Cover FX’s BB Gel Is Here, and it’s Unlike Anything You’ve Used Before!

Taken a cue from the Asian beauty market, the United States first hopped on the foundation alternative bandwagon a few years ago, when BB creams took over shelves. From there, we’ve witnessed as the market seemingly makes its way through the alphabet chronologically: after BBs (“beauty balm” or “blemish balm”) came CCs (“color correction” or “color control”), and then, naturally, DDs (“daily defense”).

But Cover FX did things a little differently. Because the brand specializes in correcting and covering imperfections, it kicked things off with a CC Cream, which launched last year. “We didn’t want to follow the pack,” says Derek Selby, International Director of Artistry and Education at Cover FX. “A CC made perfect sense for us first, since color-correction aligns so well with what we’re all about.” Last month, however, the BB Gel Mattifying Anti-Blemish Treatment debuted. If you’re in the market for a new lightweight base product, this could be it, especially given the fact that it comes in ten shades! Here Selby shares what makes this BB—a gel formula, whereas most CCs are liquids or creams—so special.

The ingredients

According to Selby, Cover FX wanted time to put its own twist on the BB—one with an innovative texture. “A water-fresh gel feels cleaner and fresher on skin,” says Selby, “and ours is really lightweight. It looks and feels like nothing is on the skin, yet still covers and treats blemishes.” It’s made with laponite, which is a gel that acts like a natural clay, retaining up to 8% of its weight in water, leaving skin matte without drying it out. Thyme extract and 1% salicylic acid helps treat acne, while phytosphingosine, a natural occurring lipid found in the skin, and bisabolol (derived from chamomile) help reduce redness and inflammation. What’s more, the BB Gel has a pigment load of 10%, which means there’s a lot of color payoff for a product in the tinted moisturizer/BB category. (For comparison, Cover FX CC Cream has pigment load of 8.5%, which is considerably lower.)

The application

The BB Gel is meant to serve multiple purposes in one step: it evens out skin, covers and treats blemishes, and color-corrects. However, since it doesn’t have built-in sun protection, Selby suggests starting with a primer or moisturizer with SPF. For those who want an extra blemish-fighting benefits, he likes Cover FX Mattifying Primer with Anti-Acne Treatment. In terms of application, Selby prefers a clean foundation brush. “On blemish-prone skin, using your fingers can worsen breakouts because of the dirt and oil on them,” he says. Sponges work well too, or, If you have normal or oily skin, and prefer to use your fingers, that works perfectly well with this product.

The customer

The BB Gel is targeted towards those who have hormonal acne or regular breakouts. But it’s really great for anyone with normal or oily skin, too. It’s light enough to get nice, sheer coverage, but because of the higher pigment, it’s easy to build up on days where you want a little more color, too—a fact that’s made it an instant hit with customers. Selby says he wouldn’t recommend the product to anyone with dry or mature skin. "For dry skin, stick to a cream foundation, because it’s the most hydrating. For those more concerned with uneven color rather than blemishes, try our CC Cream,” he says.

Shop the BB Gel Mattifying Anti-Blemish Treatment ($45) here!