Product Review: Pond's Luminous Finish BB+ Cream in Light

For someone who is obsessed with makeup, I'm actually quite the low-maintenance girl. I prefer neutrals over bright colors, I'm not afraid of light coverage foundations, and I spend more time terrorizing humanity with my bare face than not, which is probably why I find this BB cream more palatable than actual foundation. Now this BB cream is what I've been searching for since the whole BB cream craze (and then CC... and now DD) hit the states; it isn't a tinted moisturizer that makeup companies have been trying to pawn off as a BB cream, it actually has a thicker consistency, it sticks to the "traditional" standards for a BB cream (e.g. it is supposed to help improve the overall appearance of the skin and correct imperfections), and it doesn't end up making me look like a hot mess briefly after application. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I find that it suits my needs.

Now, it is very rare to run across a perfect product, and this BB cream is not one of them. Sad, but hey... statistics are against it. There are a few down points to this in my book - probably more for others - and it is a bit pricey. However, it really does take the cake when compared to the other drugstore American BB creams I've tried out over the years.

My main gripe about this BB cream, which I'm sure most people will be able to get behind, is that it only comes in two shades of White People and doesn't do a whole lot of color adjustment. There is light, which is pretty much suitable for basement dwellers, Scandinavians, and slightly tanned albinos, and there is medium, which is several shades darker than aforementioned basement dwellers, Scandinavians, and slightly tanned albinos. The medium shade would probably work on crackers like myself that brave the outside world long enough to develop a little more color, or medium skin toned people on the paler end of the spectrum. Unfortunately, there is enough of a difference between the two shades that makes color matching - without buying both to mix a custom color - pretty difficult. I ended up picking up light in the dead of winter, and while I'm a slightly more pigmented whitey who tends to pale out because I fear the outside, it was still light enough to make me look like I just donated half of my blood if I didn't warm up my face afterwards with a light bronzer.

Another negative aspect of this product, which I honestly don't find to be a huge issue, but is still worth mentioning, is that the coverage is pretty sheer. I've got a bunch of hyper-pigmentation on my cheeks and occasionally on my jaw (thanks, adult acne), which this doesn't cover... but that is a BB cream for ya. Personally, I don't mind that much since I've learned to accept my war-torn complexion, but I am pleased that this manages to even out my skin tone, lessen the appearance of my hyperpigmentation with the slightly peachy undertone, and reduces my redness in a way that looks effortlessly natural.

Last negative point on this sucker: it is a smidge pricey at around $10 and up mark, but most other drugstore foundations form the mid-range/"high end"brands are just as or more expensive.

"Why do you like this product so much if it only suits two very specific skin tones?" you may ask. Well, the color matching aside, I think this stuff is pretty awesome.

The texture, for one, is a huge selling point for me. It has a nice, hefty thickness to it (unlike other tinted moisturizers masquerading as BB creams BB creams), but it isn't a moist mess either (I'm looking at you, Garnier). It feels like a perfect blend of a thick Benefit POREfessional or Too Faced Primed and Poreless primer and a gel foundation, which makes blending it in oh so lovely and adds a nice, touchable finish to the skin. I recommend using your God-given foundation applicator (i.e. your fingers) with this guy because emollient products like this tend to be sucked up into synthetic brushes or cosmetic sponges like Lucky Charms marshmallows in milk.

Me in all of my (nearly) naked faced glory. Hawt!

I previously mentioned the coverage and evening properties in my negative section because not everyone is as insane as I am about what they consider to be acceptable coverage, but the natural finish with a healthy, luminous appearance really appeals to me. Nope, this won't completely cover up your acne or dark spots, but it decreases their appearance with nicely diffusing the color variation and does a pretty good job of creating a more uniform shade on yo mug. This is also one of the very few BB creams I've come across that has a nice matte-ish or satin-y finish to it, which I'm sure we can all agree is better than looking like a shiny, moist mess (again... Garnier, I'm looking at you). I also haven't noticed any issues with this breaking me out, even with the mild scent.

The wear time on this is pretty darned decent considering that it is a light-coverage product, and I really think that the texture is what helps it stick around. It isn't by any means as long-lasting as Revlon ColorStay, but then again it really isn't marketed as a long wearing product. I'm also not all that enraged that it might need reapplication at some point since it does contain SPF 15, and SPF does need to be reapplied to maintain its effects after taking a dunk in good ol' water or secreting that saline stuff from your pores like ya do every day.

Packaging without any amazing, revolutionary elements isn't anything to rave about, but I seriously cannot get over the sleek design and adorable shiny-ness of this tube!

TL;DR section:

Price: Varies ($12.99 or more at most drugstores, and $9.99 and $9.97 at Target and Walmart respectively)

Size: 1.5 oz, or 44 mL

Availability: Most places that carry the Pond's line.

Pros:

• Natural, satin finish
• Evens out skin tone
• SPF 15
• Fairly long wearing
• Good with oil control
• Marvelous texture
• Much closer to an actual BB cream than most other drugstore options

Cons:

• Comes in only 2 shades 
• Doesn't cover dark spots or acne

Cruelty free: Hide your pets!

Manufacturer claims:

• Superior coverage of imperfections (kinda)
• Superior visible dark spot reduction (possible over time, but no immediate "Wow! This is AMAZING effects)
• Superior non-greasy feel, with a matte finish (check! It is more of a satin, but I won't split hairs)
• Broad spectrum SPF 15 sun protection (yup)
• Non-comedogenic - won't clog pores (haven't had any issues with this so far)
• Dermatologist tested (alrighty then)
• Hypoallergenic (can't exactly validate that since I don't have overly sensitive skin, but it hasn't caused me any grief)

Overall rating: 9/10

More product information HERE.

Disclaimer: This product was purchased with my own funds for personal use and review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. There are no affiliate links in this post.

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