‘Hey, did you just get work done on your face?’ That might be quite an intrusive question for some people, but as a beauty director, there’s nothing more gratifying than having friends notice the fruits of your labour. And, yes, I’ve dabbled with a fair few tweakments over the years, but this time, I can confidently say that the youthful glow I’ve been complimented on repeatedly is straight from a tube, not a needle.
All hail the new Dr Jart+ Premium BB Beauty Balm SPF50, an arrival that couldn’t be better timed. Not only is it a light and lovely tinted moisturiser for summer, it comes with the benefit of topping up my sun protection.
And, my word, the instant effect is excellent – like watching the AI photo-blur tool in real life, in real time. I’ve never spent a day with this base on without someone commenting on my skin.
Beauty watchers will be aware that Dr Jart+ Premium BB has been around for quite some time and was in fact among the first charge of the BB light brigade. However, things have moved on since the first iteration’s arrival in 2012, and there have been a few key upgrades to keep it at the forefront of K Beauty innovations.
Firstly, there are now eight flexible shades via the official Dr Jart+ site instead of four, making it the widest BB offering in the UK. That’s something I’m particularly pleased by, since the original lightest shade looked a bit too Elastoplast on my complexion, and there was quite a shade stretch to my favourite, Light Medium-Medium. (Fabulous, I find, worn with a bit of fake tan.) Now, though, there are four light shades before I get to my shade (Fair Light fills the gap nicely on my pasty days), as well as a wider range at the deeper end of the tone spectrum.
The new version has also been pumped with extra skincare benefits, which now make up a chunky 84% of the formula. Think increased amounts of niacinamide to boost the skin barrier in two hours, and glycerin to hydrate, alongside SPF50. And while it’s no substitute for daily sunscreen, I’ll gladly take any extra insurance policy on top, especially when it looks so flattering on my 50-plus skin.
Oh, yes, that airbrush effect. The formula has a happy knack of adding a soft glow (but not sweaty sheen), while blurring away lines and age-sagging pores. And all while looking like skin, not makeup – hence those delightfully nosey enquiries! How lovely to be able to say, hand on heart, it’s a £33 face base and not a £300+ trip to a professional.
