Shiseido Perfect Hydrating BB Cream Review & Swatches
Shiseido Perfect Hydrating BB Cream SPF 35 ($33) is an odd animal as it just released but is only available in Medium and Dark. As an Asian brand the lack of a lighter skin tone option is a tad confusing. I tried it out in dark which was too dark for my tone unfortunately but I will be heading to counter shortly to see if Medium is a better option for me because as with most Shiseido bases this is a win!
I recently reviewed Clarins BB Cream (1.7 oz) and it’s a shy bigger than Shiseido (1.1 oz) at $40 versus $33. Shiseido also has a higher SPF of 35 versus Clarin’s 25.
I’m mentioning this because the formulas are VERY similiar so if you wanna save a few bucks and get a beefier formula you MIGHT want to go with Shiseido Perfect Hydrating BB Cream.
Unfortunately this isn’t the rich creamy texture of an Asian BB Cream which surprises me considering Shiseido’s Asian roots. But on the other hand Korean’s reign supreme for a densely textured creamy BB Cream versus the Japanese who almost always have a far thinner textured BB Cream.
Shiseido Perfect Hydrating BB Cream is quite a thin consistency. I dislike this. I prefer creamier in all honesty however, as with most Shiseido this BB Cream perfects beautifully. My personal HG (holy grail) foundation from Shiseido is their Perfect Refining Foundation. Like that formula this will likely perfect beautifully. Unfortunately the shade I tested was just TOO dark but I can see how it adheres to skin and almost has this unusual dye technique which melds with skin and evens it out creating a smooth makeup-free appearance. Of course, in my case, it was very noticeable that I had makeup on due to the darkness of the shade. However, if medium fits me as great as I hope I know it’ll look incredible. If you fall in the NC40-45 range this will likely be an ideal color for you.
Although “hydrating” is in the name, I didn’t particularly find this super moisturizing. It dries down to a semi-matte finish and wears without going shiny or greasy as the day progresses. The formula is oil-free.
What you can expect from it is seamless coverage that minimizes redness, darkness, and dullness. It won’t hide major problems such as acne scarring it will however, perfect already good skin. I’m always looking for a perfect foundation product that will take my decent skin and boast it up to perfect and this is exactly what this does.
As I mentioned above I found it very similiar to the Clarins BB Cream I recently tested out but the formula has a good deal more perks attached to it including an almost ten dollar decrease on the price.
The lack of shades is an issue sadly and it surprises me that Shiseido forgot the fairer skin folk but perhaps the Medium will prove a good choice for a cooler skin tone.
Overall, from my tests with this shade I’m very pleased. It wears long without oxidizing (at least six to seven hours or even eight if you’re lucky), it blends easily, it has a seamless finish providing a no makeup look, and the price is just right.
Do try it your next trip to a Shiseido counter!
Anyone try it?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
It’s available now at Shiseido counters as well as online at Shiseido.com and Nordstrom.com