Hello and welcome to the first-ever issue of Duru: The Makeup Guru! In this column, we’ll discuss a form of art that many people tend to forget: makeup. Just like painting on a canvas is considered art, makeup is too, only the face is the canvas. There are so many different types and styles of makeup that exist out there, I couldn’t possibly fit it all here. However, since this is the first issue, let’s go over some definitions of widely used cosmetics products!
There are a ton of makeup terms out there that may be confusing so let’s try to define some of them starting with what I feel is the most confusing to understand: BB creams, CC creams, skin tints, foundations and the difference between them. If you haven’t heard of these products, don’t worry because I will explain them and maybe even give you an idea of what you might want to shop for in the future. Let’s go!
Foundations:
Foundations have a thicker consistency than all of the above-mentioned products. They usually provide the highest amount of coverage and are available in a lot of different shades and undertones (I’ll go into undertones in the next issue). A disadvantage of foundations is that, depending on the brand, they may feel heavy or irritating for people with sensitive or acne-prone skin, especially if worn for long periods of time. The best way to apply a foundation would be either to use a dense brush or sponge, depending on your preference in order to get your desired look.
Skin Tints:
Skin tints have a lighter consistency and coverage than foundations and focus on providing moisture. Some skin tints even include Sun Protection Factor (SPF) in them, which provides an additional barrier to protect your skin. You can think of skin tints as a hybrid of a foundation and moisturizer. Like foundations, a sponge or brush will get the job done for the application process.
BB Creams:
BB cream is short for beauty balm or blemish balm and focuses on addressing skin concerns while evening out the skin tone. In terms of consistency, I would say that they aren’t as heavy as foundations but not as light as skin tints. They usually have SPF and carry additional skincare benefits. One downside of BB creams is that they don’t usually have a wide shade range, so unlike foundations, finding what suits you can be challenging. I recommend applying this product with your fingers just like you would with sunscreen or moisturizer. Usually, that should be enough but if you see that there are areas that look uneven, go back with a brush or sponge to touch up.
CC Creams:
Lastly, we have CC creams, which stand for color corrective or color control. As the name would suggest, they help with color correcting and covering up redness. Alas, if one of your biggest concerns is having red skin, then a CC cream can help reduce the appearance of that. You can apply this just like you would a BB cream but since this formula is usually a bit heavier, you can use a brush or sponge. While CC creams provide more coverage than BB creams, they’re also often limited in their shade ranges.
That’s it for now! Next month, I’m thinking of exploring undertones and giving tips and tricks on how to apply makeup. Remember, makeup is a form of art, and as artists like to say, there are no rules when it comes to art, and that should apply to makeup as well. Have fun, continue to push boundaries, and I’ll catch you guys later!
