Maybelline BB Stick in Fawn & Radiance - Review

It claims: 

Controls shine - Mineral Clay formula helps keep skin shine-free all day

Lasts all day - Powder Finish, resists sweat and sebum up to 12 hours

Clears - Reduces the appearance of dark spots, redness, fine lines and wrinkles

Refines - Reduces the appearance of pores

Conceals - Instantly hides flaws and imperfections

Evens - Corrects uneven skin tone

Smoothens - Makes skin feel smooth, soft and supple

Protects - SPF21/PA+++ protects harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Shades available: 02 Radiance & 04 Fawn

Price: Rs. 250

What I liked: 

1. Where do I start? It really does almost everything it claims. Let's talk coverage: This is fairly pigmented and provides medium to heavy coverage. This means that it really works like a BB cream should - it conceals & evens out the skin, yet it doesn't look overdone or cakey. It is easy to build up coverage if needed. It does even out the skin.

Maybelline ClearGlow Shine Free BB Stick in Radiance & Fawn

2. It even covers the slight darkness under the eyes most of us have, and I like using this to even out the color on my lids - it applies well and stays put without creasing. If you tend to have rushed mornings, this really packs a base & concealor in one tube, saving time.

3. The texture is pretty light, and it is easy to blend this into the skin (provided you suit either of the two shades) just with your fingers. It is summer here in Mumbai (38* C in the day!) with humidity, but this doesn't feel heavy nor does it cause the face to sweat uncomfortably.

4. It is priced very, very well!

5. It travels well, and is easy to apply on the go. The packaging is tiny & nifty. It dries to a matt finish within 2-3 minutes of application and it seems to me that it actually "tints" the skin, because despite rubbing the swatches on my arm quite vigorously  it never really vanished completely.

6. It is mattifying and covers pores pretty well - at least for 3-4 hours.

7. SPF 21

8. Fawn works very well for contouring, btw, if you happen to be fair. If you want to try cream contouring, but aren't willing to invest in big daddies like MAC, consider this.


What could be better: 

Radiance & Fawn - Swatches of Maybelline BB Stick

1. The shade selection. If this were sheer in coverage like a tinted moisturiser, I could still fathom giving girls only two options. But these sticks are very pigmented and  This seriously limits the product's target audience to those who are either light or medium skin toned at best. Radiance (02) has some serious pink undertones despite being a pale beige. Fawn (04) is quite yellow toned. I wonder why 01 & 03 haven't been launched here.

2. I feel the need for a moisturiser underneath, it does seem a bit drying. If you have dry to normal skin, please note that this may prove difficult to blend, and emphasize your dry bits.

3. Since it seems to 'tint' the skin, a oil based remover is best to take it off.

4. It smells like plastic. It is not very over-whelming, but I don't like the synthetic smell.

Overall: After Ponds TM, this is the one product that has really, really impressed me! It makes all the other BB creams in the market look really bad in comparison, but it is a pity that the shade selection is so terrible.  I was sent Fawn for review. The shade is a little dark for me, but the product impressed me so much that I purchased it in Radiance. While Radiance is a shade that I am able to wear, I can easily see this looking weird even if I tanned a wee bit. It is that light!

This is an amazing product however, and if you are lucky enough to suit either of the two shades, you must try it! It is much, much better than the cream version.

Btw, I found this video explaining how to apply it and if notice, even in the video the shade seems to be too light for the girl's skintone.

Fawn (04) sent for review by Company / PR. Radiance (02) bought by me.