Clinique All About Age Defense BB Cream SPF30

I don't get BB Creams! I really don't get them. I've read about them, I've seen lots of them on blogs. I read brand descriptions of them but I've yet to understand why I would want to use one instead of foundation or tinted moisturiser in the Summer.

It's not that I don't want to understand, I really do, but I think the problem is that they all do different things. In short though here's what I do know. BB stands for Blemish Balm, but it's not a spot cream. It provides a small amount of coverage but it's not a foundation. Some, like this Clinique offering, have anti-aging properties. They have primer properties but can be worn alone and have healing properties to help banish blemishes and they nearly all offer SPF.

Clinique's offering provides a fantastic SPF of 30 which is great.

The Age Defense BB Cream is suitable for all skin types and is easy to apply. You use it after moisturising and over your entire face.

It's available in two shades, 01 and 02. I've tried both and 02 was completely wrong for me, far too orange, so I was sent 01 to try out. My initial impression was that it was far too pale...and don't get me wrong it is incredibly pale, but then I am pale and it works perfectly well on my skin, colour wise.

 I've heard tell of it having a grey tint and I have to say that when I was blending this into my face I did get a flash of grey which alarmed me at first, once fully applied and settled into my skin I couldn't spot the grey at all.

In terms of coverage, at this time of year this isn't enough coverage for me, never mind my hormones seem to be playing havoc with my skin, more than usual of late, so I'm happier with more coverage, this will however be perfect in the Summer for me, so long as it then isn't too pale. I can't see I'll ever match a shade 02, not unless I fake tan and I don't fake tan.

Here's how my face looks with the Clinique BB cream. I've kept the rest of my make up to an absolute minimum so the focus is on how my skin looks.

It's very natural. All my freckles are showing through and in fact I'd go so far as to say it looks as though I'm not really wearing anything on my skin, which is actually a good thing, well on good skin days it's a good thing.  It is SO pale that I could really benefit from some extra blusher, but otherwise it's good.

I do find that my fine lines and wrinkles are less obvious and my skin feels very smooth. I have tried this as a primer also, but since I favour heavy foundations, it's all a little much for my spot prone skin. No, I'll be keeping mine to wear alone on good skin days, particularly in Spring and Summer if they ever come.

Really I don't have many grumbles about this, it's nice, but the main problem is the colours. Having tried both of the available shades I can guarantee that many people will be unable to find a match. Although sheer, they do still impart colour I'm not convinced two shades will fit all.

The All About Age Defense BB Cream is £25 for 40mls and lets hope that more shades will be added in future!

*Disclosure - PR Sample*

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