9 Best BB Creams for Oily Skin to Buy in 2023
If you’re looking for an easy, one-and-done product to simplify your morning routine, you need to get behind the BB cream bandwagon (if you haven’t already).
“BB cream stands for ‘blemish balm’. Depending what brand the product is from, it usually provides light foundation like coverage,” Dr Yalda Jamali, medical doctor specialising in facial aesthetics and cosmetic dermatology, said.
“Often brands include skincare ingredients such as glycerin, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and even SPF to make it a multipurpose product.”
BB creams first became popular in South Korea, according to Dr Jamal, and it’s why you’ll see a lot of those K-Beauty brands on this list.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
With hundreds of products available, it’s impossible to test every one out there. To help you find the best BB cream for oily skin, we tested a few of the most popular products from well-known brands at different price points. In addition, our shopping team read hundreds of customer reviews and looked at test results and ratings from product review sites to find the best BB cream for oily skin, from premium to budget, to help you find the right one for you.
In this article
Best affordable BB cream: under $15
Best BB cream for acne prone skin
How to buy the best BB cream for oily skin
OUR TOP PICKS
Missha M Perfect Cover B.B Cream SPF 42 PA+++ No. 23
Holika Holika Moisturizing Petit BB SPF 30 PA++
La Roche-Posay Uvidea XL BB Cream SPF50
Napoleon Perdis BBB Cream Beauty-Boosting Balm SPF 30
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing BB-Gel BB Cream
Garnier BB Cream All-In-One Perfector Oil Free SPF 25
Natio SPF15 Pure Mineral Skin Perfecting BB Cream
ONE/SIZE Turn Up The Base Beauty Blur Balm
Esmi Skin Minerals Mineral BB Cream
BEST KOREAN BB CREAM
Missha M Perfect Cover B.B Cream SPF 42 PA+++ No. 23, $19.59, iHerb
What You Need To Know
If you’ve always wanted to jump into the world of K-Beauty, what better way to start off than with a BB cream that brings together makeup and skincare.
This BB cream is designed to brighten your skin tone, blur wrinkles and imperfections, all while providing excellent coverage for daily wear.
It offers UVA/UVB protection, so you can wear it knowing your face is protected from the sun (with frequent reapplication).
It’s racked up over 8000 five-star ratings on iHerb, with countless customers calling it the “best BB cream” and their “new best friend”.
One five-star rating customer said “I have sensitive, oily and acne prone skin but this didn’t break me out … it feels lightweight and can be layered, texture is creamy and nice, not overly matte nor overly dewy, it’s a perfect middle.”
The Missha M Perfect Cover BB cream has also been doing the rounds of TikTok, where loads of creators are trying it out on camera, showing off its “flawless” finish.
Always read the label and follow directions for use. Prolonged high-risk sun exposure should be avoided. Frequent reapplication or use in accordance with directions is required for effective sun protection
Holika Holika Moisturizing Petit BB SPF 30 PA++, $9.13, iHerb
What You Need To Know
If you’re concerned about keeping your skin hydrated and moisturised – yep, even oily skin types need moisture and hydration – you may want to opt for a BB cream that treats those exact concerns.
Just like this one from the K-Beauty brand Holika Holika. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid to treat the complexion and make it look smooth and totally glossy.
The Holika Holika Moisturising Petit BB cream has close to 4000 five-star ratings on iHerb, with happy customers noting it “goes on smoothly and looks like skin”, with another commenting that it’s “light, blends well and leaves a smooth finish”.
Always read the label and follow directions for use. Prolonged high-risk sun exposure should be avoided. Frequent reapplication or use in accordance with directions is required for effective sun protection
BEST BB CREAM WITH SUNSCREEN
La Roche-Posay Uvidea XL BB Cream SPF50, $38.95, Amazon Australia
Tried And Tested By Marina Tatas, Shopping Writer
I’m a big fan of skin tints, tinted sunscreens, BB creams, CC creams – all those sorts of easy-to-use products that cut the time of your morning routine in half. I want sun protection, some level of coverage but most importantly, I want my skin to feel protected and hydrated.
That’s where the La Roche-Posay Uvidea XL BB Cream comes in.
Putting this on for the first time, I was genuinely shocked by the coverage. It covers everything you need it to, while still feeling really lightweight on the skin and looking super natural.
