TRIED AND TESTED: 'I tried the viral DIY BB cream hack. Here's why I seriously rate it.'

Mamamia’s Tried and Tested series is your weekly review of the latest to hit our desks in beauty, health and wellness. You won’t find any #sponsored content here, just honest, relatable and independent advice. This week, You Beauty Collective member Despina O'Neill tries TikTok's viral DIY BB cream.

Hands up if lockdown has made you try some questionable TikTok hacks? Whether it’s the air-fried pasta, a dance challenge with your partner or adding dishwasher tablets to clean your washing machine (can confirm, this worked for me. It’s gross) - we've all been doing what we can to keep our minds occupied. 

My most recent viral TikTok challenge? I put a fun beauty hack to the test…. and it *actually* WORKS! 

Watch: TikTok users are using eyelash glue to get the appearance of bigger lips. Post continues after video.

I made my own BB cream. And it actually went down pretty bloody well. 

The best part? I didn’t have to buy anything new because all the ingredients were already sitting in my drawer. Stuff that was mostly just collecting dust because working from home means no make-up and minimal effort. 

What is BB cream? 

I remember when I first started using a BB cream. It was a relatively new product for me, and Garnier was always my go-to from Woolies. I’d always sneak it in mum’s shopping so I didn’t have to pay for it (thanks, Mum!). 

In case you need a refresher, ‘BB’ stands for ‘blemish balm’ or ‘beauty balm’ and it acts super similar to your typical foundation. You’ll most likely find your favourite brand even stocking both foundation AND a BB cream. 

While BB creams still provide coverage – and are usually buildable to suit your preferred level of coverage – they also tend to have additional benefits, such as hydrating ingredients. 

You’ll also find some with SPF, but of course, this is never enough and wearing a separate sunscreen is always recommended.

Because of the lightweight texture and natural coverage, it's often the preferred product for everyday use - whether you're just bumming around the house, running errands, or even going into work but still wanting to sport a natural look. 

It’s low-key, easy to apply and the fact that it's often full of skin-loving ingredients means your skin will love you for it. 

What is the BB cream TikTok hack?

Now, whether you’re someone working in essential services (THANK YOU!), sitting at home and just need a little pick me up or not in lockdown and life is relatively normal right now, this is for you. 

In case you're not on TikTok, here's the clip that inspired me to try this hack:

@jacquelinekilikita

DIY BB cream: is it any good? #beautyhacks #bbcream #ilmakiage #foundation #beauty #makeup #makeuphacks #spf #makeuptips #makeuptutorial #glowingskin

♬ Don't Start Now - Dua Lipa

First off, run to your bathroom and find your moisturiser, primer, foundation and liquid highlighter. 

You’ll also need your foundation brush and a small bowl or reusable plastic container/pot to mix it all together and store the formula. 

Here are the exact products I used - but anything similar will work!  

• Rimmel Instastrobe, $4.95.

• Blessed by Nature Hydrating Dewy Moisturiser, $14.99.

• Maybelline Face Studio Prime Pore Minimiser Primer, $9.

• Flower Beauty Light Illusion Foundation, $13.99.

Image: Supplied

Now, in terms of quantities of each, there was no measuring involved. 

In my little bowl I used about three pumps of foundation, adding about one or two pumps of the rest. I mixed it all together and boom! You’ve got yourself a pretty good BB Cream. 

Image: Supplied

Optional: Add a bit of blush or bronzer, colour your eyebrows and apply some mascara to complete the look. You’ll look dewy, glowy and super fresh! 

The verdict 

In simple terms, it’s a big win for me. I did add SPF before applying and let it sink in for about 30 mins before I created this concoction, and it applied really well on my face.  

My favourite part? I loved the glow it gave me. 

Image: Supplied

I’ve tried plenty of BB creams but sometimes find that they can often either take too long to build the coverage or they're not quite my colour and make me look more on the orange side. 

By using my own foundation to create this, I knew the colour match would be perfect, and it would be a hydrating alternative to just wearing my foundation on its own.  

While you can obviously spend your cash on pre-formulated BB creams, creating your own just means you can really cater something for you and your skin.

It also means you can customise your formula to even include a serum instead of a moisturiser as an added bonus, which is something you won’t often find in BB creams in-store.  

And if you find creating a BB cream time consuming every day, add fewer ingredients on the back of your hand and apply with your brush directly to save some time and product! 

You’ve got the basic formula now, so put your science goggles on and create something for you! Are you ready to give it a go?

Would you try this TikTok hack? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below. 

Feature image: Supplied