Monday 3 February 2014

My Top Rated: Complexion Perfecting Creams


Perricone MD - Kiehl's


Choosing a skin perfecting cream can be baffling. Where once the options were limited to tinted moisturisers and foundations, today there’s a growing assortment of alphabet creams offering skin perfecting and anti-ageing ingredients in an all-in-one solution to ponder too.

The double letter creams began with AA (Anti-Ageing) and have since expanded to include BB (Beauty Balms/Blemish Balms), CC (Colour Correcting), DD (Daily Defence) and now even EE (Extra Exfoliation). It boggles my mind what might come next.

All these products multi-task to a greater or lesser degree, but it’s not clear cut. For eg, a BB cream from one beauty brand will often have different skincare properties to a BB from another. And while tinted moisturises supposedly simply moisturise and colour some, such as NARs Pure Radiant, also provide broad spectrum sun protection.

It is very confusing and my best advice is to look at the list of ingredients for each individual product that interests you and sample (never assume because of an alphabet label). But if a recommendation would be helpful, then two products in this all-in-one category really stand out for me. 


Perricone MD’s No Foundation Foundation SPF 30

Perricone MD's No Foundation Foundation: original

I first got hold of a sample of this multi-tasking anti-ageing translucent foundation just over a year ago and I have been smitten with it ever since. I now buy it regularly and use it most days, eschewing my previous favourite - NARs’ tinted moisturiser.

It originally came in just one light/medium shade for all skin tones, but now there is also No Foundation Foundation Fair. I have the original and although I am fair skinned this has such a light touch that it blends in beautifully to enhance my natural skin colour.

It has all the key anti-ageing ingredients I long to see in skincare including Alpha Lipoic Acid, which is sometimes referred to as the universal antioxidant because of its ability to regenerate or recycle other antioxidants. Brightening Vitamin C Ester and plumping hyaluronic acid are on board too. Although I use a rejuvenation laser at home which tackles skin texture brilliantly, it’s still a must for me to use a cream with good anti-ageing ingredients in order to keep my skin tip-top between home device treatment. 

Physical SPF 30 sunblock (Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide) protect skin against both UVA and UVB and unlike chemical sunblocks are not absorbed into the skin and so are non irritating and non allergenic. The sunscreen also provides a range of optical diffusers that counteract red, yellow, and blue undertones.

I love this product with its lightweight touch and super ingredients. It costs £47 for 30ml and can be bought here . But if you do prefer a heavier coverage more akin to a foundation then I’d recommend…

…Kiehl’s Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream

Kiehl's Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB: natural (L) Light (R)

A month ago I was given two samples of this by the Kiehl’s rep at Fenwick in Tunbridge Wells. I have just finished using both sachets and I have to say I’ve been incredibly impressed. It is now on order and has become my chosen base for evening make-up and for daytime if I’m going out somewhere special and I want a thicker coverage. It’s another multi-tasker with fabulous anti-ageing ingredients and I simply had to add it alongside the Dr Perricone in my top rated. 

It comes in three shades – fair, light and natural. I tried both light and natural on my skin and find the natural a better match – the light has pink tones and the natural yellow. It does look quite dark on application but blends in very easily to match my own skin tone.

The sun protection is broad spectrum UVA and UVB and a whopping SPF50; my dermatologist tells me never to leave the house without applying a broad spectrum sun protector with at least an SPF30, even in Winter!

As with the Perricone, it’s a physical sunscreen (Titanium Dioxide and Iron Oxides), and there is vitamin C for brightening and correcting.

One thing that really strikes me about this cream is its incredibly silky feel as you apply it. It glides on like a dream. I also find it hydrates very well with my skin staying nice and dewy all day.

Kiehl’s isn’t a brand I know all that well but I have been so impressed with this BB cream that I am now exploring more of their products. I recently got my hands on their just launched Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream. I shall report back on that very shortly. Kieh’s Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream costs £23.50 for 30ml and can be bought here


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