March 1, 2013

Aveeno Clear Complexion BB Cream Review & Swatches

Aveeno Clear Complexion BB Cream

I recently reviewed Aveeno’s Tinted Moisturizer in the hopes of comparing it to the new Aveeno Clear Complexion BB Cream which just recently released at drugstores.

I’m almost always disappointed with drugstore BB Creams launched here in the US but I’m kinda hopeful I’ll find a gem one day.

Let’s take a look!

Although Aveeno’s Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer is available in a light and a medium shade selection sadly the BB Cream is only available in Fair to Light. The color is so sheer that it’ll probably work on fair to medium skin tones.

This was $16.99 but ranges at around $14.99-$16.99 mark at drugstores depending where you purchase. Glancing at the ingredients it appears many are the same included with the Tinted Moisturizer with a few extras. If you didn’t like the Tinted Moisturizer chances are you won’t like the BB Cream either as the texture is very similiar.

Aveeno Clear Complexion BB Cream 2

Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer Ingredients on Top, Aveeno BB Cream Ingredients On Bottom

This comes in a pump style jar with dispenses just the right amount of product. It has a fresh floral scent that quite reminds me of shampoo. I find it pleasant but I think if you’re sensitive to fragrance in your skin care it might prove irritating.

The texture kinda has a whipped up consistency with a thicker cream texture. It’s quite similiar to the Tinted Moisturizer formula in many ways with a slightly nicer texture. I wouldn’t recommend this for those with oily skin as it has a hydrating formula that feels a bit greasy on my drier skin with a dewy finish. It absorbs easily but has very little pigment. Unfortunately it didn’t really address the issues I want a BB Cream to address such as easing dullness and evening out skin tone. It’ll be a poor choice for those who want a fuller coverage BB Cream experience to hide acne scarring, redness, dark spots, etc…as the product is simply to sheer to conceal this problems. It does have a very faint glow but this doesn’t seem to be shimmery or glittery.

Aveeno BB Cream Swatches

Swatches Aveeno Clear Complexion BB Cream

Aveeno Clear Complexion BB Cream Swatches

It applies and blends easily and the texture truly is nice but I find it starts out a bit too hydrating and proceeded to get oilier throughout the day. It’s unusual for me to shine but this definitely adds some unwelcome oil to my face. Wear time is kinda iffy…it seems to fade away within an hour at best perhaps two if I’m lucky. But since coverage wasn’t really there to begin with it is hard to tell when it fades as you can’t see much on my face anyway.

Overall, Aveeno Clear Complexion BB Cream is a nicely textured product but isn’t a real BB Cream in the least. Coverage is poor, the formula seems to be a little too like a lightweight moisturizer versus a creamy BB Cream, and the coverage seems to go oily on me. Unfortunately, I didn’t love this one. If you enjoyed the Tinted Moisturizer chances are you’ll like the BB Cream and if you disliked it you’ll likely dislike the BB Cream. They seem very similiar to me with very little differences. I’m really puzzled why US brands can’t get a good BB Cream to us!

Tried Aveeno’s new BB Cream?

What did you think?

Available at drugstores.

Aveeno Clear Complexion BB Cream 3

Aveeno Clear Complexion BB Cream 4

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

  • Bettie

    Thanks for reviewing this, Muse!! I am so disappointed that this doesn’t have much pigment to it to even out skintone and hide acne scars. And it makes faces more oily? How is this “Clear Complexion” BB cream for acne-prone girls like me? Wah waaaah.

    Glad I waited for your review, you saved me $17!

    • the Muse

      it made me greasy as hell. I was gliding while I walked lol ;-D It’s oil free but dunno why but it just was TOO oily. It’s quite expensive too 🙁

  • blueraccoon

    I tried this but sadly it’s too dark for me 🙁 I’m somewhere around an NW15, maybe lighter, for reference. Maybe others with fair skin will have better luck than I did but I can’t wear this.

      • blueraccoon

        It felt a little greasy/shiny to me? I didn’t leave it on long; just enough to see it didn’t match my skintone, but it felt a little too hydrating for my combo/oily skin.

  • Kristen

    I’m not a fan of this either for all of the reasons you mentioned. Plus the lightest shade is still a little too dark for me. And something in it makes my forehead itch like crazy for the first 10 minutes. It is frustrating that we can’t get a good BB cream in the US. I don’t get it.

    • the Muse

      Kristen, I thought it was me…did it make you shiny?? Thankfully the light was ok for me, a little pasty but if I blend it out well it’s alright. No itching thankfully but damn the oily factor…phew! yeah I agree!

    • amy

      That’s interesting… I had a similar reaction to the “regular” TM, but after about a week, I guess my skin adapted, and now it’s nearly HG for me.

      • the Muse

        I only gave it five days maybe I should take the full seven days 😀

  • Christi

    This is too dark for me too, and I’m an nc15. I didn’t purchase it, I tried my friend’s, nor would I buy it because at this point I know drugstore bb creams just aren’t gonna do it for me! In fact, even most high end Western brand bb creams don’t compare to lower end Korean ones!

