Despite my moaning, I recognise that BB creams have answered the calls of many women for a light spring/summer base that doesn't feel like makeup, and can be smeared on in a relatively slapdash manner. But there are alternatives that give the same sheer colour, sun protection and minor blemish cover without the dull finish.
Perricone MD's No Foundation Foundation(£48) is great. Slap it over serum (if oily) or moisturiser (if not) and it evens inconsistent tone, making you look more "done". Stupidly, it ignores dark skins, but Sleek's superb CC range (£8.99) doesn't: it's one of the best colour-correcting creams I've tried, despite being a fraction of the price of many. It gives glow without cakiness, and the shade range is suitably inclusive. Clarins' reformulated HydraQuench tinted moisturizer(£29) also fits the bill. It feels wonderfully moist (even I can skip day cream), but it seems to be pot luck as to whether your shade is covered. Personally, I've opted to spend summer wearing Becca's Luminous Skin Colour(£32) this Australian brand is back after withdrawing from the UK a few years ago, streamlining to what it does best: natural, lovely-looking skin.
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