Maybelline has jumped on the BB Bandwagon with their recent addition to their Dream line, the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm ($6.99 USD / $10.99 CAD).  These new face bases are meant to be an 8-in-1 multi-tasking wonder, available in five different shades (that’s almost unheard of for BB creams)!

BB Creams (meaning either Blemish Balm or Beauty Balm) have been famous in Asia for many years, and have recently come over to North America, with every brand under the sun putting out their latest formulation to join in on the hype.  If you’ve ever tried an Asian BB Cream, you’ll know our western formulas are much different, to match our demographic’s main concerns and desires.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balms (Light on left, Medium/Deep on right)

One thing that many BB Creams have in common are multi-tasking benefits for skin, and these Maybelline ones have eight of them:

• SPF 30
• Blurs imperfections
• Creates a natural looking glow
• Smoother skin
• Compliments skin-tone
• All-day hydration
• Feels fresh
• Oil Free

I think this list is a little excessive, “feeling fresh” isn’t exactly a skincare benefit, and a couple of the claims are redundant.  I’m not a fan of being buttered up by numerous claims… and while most of these are true, I think some of them mean the same thing (ie. blurs imperfections & smoother skin, etc).

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balms

Squeeze-tube application

I find these BB Creams, along with most other American varieties, to resemble tinted moisturizers much more than traditional formulas; these are lightweight with sheer coverage. I definitely have to touch up with concealer for problem areas and even set it with powder.  It’s not a bad thing- but it’s just something to note… if you’ve tried a tinted moisturizer, these really aren’t any different.

I do love the fact they have a great shade range, I like adding a bit of the darker color to my shade to deepen it a bit and give me a healthy glow with some color!  I prefer to apply it with my fingers as well, but you can use a brush or sponge if you like.  They all have a bit of a yellowish undertone, which is great for reducing redness in the skin.

The price is right for these BB creams… but make sure to look at the value of whatever you’re considering… these tubes are small!

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balms, Swatched (Light on left, Medium/Dark on right)

Before (left) and After (right) with Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm in Light

Summary

• Price: $6.99 USD / $10.99 CAD for 30mL
• Availability: Drugstores
• Selection: Available in 5 shades (Light, Light/Medium, Medium, Medium/Deep & Deep)
• Overall: For a North American BB Cream, they are pretty good. Lightweight, oil-free, sheer coverage… evens out my skin tone a little bit, but I still feel as if I need concealer. I feel like a few of their 8-in-1 claims are redundant, but it works none-the-less. The price is right, but make sure you check out the value if you’re considering other formulas.
• Rating: B+