable for all skin types. "BB creams are suitable for most skin types, including dry, oily, combination, and normal skin. However, the ideal BB cream for each skin type will vary depending on the formula's specific ingredients and texture."

How Should BB Cream Be Applied? 

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(Image credit: @emmahoareau)

Since BB cream has such light coverage, Hart says it's best for people who want a very natural or minimal makeup look. However, if you want to get the most out of the product and achieve the fullest coverage you can, Hart says you should use a makeup sponge to press the product into the skin. Be careful not to rub it, though, as this could lift some of the product and disturb what would be an otherwise even application.

On the flip side, if you want the lightest, most natural coverage, use a beauty tool you already have—your fingers. "If you want to get the most natural application possible I recommend applying with your fingers as you would a moisturizer," she says.

If you're not someone who likes to use their fingers to apply makeup, Hart says there's a third option: a makeup brush. However, make sure you're using a soft, fluffy foundation brush, as this will help you buff the BB cream into the skin for an airbrushed effect. 

Shop 10 BB Creams We Love

Up next: If You Have Combination Skin, These 17 Primers Will Be Your Saving Grace

Kaitlyn McLintock
Associate Beauty Editor

Kaitlyn McLintock is an Associate Beauty Editor atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing . Although she covers a wide range of topics across a variety of categories, she specializes in celebrity interviews and skincare and wellness content. Having lived in Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, she recently relocated back to her home state of Michigan where she works remotely. Prior toBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , she freelanced for a variety of industry-leading digital publications, including InStyle, The Zoe Report, Bustle, Hello Giggles, and Coveteur. Before that, she held a long-term internship and subsequent contributor position at Byrdie. When she's not writing, researching, or testing Wholesale Replica Bag and greatest beauty products, she's working her way through an ever-growing book collection, swimming in the Great Lakes, or spending time with family.