12 Best BB Creams For Acne In 2024 And A Buying Guide

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13 Best BB Creams For Acne In 2021

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If you are looking for a subtle makeup look that doesn’t affect your acne-prone skin, we have compiled a list of the best BB creams for acne to help you choose the right one. BB creams provide your skin with an even, smooth tone and help conceal blemishes for a natural look. They act as hydrating agents and protect the skin from dryness.

Suitable for acne-prone and sensitive skin, these creams conceal your acne and do not have any harmful components that may aggravate the skin issue. These creams also protect your skin from harmful UV rays and help reduce aging signs. So, explore the products listed below to find a product suitable for your skin type.

In This Article

12 Best BB Creams For Acne

1. Best For All Skin Types: Maybelline Dream Pure Skin Clearing BB Cream

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4.3
Maybelline Dream Pure Skin Clearing BB Cream Image: Maybelline New York

The Maybelline BB cream with oil-free formula is lightweight for the skin with non-comedogenic properties. Its infusion of 2% salicylic acid helps reduce blemishes, keeping the skin clear of acne and other imperfections. Its concealer and corrector properties make it one of the best BB creams for acne. Experience an oil-free application with sheer tint coverage with frequent usage of this celebrity-endorsed BB cream. Here’s a review video showcasing a tester’s experience with the oil-free BB cream.

Number of Items: 1 | Product Dimensions: 0.94 x 1.89 x 4.46 inches | Weight: 1.41 Ounces
worth-buy-icon

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

The product has garnered more than 6,898 positive reviews on Amazon.

protip_icon Quick tip
As per studies, a regulated amount of salicylic acid is safe and effective in dealing with acne, light-induced damage, and freckles. It’s also said to be suitable for dark skin tones (1).

2. Best For Balanced Skin: Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42

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4.3
 Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 Image: Missha
Now 59% Off

Line Friends edition of perfect cover BB Cream from Missha M is lightweight and multi-functional for a high-coverage effect. The herbal botanical extracts of hyaluronic acid, ceramide, rosemary, and chamomile keep the complexion calm with blemish-free and balanced skin. Use it regularly for hydrated, glowing, and firm-looking skin all day long. It naturally conditions the skin with botanical essentials, such as plant oils and nutrients. Check out this review video to learn more about the efficacy of this BB cream with SPF 42.

Skin Type: All | Package Dimensions: ‎ 6.61 x 2.09 x 1.89 inches | Weight: 0.01 Ounces
My Personal Experience

"I've been loyal to this BB cream for years, and its improved formula feels incredibly smooth on my oily skin. The strong scent isn't ideal, but the way it blends and subtly blurs fine lines and imperfections is a delight. And the best part is that it even offers protection from the sun."

worth-buy-icon

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

More than 1,879 buyers on Amazon have said the product lives up to the hype.

3. Best Anti-Aging: Bellaterra Cosmetics BB Cream Tinted Moisturizer

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4.5
Bellaterra Cosmetics BB Cream Tinted Moisturizer Image: Bella Terra Cosmetics

Infused with anti-aging and sun protection properties, this anti-acne BB cream from Bellaterra Cosmetics brings your search to a halt. The professional-grade foundation moisturizer is buildable for the rest of the makeup and rich in essential minerals, such as zinc and magnesium. Available in various shades, it blends with the skin easily. A sheer to medium build may help reduce the appearance of scar marks, acne, fine lines, and other skin imperfections. It is suitable for all skin types and moisturizes the skin weightlessly for a dewy-glowy finish, lasting all day long.

Product Dimensions: 2 x 2 x 6 inches | Weight: 1.69 Ounces
Our Reviewer's Experience

"This BB cream blends seamlessly into my skin, minus the heaviness of typical makeup. I love that it lasts long, and it's a great moisturizer too. It delivers admirable coverage and even helps keep the foundation and other makeup products from feathering."

protip_icon Quick fact
A regulated amount of zinc is known for its anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. It helps in elasticity regeneration and offers protection against photodamage (2) (3).

