I reviewed Burberry’s Fresh Glow BB Cream two years ago as part of a bigger post on Burberry foundations, but I think that it deserves its own page. So many BB/CC/DD creams have a claggy, SPF-heavy kind of feel and it’s a real treat to find one that’s fresh textured and has a “real skin” finish. As I say in the original post, I find the whole “BB” thing incredibly frustrating – there’s no standardised finish or level of coverage and so you really don’t know what you might be getting from brand to brand. Although, when I think more about this, I suppose that you could say the same for the generic term “foundation” or even “bronzer” – there’s now huge variety in whichever makeup category you choose.
Anyway, the Fresh Glow has bounced on back into my makeup bag and I’ve been wearing it on casual days (ie when I’m not filming but still need to leave the house without frightening the locals) for most of the summer. It’s a brilliant summer base – just the right amount of coverage so that minor discolourations and blemishes are evened out, and a healthy, glowy finish that looks as though you’ve just got really, really good skin.
I remember one modelling job, many years ago, when the makeup artist used over ten products to get a finish that she hoped looked like real skin. There were primers, foundations sheered out with facial oils, concealers applied with a tiny brush – and the process took nearly an hour. I feel as though the Burberry BB cream would have completely saved her the time and effort. It has the right amount of everything for that “my skin but quite a bit better” look; a sheen that doesn’t appear greasy, a colour that adds a tiny bit of warmth and a coverage that throws a lightweight veil over the bits that you’re not-quite-bothered by. (If you have things that you really want to block out – dark circles, pigmentation, redness – then this won’t cut it.)
Let’s have a look at the before and after pics:
The Burberry BB actually does take some of the sting out of dark circles, but my skin has been really good recently (despite the 43 Mini Magnums still being consumed per week!) and so don’t be fooled into thinking that there’s more coverage here than there really is. I’ll zoom in:
There’s no doubting that the Fresh Glow evens out tone, but you can quite clearly see that any little marks are merely skimmed over rather than blotted out.
In terms of finish the Fresh Glow BB is, as I’ve mentioned, on the dewy side. Oily skin won’t like it, I don’t think – there’s not enough coverage for sliding or patchiness to be much of an issue, but you can really feel the BB on the surface of your skin. I’m touching my face now, about seven hours after application, and it feels as though I’ve recently applied moisturiser. Dry skin will rejoice, oily not so much.
Of course, foundations and BB creams and tinted moisturisers do tend to behave differently depending on how you’ve prepped your skin – a thick, buttery face cream with lots of oily residue will often result in your base having the same sort of finish – but I have tried the Burberry Fresh Glow on top of a dozen or so different serums and moisturisers and it always has some degree of dewiness.
https://www.ruthcrilly.co.uk/2015/03/02/burberry-makeup-review-its-all-about-that-base/
I use shade “medium” in the Fresh Glow BB and that suits my summer complexion perfectly. Though it’s pretty forgiving, actually, because it’s so sheer. I’ve been wearing it directly over a face serum on very hot days (my Paula’s Choice Antioxidant one has been getting a fair bit of use) or, for an almost indecently dewy finish, I’ve applied over the top of Darphin’s 8-Flower Nectar Oil Cream.
This little tube of dewiness is definitely one for skin that’s on the drier side and doesn’t require much in the way of coverage, but I meet so many people who hate wearing foundation and just want something that perks up the face. Looks a bit more “done” but requires no effort. This ticks that box very nicely and provides broad spectrum sunscreen too, though you’d probably have to apply more than you needed, makeup-wise, to get the stated SPF 20.
You can find Burberry Fresh Glow BB Cream at Burberry* or Net-a-Porter* for £30, or for $44 at Sephora here*. A better choice for oily/combination skin would be the Effaclar BB Blur, see review here, or Clarins BB. Though both have very limited shade ranges…
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