October 31, 2012

Skin Food Platinum Grape Cell Essential BB Cream Review & Swatches

Skin Food Platinum Grape Cell Essential BB Cream launches several months ago in Korea and is available in two shade selections with an SPF 45.

The grape cell extract in this BB Cream supposedly restores skin elasticity. I didn’t purchase it for that reason though, I did because it contains arbutin which whitens/brightens skin when used over a long period of time. I figured if I loved the formula it would be beneficial to have arbutin in the mix to brighten dull skin and lighten dark spots.

Let’s take a look!

Skin Food typically creates decent BB Creams if not a little sheerer. Platinum Grape Cell Essential BB Cream has some finer points such as the higher SPF 45 to protect skin and arbutin to brighten skin.

Arbutin is a tricky ingredient in my experience since it does successfully lighten darker spots and brighten skin but it’s the type of thing that has to be applied religiously and daily to see the actual effects and typically that’s quite long term. Since I use BB Cream daily I thought this would be an excellent place to have arbutin. Just don’t expect instant results and you should be fine.

This comes in a pump style jar much like what Skin 79 uses on many of their BB Creams. The depressor is easy enough to use and releases just the right amount of cream without over doing it.

As any good BB Cream it performs several important tasks such as protecting skin from the sun, brightening it, acting as a foundation and/or concealer, plus works to improve the appearance of aging skin by restoring elasticity. I haven’t experience the anti-aging benefits myself since my skin isn’t sagging nor is it finely lined but it might push you towards a purchase if you suffer these issues.

I have the first shade which was a poor purchase for me since it does run very light and pink. I might have done better with Shade 2. This is a fair creamy shade with pink undertones (although it does look yellow in my swatches). I think I’d benefit more from it if it had a touch beige. It isn’t as moisturizing as other BB Creams I’ve tried but it does blend easily enough and should offer sheer to medium coverage to ease dullness, redness, and smaller problem areas. It has a smooth finish with a slight semi-matte feel that doesn’t accentuate drier areas.

For a BB Cream I expected a bit more moisture. I wasn’t uncomfortable through my wear with it nor did it make my dry skin look bad but I do require my BB Cream to offer a bit more hydration and this didn’t technically offer that. It has a strong wear at around five to six hours without fading or oxidizing.

Overall, this one might be perfect for oily, lighter skin tones. I wouldn’t recommend it for drier skin. I don’t think it has a bad wear on such a skin tone. I do however, believe that there are far more moisturizing formulas around than this will provide. Other BB Creams will be more beneficial for those with drier skin as they will provide coverage as well as all day moisture to keep skin looking its best. The high level of sun protection, promise of improving aging skin, and whitening abilities might make this an ideal purchase for some. I wasn’t terribly impressed, I feel like I’ve tried far nicer BB Creams.

Tried it and do love it?

Share!

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

  • Kiss & Make-up

    I’m still not a fan of BB creams, BUT I do think that this one deserves some praise for the cute packaging 🙂

  • Xail

    That packaging is adorable, but it’s a shame that the formula isn’t as great.

    On a completely random note, a few days ago I was reading this month’s issue of “Allure”. They did an article on BB creams, and described them as “a tinted moisturizer that protects the skin”. I wanted to scream.

    • the Muse

      oh god I want to scream now too LOL! it’s like these people know nothing about beauty…seriously…….you’re Allure FFS!

        • kiwikiwidragon

          I read that same article. Made no sense to me. No true asian bb were featured either.

      • christi

        I saw this article in Allure too. It made me shake my head in disgust LOL. I mean, there was a time b4 the internet where those magazines were the only places u could read about the latest innovations in the beauty industry! Thank God for beauty blogs or everyone would just be misinformed!

    • blue

      xail, the writer of that article clearly didn’t do her research and apparently, neither did the editor-in-chief. i feel bad for the people out there who reads that magazine and believe every word thats written.

  • blue

    thanks for this review muse. i’ve been wondering and wondering if i should try this bb creams since it’s release. it was the “platinum grape cell” part that really caught my attention. darn their catchy names! haha glad i waited for a review instead. not pining for it anymore. ^_^

    • the Muse

      lol blue I know what you mean sometimes the names really make me go “ooooo! i need that!”

  • OrangeLipstickBlog

    Oh man, I need this. Everything about it sounds perfect and the packaging is to die for! My skin is oily so I really would prefer my BB creams to not have additional moisture.

    • OrangeLipstickBlog

      Omg…just found this on Amazon…for $26.98 + $4.49 shipping!

      HELLZNO. I’ll wait until my friend goes back to visit Korea lol.

    • the Muse

      you might just appreciate the drier formula for sure! btw check sasa.com for it…they have been updating their skin food selection!

  • Melissa

    I like the eye cream/balm from this range and was curious about other grape cell product. I’ll pass on the bb thanks for the review.