Maybelline Dream Pure Skin Clearing BB Cream
Best For All Skin Types
Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42
Best For Balanced Skin
Bellaterra Cosmetics BB Cream Tinted Moisturizer
Best Anti-Aging
Number of Items 1--
Dimensions 0.94 x 1.89 x 4.46 inches- 2 x 2 x 6 inches
Weight 1.41 Ounces 0.01 Ounces 1.69 Ounces
Skin Type- All-
Package Dimensions- ‎ 6.61 x 2.09 x 1.89 inches-
Rating
Reviews6,8981,87924
Price$6.68$9.94$43.9

4. Best Oil Control: Mianyang Mushroom Head Air Cushion BB Cream

The result-driven Mianyang mushroom BB cream doubles up as a primer for makeup and suits normal, dry, combination, and oily skin types. It functions as a concealer and serves to provide a nude makeup look. With a small skin-friendly mushroom puff stick, the primer cream is easy to apply and suits as an under-eye concealer. Apply it before any makeup to attain a refreshed and natural finish that remains up all day, making it a nice addition to your makeup routine. Its natural, plant-based formulation helps control oil secretion, keeping acne away.

Skin Type: All
My Personal Experience

"This BB cream covers acne scars well and doesn't highlight the fine lines. Paired with my trusted concealer and lip gloss, it holds up all day, giving my skin a smooth, radiant look. And although the lid can create a mess if mishandled, the results are worth the trouble."

5. Best For Sebum Control: Kiss New York Cover + Care Matte Beauty Balm

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4.3

Kiss New York blemish balm is formulated for combination, oily, and acne-prone skin as it possesses sebum-control properties. This beauty balm with oil-free formula contains 0.2% salicylic acid beads that inhibit excessive oil production and prevent the face from looking shiny all day. In addition, the high-coverage BB cream formulation conceals all imperfections while providing a matte finish. This fragrance-free blemish balm is available in six shades and is lightweight, making it ideal for everyday use.

Skin Type: Oily, Combination, Acne Prone Skin
Our Reviewer's Experience

"Tackling hyperpigmentation and oily skin is no small feat, but this product truly delivers. It offers my skin lasting coverage without a complicated routine. I love its matte finish and how it makes it easy to get the no-makeup makeup look."

6. Best Lightweight: Troiareuke Aesthetic BB Cream

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3.9
Troiareuke BB Cream Image: Troiareuke

The Troiareuke Aesthetic BB cream comes with a lightweight formula and offers a long-lasting medium coverage. The formula offers sun protection with SPF 30 and is hypoallergenic, making it suitable for acne-prone and sensitive skin. It’s non-comedogenic, giving your skin a smooth, radiant finish and preventing acne-risk. It comes with a spoid applicator that limits the amount of product squeezed out at a time. Its hydrating and soothing ingredients such as panthenol and sunflower seed extract and healing ingredients such as centella asiatica make it a suitable option for acne-prone and combination skin.

Skin Type: Combination, Sensitive, Dry, Normal | Product Dimensions: 5.15 x 1.02 x 0.78 inches | Weight: 3.52 Ounces.
My Personal Experience

"I landed upon this BB cream after much research. It offered a natural-looking, buildable coverage and left a nice, healthy shine on my skin. Quantity seemed a bit less. Nonetheless, its been a champion in making my skin look flawless the whole day."

7. Best Hydrating: Skin79 Animal Dry Monkey BB Cream

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4.1

The Skin79 Dry Monkey is a beige-tinted BB cream with a lightweight formula that hydrates the skin and gives it an even-toned look and supple feel. The cream contains hyaluronic acid and banana extracts that moisturize the skin and give a flawless finish while improving the skin’s elasticity. Moreover, this BB cream has the goodness of SPF 50+ PA+++ filter to give ample protection against harmful UV rays.

Product Dimensions: ‎1.1 x 1.65 x 4.21 inches | Weight: 7.05 Ounces
My Personal Experience

"Besides covering blemishes like a foundation, this BB cream also acts as a shield against the sun all day long. It blends flawlessly into my sensitive skin without leaving any white cast. Although it lets a bit of oil shine through, a dusting of powder solved that issue. All in all, it's a great addition to my makeup collection."

protip_icon Did you know?
A mushroom makeup stick brush increases in size when soaked in water. Its reduced form is ideal for partial or precise coverage, whereas its enlarged version is ideal for full natural looking coverage.

8. Best For Hyper-Sensitivity: La Mav All-In-One Organic BB Cream

La Mav offers an all-in-one makeup essential and can be used as a foundation, sunscreen, and moisturizer. Its organic, non-toxic, antioxidant-infused formulation with moisturizing benefits makes it suitable for medium to dark skin tone. It provides luminous natural looking coverage with its luxurious, non-greasy, and anti-aging benefits. It also counters skin imperfections, such as redness, blemishes, and hyper-sensitivity for a flawless, studio-like effect.

