Thursday, September 22, 2011

BB Cream by Garnier

When I hear of a company that strives to make its impact on the environment a more conscious one, I'm impressed. I love that they're willing to make changes to their traditional ways of doing things in favour of more enlightened ways. As Oprah says, when you know better, you do better!

I was recently sent Garnier's newest product to try (and give away to you guys, stay tuned!) and despite the description of it being "miracle!", "skin perfector!" and "all-in-one solution!", I was struck more by the sincere effort to which Garnier has gone in order to bring about products that use renewable, raw materials and that aren't tested on animals. They recycle 91% of their waste and have a ton of tips on how you can recycle yours.


They even wanted me to recycle the "with compliments" slip on the front of the box. I like this - it was prettier to leave it off, but they made it big and bold. 



 So I was wary of the BB (Blemish Balm) Perfector cream... I have freckles thanks to a lifetime in the Queensland sun (and genetics, yay), and uneven skin tone, what with pregnancy and a love of sunscreen, which makes my face white and the rest of my body olive. White with freckles. Sigh.

Given that it says "one product to correct, protect and unify skin complexion with instant and lasting results", I just didn't think it would work, as "natural coverage" and "lightweight and breatheable formula"s usually lead people to ask if I'm sick, or telling me I look tired.

However.

It is more than just a tinted moisturiser, with its mineral pigments creating more coverage. I'm told it can also be a base for regular foundation, etc, but as a new mama I'm kind of looking more for something that I can throw on and it will do about five things at once.

Miracle skin perfector is supposed to :

1 - Hydrate for 24 hours - I definitely felt soft and non-dry. Bonus.

2 -  Even skin tone - I found that rubbing it on like a moisturiser and then going over my trouble spots with it like a concealer actually made a difference. I used the darker one over my cheeks like blush for a little glow and it added extra coverage. I actually would have left the house looking like that and all I had on was moisturiser! I honestly was surprised.

3 - Correct blemishes - luckily I don't have any.

4 - Boost healthy glow - I did feel hydrated and a little tanned, and I like the dewy effect it has on my skin. Normally this wigs me out, as I look shiny, but this didn't have that effect.

5 - SPF 15 protection - I think this should be in all makeup.


So here is my big mug with the cream applied how I described above. Nothing else. I actually don't mind it... I hate wearing a ton of makeup that makes me look awful close-up, but I can't stand leaving the house au naturel.

You do have to wash your hands after using, unlike regular tinted moisturisers, as the pigment is more foundation-like, but I found that to be something I was willing to live with seeing as I had way more time on my hands (ahem) using only the one product.

Now for the fun part... Thanks to the kind folks at Garnier, I've got 10 (yes, 10) packs of both the dark and the light creams to give away. 


Just leave a comment and tell me - what would you do with the extra time you have on your hands with your morning face routine shortened?


Entries close September 30 at 10am. Winners will be chosen by Random.org and notified by email.


Open to Australian postal addresses only, sorry :(

If you miss out on my giveaway, you can buy the cream for $13.99 at Priceline and supermarkets.
Like them on Facebook

44 comments:

  1. As a rule I don't wear makeup during the week if I can help it. I am strict with my face routine. I am yet to find a decent tinted moisturizer that doesn't clog my pores that's affordable. At the moment I am mixing foundation with my moisturizer. Which is expensive, I would be happy to give this a shot. Living in tropical north Queensland anything easy and light that works would be a bonus. If it could shorten my morning routine. That means I get to hit the snooze button one extra time right?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I would cook breakfast for my boyfriend too, instead of just myself (we eat different things)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would lie in bed alittle longer and also have an extra coffee :)

    PS - Stacey - I say 'wigs' too - been ages since i heard / saw it.. made me smile. 

    ReplyDelete
  4. If I had more time, I would actually eat a healthy breakfast. Instead of waiting til 10am when Im absolutely starving.

    ReplyDelete
  5. If i had more time in the mornings I would go to a Yoga class and get my hippy on before work so i didn't feel so frazzled before even starting! ahhh zeeennnnnn

    ReplyDelete
  6. Extra time in the morning? Is that possible? If such a thing did exist I would use it to take a few deep breaths to calm myself admist the morning rush of getting 3 children out the door to school. As much as I would love this prize, you can believe that my kids would love it more if it means a less stressed out morning Mum. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'd probably pluck my eyebrows. I never have time for that anymore!
    I am cavewoman.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have to say I wasn't completely sold...until I scrolled down and saw your absolutely glowing picture! Wow! 
    So, as for if I had more time in the morning, it would surely be taken up by throwing the ball for my dog another 10 times. I wish I could say I would be more productive, but I can't say no to her puppy dog eyes! :)PS. I LOVE that they've gone cruelty free - well done Garnier.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I would probably do my best impersonation of a fish wife and continue yelling at the child/dog/cat in that extra spare time. What can I say? It is genetic. I come from a long line of fish wives.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Mama I have skin! I hate makeup and only ever wear it to weddings and the like because I get sad when I see it up close. Makeup generally fails me. Or I fail makeup? Anyhoo, I'm getting old and need facial help because I don't look as charming in the mornings these days. If you let me try this stuff then my mornings will be spent brightening the world around me rather than scowling at it. And I might take up walking or something ;)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I would enjoy my coffee rather then a.sculling it hot b. drinking it cold or c, not finishing it at all only to find it later with sad eyes for having wasted yet another coffee!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I would read my book on the loo, one of my favourite activities that is much neglected since having children and not getting ANY private time in the toilet!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am so bad with make up and I only wear it when I really need to. I didn't realize garnier actually had a tinted cream. Miracle I need to race to the shops right now and buy it. Ok perhaps I can wait until tomorrow.

