Vichy Idealia BB Cream - Review

Bonjour!

The Vichy Idealia BB Cream is one of those products I really wanted to try but kept telling myself I didn't  need - sound familiar...?  I tried to resist for a while but finally caved in when the most recent 3 for 2 was on at Boots...

The Vichy Idealia range appears to be all about 'Ideal Skin'...

"Visibly smoothes the appearance of wrinkles. Skin texture is refined and softer. Idealia re-awakens the skin’s natural radiance for a fresh and even complexion."             (source) 

The BB is aimed at dull, greying skin tone, uneven complexion and signs of ageing accentuated by everyday exposure to the sun.  It is suitable for all skin types including sensitive and is paraben free. Whether it will - in time - reduce dark spots remains to be seen but I'd tend to agree with the other 5 claims on the box above (on my own skin anyway).

I started off by applying it after my day moisturiser but found this combination too greasy so switched to using 'instead of' -straight after my serum.  Initially I thought the Medium shade may be a tad too pale for my skin tone but it actually works really well - must be the slight pink (but not too pink) tones.  It provides light coverage (I still need concealer in places), is a really easy consistency (almost fluid-like) to blend and I love that it gives my skin a lift and leaves it feeling hydrated with an SPF 25 .  I've worn my Bare Minerals over the top of it for work and it's worked fine as a base for make-up - doesn't clog pores and hasn't caused any breakouts.

Swatched and blended ...

Kite action...

So if you're a tad squeamish maybe I should have suggested you look away ..... anyway too late now! Left pic is bare skin with just a bit of eye stuff on (sorry I don't appear to have concealed my dark circles adequately!) and right is with a quick application of BB.  Maybe you can't tell from these pics - always difficult to capture this stuff on camera - but although it doesn't completely conceal my open pores I think it does a decent job of lifting and brightening the old complexion.

It can be built up a little to provide a bit more cover but if you're after something more full-on and matte then this ain't for you. It's all about the illumination and provides the sort of sheer, natural, 'your skin but better' thing I'm after in a summer BB. The Vichy Idealia BB Cream is priced at £21.00/40ml and is a product I'll definitely be re-purchasing.

What do you look for in a Summer BB? Have you tried any products from the Vichy Idealia range?

Jen x