To really put it to the test, I wore this BB cream to the gym multiple times – yes I’m that girl who wears a little makeup to the gym … because if you feel cute, you lift heavier.
I’m usually a big face sweater and this BB cream held up perfectly fine throughout all my workouts. It actually leaves a smooth and soft velvet finish to the skin, so I think it’s super ideal for those with oily skin types.
Oh and the best part? It’s loaded with SPF 50, but of course I always layer my everyday sunscreen underneath as a base.
Always read the label and follow directions for use. Prolonged high-risk sun exposure should be avoided. Frequent reapplication or use in accordance with directions is required for effective sun protection
Napoleon Perdis BBB Cream Beauty-Boosting Balm SPF 30, $59, The Iconic
What You Need To Know
The Napoleon Perdis BBB Cream offers a lightweight and creamy texture, with sheer coverage and a totally radiant and dewy finish.
It’s created with snail mucus to nourish and hydrate the skin, green tea extract to provide antioxidants and bilberry seed oil to leave the skin feeling soft and conditioned. The formulation also has in-built HD properties – something that’s featured in other Napoleon Perdis products – to reflect light and ultimately correct the appearance of an uneven skin tone. Say hello to brighter skin!
Always read the label and follow directions for use. Prolonged high-risk sun exposure should be avoided. Frequent reapplication or use in accordance with directions is required for effective sun protection
BEST LIGHTWEIGHT BB CREAM
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing BB-Gel BB Cream, $38, Myer
What You Need To Know
If you’re after a BB cream that feels exactly like a moisturiser, go for this option from Clinique. It offers oil-free hydration with natural coverage. You apply it like a moisturiser – not a foundation – and this product appears like a grey hue on the skin but then transforms to give you a naturally even complexion.
Five-star rating Myer customers have said it’s “not sticky or greasy” and “very lightweight”, with another noting it “feels like you are wearing nothing on skin but leaves an even clean complexion … perfect for everyday wear.”
BEST AFFORDABLE BB CREAM
Garnier BB Cream All-In-One Perfector Oil Free SPF 25, $8.47, Amazon Australia
Tried And Tested By Hannah Paine, Editor
Garnier’s BB Cream was one of the first makeup products I ever bought as a teen so I was excited to try it again and see how it fared on my now 32-year-old skin. I wasn’t disappointed either – I really liked how it gave my skin a natural-looking glow and even skin tone from just a small amount of product.
It’s very light coverage but perfect if you want a little pick-me-up for your skin.
I just wish it came in more shades as the range is quite limited.
Tried and Tested By Melody Teh, Deputy Editor
For everyday wear, I’m a big fan of BB and CC creams, skin tints and tinted moisturisers, and just generally anything that is lighter than foundation while still providing enough coverage to even out my skin tone and hide any redness I might have. And I’ve found Garnier’s SkinActive BB Cream perfect for this very purpose.
It goes on like a hydrating moisturiser, which you can blend easily with your fingertips. I love this as it’s quick and easy to do in the morning when I’m in a rush to get to work. It’s got a lovely light texture, honestly it feels like I’m not even wearing anything, allowing my skin to breathe and not get clogged up.
Most importantly, it provides good coverage that gives you that ‘your skin but better look’. For the price point, it’s now become a go-to for everyday wear. Plus, I love that it has SPF25 in it!
Always read the label and follow directions for use. Prolonged high-risk sun exposure should be avoided. Frequent reapplication or use in accordance with directions is required for effective sun protection
Natio SPF15 Pure Mineral Skin Perfecting BB Cream, $15.95, Amazon Australia
Tried And Tested By Harriet Amurao, eCommerce Content Coordinator
I have incredibly dry skin and winter is when the flakiness is the worst, so to really put this hydrating Natio BB cream to the test, I applied it to my face without any moisturiser.
The consistency is not too light yet not too thick, I think it’s the perfect in between and it glides oh-so effortlessly on my skin.
Upon application, I could see how even my skin appeared and the redness around my nose disappeared thanks to the green tea and camomile ingredients. The formula also consists of vitamin E, jojoba and shea butter which gave me a healthy, dewy, and glowy finish that I absolutely loved.
The coverage is what surprised me the most. When I think of BB creams I think of little to no coverage. But this product actually seems to offer light to medium coverage which I believe is buildable for a full coverage finish.
