If anyone asked me: What would you choose, a high-coverage foundation or a lightweight BB cream? I would ditch the foundation anytime! Unlike the heavy-duty, classic formulas of medium and high-coverage foundation, BB cream (aka the beauty balm) lays on the skin with a nourishing layer of moisturizing and sun-protective ingredients. And, as you've probably already guessed, today we are going to review a wonderful skin-smoothening balm by Korean beauty brand Elizavecca. About Elizavecca Milky Piggy BB Cream Elizavecca's BB cream* is a part of their iconic skincare line with a quirky name Milky Piggy, which is known for its deeply hydrating ingredients, lightweight texture, and innovative approach to skincare. In addition to hydration, Milky Piggy BB Cream promises a whitening/wrinkle care effect with a powerful sun filter of SPF50+ (this is a fantastic perk!)  This short description makes it sound like your all-in-one solution that can cover all of your skincare and makeup needs. But, is it truly so? Packaging: Meet and greet the commies, and the most commonly used cosmetic container – a squeezable tube. It is a good old way to store skin cream or a beauty balm. The tube has a summer-ready look to it: bright green and red colors that remind me of juicy watermelon, and a chill piggy with a stylish scarf on the neck.  Texture and Scent: A smooth, silk-like texture is the most important characteristic of a high-quality BB cream. Elizavecca's Milky Piggy is lightweight and supple, the texture almost melts on the skin. Unfortunately, it comes only in one, universal shade – a light beige with a grayish undertone. I don't think this color can universally flatter all the competitors, however, it can still be useful for those with light skin and neutral to cool undertone. When I saw the swatch on Elizavecca`s website, I thought it would be too light for my skin, but it seemed to blend seamlessly. And, oh my, it works as a charm! It doubles as a primer. hiding all of my enlarged pores and discolorations. Just amazing! Once settled, it still gives a healthy glow to the skin, with no need for a coat of powder.  The scent, certainly, is another important aspect. No skincare and makeup enthusiast will apply a badly fragranced cream on the face (unless flawless results are guaranteed)! And, of course, the big part of this BB cream with SPF 50+ is its soft, barely-there scent. Once applied to the skin it totally disappears.  Ingredients: Glycerin is one of the most effective ingredients for dry skin. Dr. Idris Sheereen in one of her videos explains its popularity: "Glycerin is a workhorse of an ingredient:, it always shows up to do what it has to do." She continues: "It is odorless, colorless, viscous liquid hygroscopic in nature."Glycerin attracts and holds onto water, in addition to having antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Well, that's what we want in our beauty balm! In the ingredient list, right after the Glycerin, I spotted Ethylhexyl Salicylate. It is an organic compound commonly used in skin care to absorb UVB rays. Elizavecca claims that their Milky Piggy BB Cream contains 50 SPF, one of the ingredients responsible for sun protection. Now for the hydration and skin-softening ingredients in Elizavecca's BB cream! You'll find Butylene Glycol (a type of organic alcohol), a popular ingredient responsible for soothing the skin and increasing hydration. Korean beauty brands cherish this humectant and often use it in creams and lotions. What do we have next? It is one of our all-time favorite skincare heroes – Niacinamide aka B3 (or nicotinamide.) It is a type of lightweight, water-soluble vitamin that addresses a whole bunch of various skin concerns: from enlarged pores and uneven skin tone to fine lines. We love it, we need it, thank you Elizavecca for including it in your wonderful BB cream! And, last, a few words about Hydrolyzed Collagen in the formula and why we also appreciate it in our makeup/skincare products! The first time I encountered hydrolyzed collagen was in a Witch Piggy serum, and the difference between regular collagen and hydrolyzed is very simple – it lies in the size of a molecule! The molecule of hydrolyzed collagen is smaller, therefore it absorbs deeper and faster, stimulating natural collagen production from the inside.     How Do I Apply Elizavecca BB Cream for a Smooth, Natural Look? Of course, when it comes to a natural, yet smooth complexion, beauty balm has no competitors here! However, the final result always depends on pre-application preparation + skin priming. You can skip the pre-steps and apply it, but this might compromise the long-lasting, airbrushed finish. So, here is what I like to wear Elizavecca Milky Piggy BB Cream:  Step 1: Skincare If your skin is peeled, cleansed, and deeply moisturized the night before, then congrats! You are one step closer to a glass-skin finish and flawless BB look! If not, then don't forget to peel your face and neck (I prefer acid aka chemic peels), and apply your favorite tonic and moisturizer, so that your skin can get nourished and rejuvenated overnight. Step 2: Moisturizing You wake up in the morning with supple, smooth skin, washed with warm water (no cleanser needed in the morning), and ready to do your daily makeup look. Give your face and neck another coat of toner and a lightweight moisturizer, something with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and Centella Asiatica perhaps? Step 3: Smooth Application Start applying BB cream from the center of your face (nose, under eyes, chin), spreading it smoothly and carefully to the cheek, forehead, and neck. This will allow you to apply only the necessary amount of cream texture, without overloading your skin. An important tip here is to work on those pores and lines. I like to rub it on my cheeks and nose, where I have enlarged pores, smoothing out any streaks when they are filled. If needed, build the coverage up by applying more cream and concealer. Step 4: Blend and Powder Now it is time to spread everything evenly with a damp beauty blender and add powder to those greasy areas. If the day is not hot and humid, or I have particularly dry skin, I skip the powder step. And, that's all! The skin is glowing and the complexion is uniform! I am wearing two coats of Elizavecca Milky Piggy BB Cream and a thin coat of powder. Final Verdict... I haven't reviewed a makeup product for ages, so, reviewing Elizavecca Milky Piggy BB Cream was quite a nostalgic experience for me! Positively nostalgic, of course. If you are a fan of K-beauty products, nourishing/moisturizing formulas, and lightweight textures, this BB cream will be a good candidate for your summer stash. And why not? It's packed with everything you need for summer makeup: SPF 50+? Check! Panthenol? Check! Anti-aging Niacinamide? Yes, of course! On the other hand,  it comes in one, not universally flattering shade. And, even if your skin color happens to be similar in tone, the undertone might look slightly unnatural on your complexion. When it comes to buildability, Elizavecca BB Cream also delivers here. I believe this could be one of the best beauty balms I ever tried, and I'm very happy with the performance.

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