With its natural, color-adaptive formulation, you can experience seamless blending and radiance restoration. It keeps your skin hydrated and healthy with moisturizing effects.

Product Dimensions: 1.34 x 1.34 x 5.67 inches | Weight: 3.25 Ounces
Our Reviewer's Experience

"I'm impressed with this product's texture and thick coverage. It does wonders for my large pores and minor blemishes but tends to dry my skin. So, I found applying moisturizer before beneficial. Despite a few cons, it lasted well even in 95-degree weather and has become my favorite."

9. Best Anti-Clog: Ownest Mushroom Head Air Cushion BB Cream

Ownest Mushroom Head Air Cushion BB Cream

This skin-friendly BB cream from Ownest becomes bigger and softer when it comes in contact with water and is skin friendly and easy to apply. It is known for its proven efficacy and has a skin-elastic bionic film that is suitable for all skin types and tones. Its rich natural ingredients help keep the skin nourished. Besides, the BB cream can help balance sebum levels, reduce acne, and keep a check on signs of aging.

Skin Type: All | Color: Natural

Pros

  • Naturally covers skin defects
  • Allows skin to breathe
  • Does not clog pores
  • Provides intense moisturization

Cons

  • Container may not be user-friendly
  • May have a peculiar smell
Our Reviewer's Experience

"This product offers a sheer yet impressive coverage without causing dryness or flakiness. It's feather-light, doesn't settle into lines, and is effectively smudge-proof. Initially uncertain due to mixed reviews, I've come to enjoy this product. Moreover, the included application sponge is very convenient."

10. Best Easy To Use:Bellapierre BB Cream Derma Renew

The product comes with UV protection at SPF15 and four-in-one use. You can use it as a foundation, a moisturizer, and a concealer. Its anti-aging formulation helps reduce wrinkles and fine lines, making the skin look younger. There is no worry of flaky or dry patches on the skin as the cream lends medium to full coverage with an easy gliding formulation. The pore-minimizing BB cream smooths the appearance of pores to give the skin a flawless glowy finish.

Skin Type: Acne Prone | Color: Light | Product Dimensions: 2 x 3 x 4 inches | Weight: 2.12 Ounces
Our Reviewer's Experience

"Sporting this BB cream every day has not only cleared my skin but also gives it a natural glow that endures a rigorous workday. Although slightly sticky when used as a primer, when paired with makeup, it beautifully enhances my look."

11. Best Cruelty-Free:Boscia Skin Perfecting BB Cream

The antioxidant-rich, tinted moisturizing solution from Boscia gives you a sculptured look. Its SPF30 inclusion provides blue light protection along with sun protection. The cream is a completely vegan, cruelty-free formulation and gives you a deep gleam with cool undertones. Use it right before applying foundation and blend evenly to obtain an anti-greasy appearance.

Product Dimensions: 1.75 x 1.75 x 6.13 inches | Weight: 1.76 Ounces.

12. Best For Sensitive Skin:Nature Republic Snail Solution BB Cream

*The prices provided in this article are based on the latest available information. However, they may vary due to changes in pricing by the seller and/or promotional offers.

The Nature Republic BB cream works wonderfully in reducing the visibility of acne scars and acne prevention. It has anti-aging effects and provides a light and soft cover-up to your skin with the goodness of African resurrection plant, snail mucin, and SPF30. It works to stimulate collagen production in the skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

Product Dimensions: 1.38 x 1.38 x 4.65 inches | Weight: 3.06 Ounces

How To Choose The Right BB Cream For Acne-Prone Skin?

Here are some aspects you should keep in mind to choose the right BB cream for acne-prone skin.

  1. Skin tone: BB creams are often tinted and carry pigmentation for different coverage extents and skin marks concealment. Pick a tinted BB cream that suits your skin tone.
  2. Ingredients: Look for specific essential ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and salicylic acid. Creams with other dermatologically approved natural ingredients, including plant extracts, such as vitamin C, are also a good fit and help achieve flawless complexion. Dr. Dmitriy Schwarzburg, a dermatologist and owner of Skinly Aesthetics, says, “However, if you have sensitive or dry skin, salicylic acid may irritate it. So, confirm with your dermatologist before using any product containing salicylic acid.”
  3. Skin type: Consider buying a cream designed for your skin type. Most BB creams are suitable for all skin types.
  4. Sun protection: The SPF content defines the crema’s effectiveness in UV protection. Choose a cream with a higher SPF, as exposure to the sun can often increase acne severity. Dr. Dmitriy adds, “BB creams that contain SPF are always beneficial, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors– the higher the SPF, the better.”
  5. Hydration: Moisturizing ingredients, including aloe vera and cucumber, can also soothe the skin, keeping it healthier and less prone to acne development.
  6. Purpose: Your choice between everyday needs and occasional touches during a rush defines your selection of a suitable BB cream. If you need it as an everyday beauty essential, look for products with intense moisturizing effects. A high tint is suggested for occasional use to provide maximum natural coverage and concealment.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When should I start using a BB cream?