    If I was able to reduce my make up I would spend longer napping on the couch before events :p make up is hard wrk and take forever.

    ReplyDelete
  14. More time? Not it is not possible sorry. I still would love to try the cream though, thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hmmm ...I often apply my makeup in the car. Perhaps I need to get up earlier ;)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would actually be able to get my hair done! Stupid curly hair takes forever to style! And instead of having more time really it may mean that I actually wouldn't be late... Maybe...

    ReplyDelete
  17. If I had extra time in the morning, I would enjoy my walk to work at a nice pace!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I have to be honest, if I had more time in the morning...I'd check facebook and twitter a few more times! I know, I'm terrible Muriel!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I would actually sit back and have the time to enjoy my coffee!

    thanks for the fab giveaway :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'd probably be on twitter, blogs or facebooks more often.
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  21. My girls would probably get to the bus on time.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I would eat my breakfast SITTING DOWN. Not standing, not in the car, not whilst hanging the washing! And it would be either still warm (toast, crumpets,etc),NOT stone cold, and no soggy cereal either!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I would totally have a second cup of tea! 

    ReplyDelete
  24. Gorgeous! I'm always put off tinted moisturisers because of the funny greasy and slightly sheeny residue they leave on your hands but this one sounds like a winner - will add to my 'must try' list.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'd have 10 mins extra minutes to tweet that I had extra time on my hands thanks to Garnier LOL

    ReplyDelete
  26. I would in snooze once more, like I wish I could every morning, spoon my cat longer and savour every sip of my morning coffee!

    ReplyDelete
  27. It would give me more time to spend with my husband in the mornings before rushing off.

    ReplyDelete
  28. OMG, you've seen my freckles!! My face and decolletage has a lifetime of sun damage ...I totally need this. And I'd like to say I'd use the extra time to do something awesome, but I'd probably twitter or read blogs!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'm keen to try this. With my extra 10 minutes, I would do a less slapdash morning tidy, so when I walked in at the end of the day, I could relax and read a couple of chapters in my 10 minutes! :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. I would LOVE to win these creams! I live in QLD and have fair/uneven pigmented skin from the sun, even though I try to cover up as much as possible. 

    I want to get back into using my tarot cards so I'd try to use the extra time in the morn to stop making excuses and do a quick layout each day.

    Thanks, Veggie Mama! xx

    ReplyDelete
  31. This looks good! With the extra time I'd probably spend an extra 5 minutes of the computer! :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Definitely would take advantage of one more snooze- that final 5 minutes of sleep is so precious!

    ReplyDelete
  33. If my face routine was shortened that'd be lovely, because right now I don't actually have much of one at all. And I want to. I'd spend the time giving my daughter that one extra cuddle and neck sniff that there's never enough time for in the morning, I could always use 5001 of those instead of just 5000. I'd also take the time to pack a healthy lunch and feel confident that I look my best instead of worry about lunch when I'm hungry and feeling that I'll look my best again when my daughter is 18 & left home.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Sounds like a fabulous product! Having my morning routine shortened would mean I could squeeze in reading one or two more blogs ;)

    ReplyDelete
  35. Sleep. I would most definitely use the extra time for sleep. Or reading more blogs. Or checking Twitter. Hmm... I could really use that time actually. :)

    ReplyDelete
  36. Extra time? What's that? I just want to look fab in the time I DO have!

    ReplyDelete
  37. With the extra time I had, I would probably actually be on time to where I had to be hehehe.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I personally don't think Garnier really produced much of a BB cream...
    Their BB cream doesn't even BEGIN to compare to the ones you get from
    Asia. SPF15 is pathetic for a start, considering that Skin79 has SPF50. I mean, I've had friends literally fly to Korea pretty much just
    for the BB cream. If you want the real deal, then you need to get it
    from Korea. I would personally recommend MISSHA's BB cream. Etude House,
    Hanskin, Skin79 and BRTC are pretty popular too, but MISSHA works
    really well for me, without being too pricey.

    ReplyDelete
  39. BB Cream has been popular in Asia for quite a few years already, so they've got quite a bit of experience behind the ones they sell there.

    ReplyDelete
  40. With my extra time, I'd get to spend more time with my 3-month old every morning before I left for work! She's always happiest and most awake/alert in the mornings, so that extra time with her would be great :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Garnier are owned by L'Oreal, so whilst the Garnier website says "Garnier has not tested on animals since 1989" their parent company certainly does
    http://www.peta.org/living/beauty-and-personal-care/companies/2657.aspx

    ReplyDelete
  42. They DO test on animals: http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/behind_the_label/1008667/behind_the_brand_loral.html

    ReplyDelete
  43. Thanks dude. L'Oreal is so hard to keep track of! The French stuff is still part of the Europe-wide ban, but its hard to see what the offshoots are doing in other countries.

    ReplyDelete