Overall I would recommend this to those with dry skin and people who are looking for a solution to quick and easy everyday makeup. Not to mention, it’s incredibly affordable so I’d say it’s definitely worth a try!
Always read the label and follow directions for use. Prolonged high-risk sun exposure should be avoided. Frequent reapplication or use in accordance with directions is required for effective sun protection
BEST BB CREAM FOR ACNE PRONE SKIN
ONE/SIZE Turn Up The Base Beauty Blur Balm, $54, Sephora
What You Need To Know
The ONE/SIZE Turn Up The Base Beauty Blur Balm is a unique hybrid product that offers the coverage of a foundation while providing you with the benefits of a BB cream.
The versatile formulation is buildable, breathable, works hard to blur texture and offers a hydrating feel for all day wear. Win!
It’s racked up over 500 five-star ratings on the Sephora website, with countless customers noting how it’s “great for oily skin”, offering a “soft matte look” that appears super “natural” on the skin.
Esmi Skin Minerals Mineral BB Cream, $50, Esmi
What You Need To Know
Skincare and makeup become one in this fabulous BB cream from Australian-made brand Esmi Skin Minerals.
Ideal for all skin types, the lightweight BB cream hydrates the skin with hyaluronic acid, evens out skin tones, minimises the appearance of imperfections, all while providing SPF15.
The coverage is light but enough for everyday wear. It’s also paraben free, cruelty free and vegan.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A BB CREAM FOR OILY SKIN
To help you find the best BB cream for oily skin, we asked for expert advice from Dr Jamali and Amy Hanneman, working makeup artist for over 10 years.
Budget
If it’s something you know you’re going to be using everyday (like a BB cream), think about how much you want to spend. You can easily find BB creams at an affordable price point – we’re talking under $15 – or you can spend a little more for a more premium brand. Both sides of the spectrum hold super positive customer reviews, so the choice is ultimately yours.
Your skin type
Normal, oily, dry or combination – you may want to pick a BB cream that is more suited to your skin type. One of the most common questions is whether you can use a BB cream if you have oily skin. If you have oily and acne prone skin, Dr Jamali recommend using oil-free products, including oil-free BB creams like this one from Garnier.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING A BB CREAM?
“Being so lightweight, BB cream is suitable for everyday use as opposed to a full coverage foundation,” Amy told news com.au.
Given how hydrating they are, they’re a great product to wear throughout the cooler months, she added.
BB creams can be very “breathable” on the skin, and depending on the brand, they can also have skincare properties which unique benefits like “hydration, antioxidants and sun protection”, Dr Jannali also said.
Keep in mind that just using BB cream with sunscreen already formulated into it is not enough sun protection.
“We are not able to rely on the SPF in BB creams if the correct amount isn’t applied and then reapplied during the day,” Dr Jamali told news.com.au.
DO YOU NEED TO USE A PRIMER BEFORE BB CREAM?
Unlike foundation it’s “not necessary” to apply primer before BB cream, Amy confirmed.
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO APPLY A BB CREAM?
According to Amy, you can apply a BB cream which whatever you feel comfortable with – your clean hands, a foundation brush or a beauty sponge.
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO REMOVE A BB CREAM AT THE END OF THE DAY?
Treat your BB cream like any other makeup product – make sure you are double cleansing at the end of the day, starting with a micellar water or a cleansing oil or balm.
Dr Yalda Jamali
Dr Yalda Jamali (MBChB) is a qualified doctor specialising in non-invasive medical cosmetic treatments. She graduated from the University of Manchester, UK with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and holds a postgraduate Level 7 Certificate in Injectables for Aesthetic Medicine and a Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Dermatology and her masters in Clinical Dermatology. She is passionate about skin health and provides tailored skin care regimes to suit individual concerns.
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Amy Hanneman
Amy Hanneman is a professional makeup artist who has worked in the beauty industry for 10 years, specialising in both bridal and editorial makeup. She got her start in the industry after completing a diploma of specialist makeup in 2013 and has worked with brands like STAX, Meshki and at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week. Amy enjoys the vast variety between bridal and editorial makeup as they both offer something completely different to her creativity and client base.
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Originally published as Best BB creams for oily skin to buy in 2023
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