  • amy

    I had every intention of looking for this when I left to run errands this morning, as I had plans to hit Target & Rite Aid, but it totally slipped my mind until I saw this post, LOL. I really do like the TM, so if you say this is similar, then I think it’ll be worth a try. Interestingly, your comments about this one actually address the few issues I have with the TM, so I have really high hopes! Luckily, I won the “genetic lottery” when it comes to an even skintone, and no dark spots, so I only need the sheerest of coverage; however, because I wasn’t so lucky when it came to pore size, I prefer something lightweight, and this sort of product tends to not settle in the pores, thereby making them more noticeable. I find the TM to be a bit too matte, so perhaps the “glow” of this will be just what I’m looking for. I, too, have drier skin, but I don’t find the TM to be greasy at all, but that may be because I use a MPF over it. Well, tomorrow I plan to hit CVS & Walgreen’s, so hopefully I’ll remember, LOL.

  • stef b

    i’m confused why you haven’t given up already! just stick to the asian ones

    • the Muse

      I blog beauty stef both good and bad that’s why I haven’t given up 🙂 I like to try new things everyday and bring the word to readers.

  • KhaliaNicole

    The only option is fair to light? Deal breaker! At least thanks to your review, I don’t have to feel like I’m missing out on anything! Thanks!

  • IHeartRoxy

    Muse – Since we’re on the subject of BB Creams, have you tried Pacifica’s Multimineral BB Cream (1oz for $15.99)? I noticed that this brand is being discontinued at Sephora, but stumbled upon a few items at TARGET! The other items include: a skincare kit that includes the BB cream, an eyeshadow palette and a multicolor multiuse coconut shimmer palette.

    • the Muse

      i haven’t yet roxy 😀 but did see promo images of pacifica’s new makeup goodies at target ;-D looks fun! NP Set also has a new bb cream!

  • Nina R.

    Hi Muse! Thank you for the detailed and honest review – as always! I would also like to point out that although this product is promoted as “broad spectrum” UV protection, it isn’t. This is quite surprising coming from Aveeno! The sunscreen ingredients here do not include adequate UVA protection, and are all chemically-based. Almost all “true” BB creams have better sun protection than this and usually have zinc or titanium dioxide. Very disappointing.

    • the Muse

      sorry nina thanks for mentioning that, I actually mentioned the same in my review of the tinted moisturizer by aveeno. Thanks again for saying as such here!

  • Jen

    I think a lot of this has to do with our own personal chemistry.

    I have combination-oily skin that’s extremely sensitive and fair to the point of looking a little ghastly– L’Oreal’s True Match foundation in Alabaster is the only shade that remotely matches my coloring (MAC breaks me out really bad, will never touch again), but even a full coverage foundation like that doesn’t cover up my problem areas. Despite being cool-toned, I have a LOT of redness due to both airborne and food-related allergies, and the contrast is so drastic that no reasonable amount of concealer or foundation can correct it, and that’s just something I’ve had to accept as a permanent feature, unfortunately.

    But somehow the Aveeno BB cream in the Fair/Light formula worked really well for me. Like I said, I think it has a LOT to do with personal chemistry because the formula felt really soothing and I felt like my skin looked better, or rather, healthier. I know a lot of my fairer beauties here have said that it was too dark, but for me it was really being patient and waiting for it to settle in. I have tried Skin 79’s Hot Pink and Diamond formulas, and while I really like them both, out of the three BBs that I’ve been able to safely use so far (ie; not turning me a different color, namely orange, after application), the Aveeno still adjusts better to my complexion, even with the crazy redness around my nose,chin, and sometimes around the eyes.

    Who knows! ;D Maybe I’m just complacent to use a product that feels good and makes my skin appear better because I haven’t had a flawless complexion since I was eleven years old.

    • the Muse

      jen HAPPY to hear it 🙂 I’m glad it worked out for you! And totally agree! products def will react different with different skin types ;-D thanks for sharing your experience very helpful to those reading the review!

    • Susie

      Hi Jen,

      I have the same problem!!! Redness on my nose and cheeks. I even went to a spa and got a facial and was told it was a reaction to pollution in the air. The only thing that covers it up is foundation… but i am looking for a more natural approach that wont cause damage to my skin down the road. Do you have any pointers or products that you can introduce me to?

  • amy

    I bought this Saturday, and wore it Sunday. It’s pretty much everything I was *hoping* the TM would be, only it fades a bit faster… When I applied it in the morning, followed with MPF, my skin looked nearly *flawless*! I found it comparable to NARS Pure Radiance TM, only half the price, and a better color match. I’m NC15ish, and it’s perfect.

  • Allison Hoffman

    I got this last week and have worn it a few times. I actually like it a lot! It doesn’t hide EVERYTHING (still use primer on my nose and concealer under my eyes) but it makes my skin look really good and feels nice on. I like the smell too 🙂

  • Jeana❤

    I have fair skin with olive undertones, and am thinking of trying this since I have dry skin, and the fair/light should be okay, since olive is a strong undertone anyways. Is this too pink or too yellow? I end up getting upset wasting my money because everything is too pink or too yellow.

  • amy

    This is very neutral, and doesn’t pull pink or yellow. I am truly neutral, literally no discernible pink or yellow undertones or overtones, and I love this product. It also doesn’t oxidize on me, which is an issue I have with alot of products. If you’ve tried their regular TM, the color is very comparable. I also use the Garnier BB Cream, and the color is similar there, as well. HTH

  • Silvia

    I been using the CC one and love it! I mixed with No.7 Col Vanilla somehow turns a bit ashy for me and mix it this into the pump half & half and is perfect. I like alone also it gives a beautiful glow, I do fluff some Physuans Formula Mineral talc all over and reduces the shine a bit. Is perfect for me! Looking forward to purchasing again I think only in Amazon they gave the fair-to light. Medium won’t wirk too dark on my ghostly face. Haven’t tried the B.B. wonder what’s the difference?