Review of L’Oreal Youth Code BB Cream Illuminator

Pros

Cons

Initially I was at Walgreens looking for a new mascara to try out but instead I found a new BB Cream, so I was even more excited. Since I use a L’Oreal skin care product during the day I thought that trying their Youth Code BB Cream Illuminator would be a bonus to my morning makeup ritual. After all, BB Creams should help you save time in the morning since they are a combination of lightweight foundation and moisturizer or other skin care products. So, as you can imagine I was super excited to get home and try out my new BB cream find.

So as with any new product I always test it multiple times with a day in-between of non-testing, just to make sure there are no allergic reactions from the product. To begin, the L’Oreal BB Cream has a scent. This is partially because of the added fragrance, but keep in mind that the fragrance is one of the last ingredients so there is not much added. Getting past the scent the texture was really nice. It was not greasy at all, and it went on very easily while blending into my skin nicely. I chose the “light” shade, but they also have “medium” for darker skin tones. After blending it in I noticed that my skin did look a little more illuminated, but once I set it with my Koh Gen Do Face Powder it looked like any other tinted moisturizer. I did have to use a concealer under my eyes and on any imperfection, so if you are looking for something with a foundation-like coverage then this is not for you. Keep in mind that most BB Creams do not give a heavy coverage anyway.

After a day of non-testing and no apparent reaction I tested the product again. Just like the first day the BB cream went on easily and blended well. I liked how comfortable it felt throughout the day as well. I actually wore it to the zoo for the day in 86 degree heat and it stayed in place all-day without a makeup meltdown thanks to the help of a favorite makeup finishing spray. Normal wear on the first day was average, and it did last all-day but I was not outside in the heat.

So far I have given you the details on the good parts, so now it is time for the downside. First of all this BB Cream contains alcohol, which can tend to be somewhat drying on some skin. Second, I wore the makeup for two weeks and did not see the major results that L’Oreal said would be there. My skin is not bad to begin with, but they state that after one week you will have smoother and softer skin. Then by week two your imperfections will be diminished and your skin’s texture refined. The spots and discoloration along my jawline had not changed what-so-ever, and if anything the change in products caused a few blemishes to pop out. Basically you could say that this BB cream is nothing more than a tinted moisturizer in a BB Cream packaging. When you add in the fact that it costs more than Garnier’s BB Cream you can quickly see the negatives surpassing the positives. If you like L’Oreal products then you may like this one too, especially if you’re looking for a basic BB cream that just looks nice on your skin during the day.

It may be a good idea overall, but do not be fooled by this tinted moisturizer in sheep’s clothing. If you want an affordable and true BB cream don’t reach for this one, but instead head for the Garnier isle.