When you hear the words ‘I love BB’, you automatically think politics and elections, which are (hopefully) around the corner in Pakistan. But any style conscious woman will be able to tell you that the more holistic meaning of BB these days is ‘Beauty Blemish’, the cream that we all swear by. I, for one have been using the BB cream available at Body Shop and it’s a great product, albeit one that needs to be available in darker shades as not everyone hails from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and has a luminescent (gora gora) complexion. Â Some of us are women of colour and would like to see more colour on our skins!
Garnier spokesperson Juggan Kazim is the fair beauty that appeals to the average Asian woman (and her skin tone is flawless) but most of us in fashion have a penchant for the tanned, bronze look (as sported by L’Oreal CEO Musharaf Hai here). Garnier needs to give us both options. 
All-in-one day cream and Oil-free are the two formulas that will be available from next month.
The answer to our woes may be the new Garnier BB Cream, that is launching in Pakistan next month. At a small preview, we (select members of the media) got to see and sample the cream up close and Dr Khilji, a renowned dermatologist, explained how beneficial it was. So the cream, being a kind of foundation substitute, gives your blemishes immediate coverage. Then, it has a built in SPF factor so it protects your skin from further sun-damage. The deep skin tinted moisturiser also hydrates the skin and the formula is so light that it glides on effortlessly. I used it today and it was easier to apply than the Body Shop cream. Also, at approximately Rs 400 a tube, it will be a good Rs2000 cheaper than the Body Shop version. The BB comes in two versions: the all-in-one day cream and the special, oil free formula.
The only issue I’m having with the sample I got is that the shade is CLAIR, meaning it’s too light for me. Many of you who have seen me may say I can carry a clear tone but no, I’ve come to the conclusion that skin looks better a tone darker not lighter. And coverage should always take you towards tan and not white. We, Asians, are obsessed with fairer, lighter skin but believe me it usually looks ghoulish and unnatural when you aren’t naturally fair. Garnier spokesperson Juggan Kazim has flawless, fair skin but I beg the people at Garnier Pakistan to offer a shade chart and not subject us to the lighter side of BB, no pun intended 🙂
Meher Tareen (left) and Sam Khan, the stylish Paper Girls, flew down from Lahore for a few hours to attend the launch.
Note: the cream promises to change and correct your skin tone after two to three week’s use, so remind me to report how it acted in the long run.
Images courtesy Lotus PR.
