June 6, 2012

Skin Food Gingko Green BB Cream Review & Swatches

I recently reviewed Skin Food Aloe Sun BB Cream for you so I thought today I’d drag out the Skin Food Gingko Green BB Cream for a little swatch and review.

Since the two formulas are fairly similiar I do suggest choosing either one or the other but not both. That’s just my opinion though, you can of course indulge in both if you like but I find they are along the same formulas. I did want to review this anyway though since I enjoy using Shade 2 in the Aloe Sun version and didn’t have Shade 1 to swatch for you however in the Gingko Green formula I had indulged in Shade 1 so this is a good excuse to see the difference between the two if you refer back to my original review.

Let’s have a look!

I’ve found that Asian brands typically do a very good job when injecting SPF into any formula be it BB Cream, primer, moisturizer, foundation, etc…..Anything with SPF in the mix here in the US tends to be heavy, greasy, oily, or just terribly unflattering. It seems to morph the formula in a major way and I haven’t found many products that actually support SPF well.

However, everything I’ve tried from Korea and/or Japan that contains SPF is another story. They seem to have successfully created formulas that adapt well to the inclusion of SPF which is why I find it surprising that Skin Food Gingko Green BB Cream has no SPF.

Shocking!

This does take away from the aspect of a BB Cream that performs many functions as a base product. When you’re purchasing a BB Cream one of the main properties you’re looking for is a high level of SPF in the formula. Now, the aloe formula of this particularly BB Cream has a mere SPF 20 but that’s better than not having any at all.

The good news is if you’re a bit sensitive to an SPF formula, break out easily due to it, etc…you might be thankful that this BB Cream lacks it. Maybe it’s exactly what you’ve been wanting in your BB Cream formula.

SPF aside…

Skin Food Gingko Green BB Cream has a creamy formula that offers sheer to medium coverage for evening out skin and concealing minor issues. It provides a soft, semi-matte finish with a smooth, hydrating feel that has a good, solid dry down for those with oily skin, of course, powder is recommended as a follow up for the best results. The lighter texture will is not only great for those with oily skin but also those seeking weightless coverage for the Summer. It melds into skin beautifully well and provides lightweight coverage without leaving behind any greasy or oily feel and/or finish. Supposedly the formula contains green tea extracts as well as Vitamin B to nourish and improve the texture of the skin.

Shade 1 isn’t as self adjusting as Shade 2 of the Aloe formula. I find Shade 1 goes a bit pasty on my skin and has pinker undertones. So just beware prior to a purchase you might want to go with Shade 2 for the better results on medium fair skin types.

Overall, Skin Food Gingko Green BB Cream doesn’t come with my highest recommendation however, it does provide lighter coverage with a formula lacking SPF which might prove interesting to those with an averse reaction to sun protection ingredients. It’s very creamy, has a beautiful finish, and a decent wear time (I’ve seen better from other BB Creams though). I’d recommend it for days you just need a touch of base for a more natural look or for running errands however, for a fuller, flawless makeup application, extended wear, and more benefits I’d seek out another BB Cream to try. There are so many better options out there that aren’t as lacking in benefits as this one is.

Skin Food is sold at Sasa.com as well as YesStyle.com just do a little homework on pricing prior to purchasing and please, if you purchase on E-bay, be very careful of fakes or old merchandise.

I purchased this item.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Rachel

    Huh. I see titanium dioxide in the ingredient list. Isn’t that sun screen active ingredient?

  • Reena

    I adore skin food products from moisturizers, toners, make up, it has great effects on me. Lately I’ve been using aloe vera bb cream, it really worked very well keeping my skin protected youthful and smooth.
    Its a must have.

  • Shari

    Have you ever tried Skinfood’s Peach Sake BB Cream, Muse? I have combination skin and thought it would be good for the summer. It’s really great at controlling shine in the t-zone. I have to say that ever since I was introduced to BB creams from your website over a year or so ago, I’ve been kind of addicted! I’ve ordered from Sasa a couple of times; I’ll have to check out yesstyle too. Thank you for the link!

    • the Muse

      hey shari, sure have, it’s very nice ;-D have you tried the concealer? they also have a peach concealer too! aw that’s super ;-D imomoko.com has also started stocking etude house, skin food, etc..! her prices are more reasonable than yesstyle.com in some cases!

  • jamie

    i felt this was really heavy on skin and i have always wondered how they managed to create such a thick bb cream with such low coverage.. lol

    i dont like it either. just trying to finish the tube and toss away! I’d pop a bottle of champagne on that day. LOL