If you prefer a no make-up look or if you don’t have the time to do full makeup and look for a light coverage, you can start using a BB cream. BB creams act as a tinted moisturizer and provide a lighter coverage to conceal minor skin imperfections.

2. Is BB cream suitable for oily and acne-prone skin?

BB creams that have oil-controlling properties and acne-fighting ingredients are suitable for oily and acne-prone skin. Such BB creams keep your skin oil-free and provide a matte finish.

3. Do I need to use a primer before BB cream?

Using a primer before applying BB cream is not necessary and is a choice that you can make. BB creams are good to go by themselves without using any primer. However, prepping your skin with moisturizer and sunscreen before applying BB cream makes a good skin care routine.

4. Can I mix my BB cream with moisturizer?

Yes, it’s absolutely fine to mix BB creams with moisturizers. This usually is a good idea for thick BB creams that are difficult to blend or if you prefer a lighter coverage.

5. Do I apply BB cream with my fingers?

Yes, BB creams are easy to blend with fingers. Take enough cream in your hand, use your fingers and dab small dots in the areas where you need extra coverage. Blend and spread it with fingers in circular motions.

6. Does a BB cream remove pimples?

No, BB creams are not formulated to remove pimples. Yet, BB creams for acne-prone skin help hydrate the skin and do not intensify the acne or pimples.

7. Is BB cream better than foundation?

BB creams provide you a sheer natural coverage and are lightweight when compared to foundations. Whereas, a foundation is ideal for having an even skin tone with high coverage.

The Bottom Line

BB creams are one of the most sought-after creams for skincare and are the go-to option for those with acne-prone skin. The best BB creams for acne help conceal and counter acne scars. The best beauty balm creams are formulated with natural ingredients that are hypoallergenic and devoid of harsh chemicals that may irritate your skin. Besides, they are versatile and work as a foundation, moisturizer, or concealer. And the inclusion of SPF protects from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Our noteworthy picks are the Maybelline Dream Pure Skin Clearing BB Cream for oil-free application, the Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 for sun protection and hydration, and the Bellaterra Cosmetics BB Cream Tinted Moisturizer for a buildable, dewy finish.


References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. Tasleem Arif; (2015); Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive review
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4554394/
  2. Prasad AS; (2014); Zinc is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent: its role in human health
    https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2014.00014/full
  3. Mrinal Gupta; (2014); Zinc Therapy in Dermatology: A Review
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4120804/

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Poulami Nag is fond of writing on trending fashion, beauty, and clothing products. She is known for her research skills; analyzing trustworthy sources to pick the best products for you. Here, she made a list of the best BB creams for acne, along with their descriptions, so you are prepared to pick the most suitable product based on your skin type and needs.


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Dr. Dmitriy Schwarzburg is a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist with nine years of experience in the field. He did his medical education from McGovern Medical School in Houston, in addition to a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Read full bio of Dr. Dmitriy Schwarzburg
Poulami Nag
Poulami NagMA, PG Dip.
Poulami is an associate editor at MomJunction. She did her MA in English from Miranda House, University of Delhi and has qualified UGC-NET. She also holds a PG diploma in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University. Her journey as a content writer began in 2017 and since then, Poulami has garnered diverse interests along the way.

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Wedetso Chirhah
Wedetso ChirhahMA English
Wedetso Chirhah holds a masters degree in English Literature from Mangalore University and has over 13 years of experience in content. He has written content for more than 15 B2B websites and edited school books before joining MomJunction as an editor.

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Deyasini Biswas
Deyasini BiswasBA English (Hons), Diploma in Advanced Fashion Styling
Deyasini holds a bachelor's honors degree in English Literature from Jadavpur University and a postgraduate diploma in Advanced Fashion Styling from the London College of Style. She has three years of experience in the fashion industry, working as an editorial and product stylist, following which she has chosen to return to her roots in the language arts as a commerce content writer at MomJunction.

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