It's easy to think from instagram, radiant ring light selfies, and flattering YouTube editing that any foundation or BB cream looks perfect on the skin and it's even easier to feel bad about your own skin for not living up to strangers' skin online. This review has up close and personal pictures of my imperfect skin and I hope it helps show if this BB cream is for you.
What I expect from a foundation or BB cream:
I expect my base product to look natural on the skin, even out my complexion, not aggravate dry patches or acne, and last all day long. I always moisturize my skin and apply sunscreen before base makeup, even if the foundation or BB cream has SPF. I also always set my base makeup with a lightweight powder, usually a loose silica based translucent powder. My skin is dry but very shiny, so I prefer a natural finish over a dewy one.
Missha M Signature Real Complete details:
- I bought my 20 gram tube from eopenmarket for $9.43 (20g is about .7 ounces, which makes the price broadly comparable to many western drugstore foundations, tinted moisturizers, and BB creams)
- SPF 25 / PA++ sun protection
- 4 shades available (13, 21, 23, and 27 for those of you familiar with Missha shades)
- Advertised as a BB cream for sensitive skin - Missha says this BB cream is hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic, and free of parabens, mineral oil, alcohol, GMOs, triclosan, and benzophenone. Most of that sends up a mental red flag for science fear mongering, but alcohols do irritate my skin and cause me to break out in itchy eczema patches so I am very interested to see if this irritates my sensitive skin.
- Supposed to offer light coverage, be moisturizing, feel lightweight and last for 12 hours
- Cruelty free
Let's take a look at my bare skin:
I have pretty decent skin most of the time, but my skin is always fair, dry, and very sensitive to fragrance and drying alcohols. At the moment, I am dealing with severe dryness (per usual in the middle of winter!), redness on my cheekbone, by my lips, and around my nose, and some acne scars. Not a very flattering picture, but here is my bare skin up close and personal. None of these pictures have been edited (aside from adding a watermark) and were taken in natural light with my iPhone.
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| My bare skin. I always moisturize and apply SPF prior to BB cream or foundation. |
I'm a big believer in thin, light layers of base makeup. I think thin layers are the best way to build natural coverage. I applied one thin layer of Missha's M Signature Real Complete BB cream with a flat top synthetic buffing brush. With hindsight and up close pictures, I think the buffing brush was the wrong move - you can see it picking up on dry flaky areas around my acne scar on my cheek and red patch by my mouth. I'm noticing a big difference with the redness from the acne scar on my cheek and chin, but they aren't completely gone.
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| One layer of Missha M Signature Real Complete BB Cream applied with a buffing brush |
For my second thin layer, I patted the BB cream in with my fingertips. I think applying with my fingers gives a friendlier finish for dry skin and I would recommend that method. I'm seeing a medium coverage with a natural satin finish. I think my skin looks more even, but I like that you can still see freckles. Some of the redness has been taken down on my acne scars and around my nose, but I'm definitely going to need a concealer. If you look up close you can see some product on my skin, but it doesn't look too obvious. I didn't see a lot of extra coverage from the second layer.
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| Second layer of Missha M Signature Real Complete BB Cream applied with my fingertips |
And I'm done! I used a thin layer of the Urban Decay Naked Skin concealer in Fair Neutral around my nose and acne scars, set my makeup with a thin layer of Essence All About Matt translucent powder applied with a damp blending sponge, and applied a little Inglot #20 blush. The Urban Decay concealer isn't my favorite for dry patches, but it worked alright.
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| All done! 2 layers of Missha M Signature Real Complete BB cream with concealer, translucent powder, and blush |
The Missha shade No.13 works well for my pale skin. For shade comparison, here is the Missha with the Purito Snail Clearing BB Cream, Skin79 Hot Pink BB cream, Skin79 Green BB cream, and the It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream in Fair. The Missha No.13 is the lightest shade of the group and is most similar in color to the Skin79 Green. More BB cream swatches available here.
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| BB and CC cream comparison swatches on fair skin |
Overall, I think the Missha M Signature Real Complete is a good BB cream for light to medium coverage with a natural finish. I didn't find the coverage to be very buildable, so this is not for someone who expects full coverage. It doesn't look too makeup-y or cakey on the skin, but it isn't quite as imperceptible on the skin as my Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation or Skin79 BB creams in VIP Gold or Hot Pink. I recommend applying with fingertips over a buffing brush for the most natural effect. I found it to be neutral in terms of moisture - it didn't feel hydrating or drying on me. The longevity falls short of the amazing 12 hours Missha claims, but is average. This didn't irritate my sensitive skin and shade No. 13 worked well for my fair skin. Solid B in my book.
Have you tried it? Leave me a comment and tell me what you think of it!
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