What's in BB cream?

BB creams are all the rage at the moment as they act as a multi-purpose product. Having recently finished my degree in biomedical science, I've had the time to research some of the major ingredients in some Western BB creams.

I have done this research out of my own personal interest and all information below is my interpretation of information gathered from sources listed at the end.

Rimmel 9 in 1 BB Cream.
The Nine Claims:
1. Primes
2. Moisturises
3. Minimises pores
4. Conceals
5. Covers
6. Smoothes
7. Mattifies
8. Brightens
9. Protects.

Is all this true when you look at the ingredients?
I won't include the whole ingredients list because I highly doubt you'll read through every ingredient. I will just discuss some of the major ingredients used. I'll post my sources in links at the end.

Ingredient 2: Dicaprylyl carbonate. This is what is used to make your skin feel velvet smooth. It acts as an emollient with spreading properties to produce the smooth feeling without leaving an oily residue.
Ingredient 16: Glyceryl stearate - also acts as an emollient.
Claim 6 - Smoothes: tick!

Ingredient 3: Mica. Mica is a mineral which gives a white sparkly effect when added to cosmetic products. As it is a naturally occurring product, it contains traces of heavy metals, however the levels in cosmetics are very low and considered safe.
Claim 8 - Brightens: tick!

Ingredient 4: Cyclopentasiloxane. This is a silicone found in many beauty product and acts as an emollient. An emollient helps to make the skin softer and more hydrated as they reduce evaporation from the skin, increasing the water content of the skin.
Ingredient 5: Glycerin. This acs as a moisturising agent, as it attracts water (moisture) from the air into the skin.
Ingredient 12 is shea butter, a well known moisturiser.
Claim 2 - Moisturises: tick!

Ingredient 7: Ethylhexyl Salicylate - you may know of it as salicyclic acid. This is widely used in cosmetics and has uses as a sunscreen agent.

Ingredient 8: Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate. It is an active ingredient in sunscreens due to its UV filters. 

Ingredient 11: Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane. Absorbs UV light to protect against sun damage.

Ingredient 14: Octocrylene - a UV absorber found in sunscreens.

Claim 9 - Protects: tick!

Ingredient 13: Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer. This absorbs sebum, the fluid produced by the oil glands on your face.

Claim 7 - Mattifies: tick!

Ingredient 18: Aluminum dimyristate. I couldn't find much information on this, but apparently it is an anti-caking agent, an emulsion stabiliser (stabilises the interface between mixture of liquids) and viscosity controller (controls thickness of a liquid). I'm going to interpret this as priming abiliy as it helps stabilise the intergrity of makeup on the skin. I could be wrong. 

Claim 1: Primes - debatable 

Ingredient 19: Ascorbyl glucoside. This is a form of Vitamin C which is taken into the skin and used to inhibit the formation of melanin (the pigmentation in our skin). It can be used to hide the appearance dark spots. 

Claim 4: Conceals - debatable 

Claim 5: Covers - debatable 

Ingredient 24: Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract. Extracts from a licorice plant that can tighten the skin and/or produce a tingly feeling

Claim 3: Minimises pores - tick!

Well, thats all the claims covered so I won't discuss any more ingredients. Even though all the claims can be accounted for, it should be noted that some of the ingredients appear quite late in the list, so the extent of which they play a role may not be very significant.

Anyways, let me know what you thought of this post. Was it too scientific and boring? Would you be interested in seeing any more of these types of posts?
Don't worry, I'll still do my usual type of blog posts with swatches/reviews etc :)



SOURCES
Dicaprylyl carbonate
http://www.bioselect-us.com/Ingredients.aspx?IngrID=235

Mica
http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient_details.php?ingredient_id=607

Cyclopentasiloxane
http://www.goodguide.com/ingredients/259944-cyclopentasiloxane?category_id=370286-foundation-with-spf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emollient

Glycerine

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/crafts/crafts-soapmaking/glycerin.html

Ethylhexyl salicylate

http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient_details.php?ingredient_id=352

Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate

http://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/formulating/ingredient/uvfilter/138566919.html

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
http://www.lush.com.au/shop/lush/lushopaedia&ingredient_id=66

Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer

http://www.truthinaging.com/ingredients/methylmetacrylate-crosspolymer

Octocrylene

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient.php?ingred06=704206

Glyceryl stearate

http://en.mimi.hu/beauty/glyceryl_stearate.html

Aluminium Dimyristate 

http://www.cosdna.com/eng/7063b41277.html

Ascorbyl glucoside

http://www.futurederm.com/2007/12/19/spotlight-on-ascorbyl-glucoside/

Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract
http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient_details.php?ingredient_id=1935

Five minute summer face

Hey all! 

What products do you use when you're in a rush to get ready? For me, it depends on what season it is. In the warmer months, I use a minimal amount of makeup (its just going to sweat/melt off anyway!). Here are some products I use...

Rimmel BB Cream in Medium - $12.95

Sleek blush in Rose Gold - $5.99

Rimmel Extra Super Lash mascara - $12.95

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Birthday Suit (250) - $9.95

Rimmel BB Cream in Medium - on the left it has been blended out and it seems to blend well with my skin, although my face is a different color. This product claims to prime, moisturise, minimise pores, conceal, cover, smooth, mattify, brighten and protect (phew!). I'm not sure about the priming ability as I've never used a face primer before (don't laugh!) but it gives pretty even coverage although my skin is fairly blemish free. Sometimes I do add powder over the top though. This product also contains SPF 25 so you've got the added bonus of protection against the sun! One thing to be mindful of is that it may take on an orange tint - I have noticed a few people saying this in reviews. I haven't experienced this though.

Sleek blush in Rose Gold - yes I know I've mentioned these blushes before but I absolutely adore this colour. Its a peachy/coral blush with a hint of pink that adds a healthy glow. 

Now next to the swatch of the blush (on the right), I've swatched Birthday Suit. This is my go-to 'nude', its a very wearable caramel frosty lipstick with a hint of orange. I've swatched it next to the blush to show you how nicely they go together (well, I think so anyway). The colour is true to the tube. I adore this lipstick and am ready to repurchase this!

Some days, if I'm looking super tired, I'll add some concealer to hide dark rings and add a bit of black eyeliner to give my eyes some definition.

Feel free to share your favourite 'safe' products that you use when you're in a rush! :)