My Italian BB Cream Obsession: PuroBio's Almost Perfect Match for Fair Skin

Hello, beauty lovers!

I recently stumbled upon the Italian brand PuroBio, which has been gaining popularity in Russia thanks to its eco-friendly products. I was blown away by their diverse range of products and the numerous shades available. I wanted to try everything, but I narrowed it down to their fantastic BB cream that almost perfectly matched my very light skin tone.

Want to learn more about the brand? You can check out the official Russian distributor's website here, or browse their selection and buy here.

Now, let's get to the good stuff - a fantastic BB cream that almost perfectly matched my very light skin tone. Of course, it wasn't without its flaws, but I'll get to those later. On the swatches, the lighter shades looked pretty suitable for me. However, I was put off by the not-so-budget-friendly price, considering I prefer more affordable options. Interestingly, Russian prices are spot on with the Italian prices, with no markup - that's great to see! However, for me, it's still a bit pricey. That's when I remembered I had a bunch of bonus points on 4fresh that I could use to treat myself to this product.

Description from the manufacturer:

I was impressed by how well this blemish cream worked for me. The lightweight texture and moderate coverage gave me a natural, radiant look. Plus, it's packed with valuable plant-based ingredients like calendula extract, apricot oil, and olive oil. My skin stayed hydrated all day and felt protected from the environment's harsh effects. It's easy to apply and blends seamlessly into my skin.

General information

Volume: 30 ml Price: 900 rubles without discount

Place of purchase: I bought it from the online store 4fresh

Certifications: CCPB (Italian Certification Body for Organic Products), VeganOk, Nickel Tested

A bit about the certifications:

CCPB – the certification body responsible for inspecting and certifying non-food products like cosmetics and textiles. As of now, CCPB has certified over 9,500 companies, with around 8,000 of them in the organic production sector. The numbers speak for themselves: certification leads to improved product quality, reduced environmental impact, enhanced food safety, and more efficient production processes. CCPB is a recognized standard by Natrue, one of the most widely recognized international certifications, and it requires 95% of ingredients to be organic.

xa0

VeganOk – Italy's first and only certification body for ethical vegan products, staffed exclusively by vegetarians. It's one of the most widely recognized ethical standards globally, with over 1,000 certified companies and services, and tens of thousands of products certified in Italy and abroad.

xa0

NickelTested – ensures that the product has been tested for nickel residues and is deemed safe.

xa0

PACKAGING & FORMULA

No internal protection was present Ingredients:SALVIA SCLAREA FLOWER/LEAF/STEM WATER (SALVIA SCLAREA (CLARY) FLOWER/LEAF/STEM WATER)*, SQUALANE, OCTYLDODECANOL, POLYGLYCERYL-10 STEARATE, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), POLYGLYCERYL-10 MYRISTATE, MICA, SILICA, OLIVE GLYCERIDES, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERYL STEARATE, SODIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, AQUA (WATER), TOCOPHEROL, APRICOT KERNEL OIL POLYGLYCERYL-4 ESTER , GLYCERIN, MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTER (BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER), OLEA EUROPAEA FRUIT OIL (OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT OIL), CELLULOSE GUM, MARIS AQUA (SEA WATER), HYDROLYZED ALGIN, CHLORELLA VULGARIS EXTRACT, CELLULOSE.

MAY CONTAIN +/-: CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE), CI 77491 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77492 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77019(MICA)

*Organic ingredients

I was really impressed by the ingredients in this BB cream. It's got some great stuff for healthy skin, like squalane, sodium alginate, and chlorella + clary sage water, which makes up the base of the cream.

xa0

Smell, Consistency & Color

This BB cream doesn't have a strong perfume scent, which is a big plus, but it still has a bit of a smell. It's a bit specific, but it's totally natural for a product with oils and mineral pigments. It reminds me of the smell of clay.

Consistency is liquid, with a very light texture. The coverage is medium and not at all transparent. It's also possible to layer the product on the skin.

When I looked at it under a flashlight, the color is almost perfect. Yeah, it almost blends in with my skin after application.

I decided to compare it with German tonal products. Warning: shocking content!

In its 'wet' state1 - BB cream PuroBio color 01

2 - Tonal cream NEOBIO in the lightest shade 01 light beige

3 - Tonal cream Alverde Mineral Make-Up also in the 01 naturelle shade

After dryingThe fourth strip is the pigments for the Alverde tonal base, which I have to dilute the last two tonal creams with, so I don't end up looking like a carrot with freckles. By the way, Neobio and Alverde are almost not smudged after drying, if I run my finger over them, while PuroBio can be a bit, as it doesn't fix on the skin like a mask.

xa0

I'll never get it, what drove the German manufacturers to create these tonal products. Who's their target audience? Italians aren't exactly a pale bunch, but they've managed to come up with a universal palette that suits anyone living anywhere in the world. Kudos to them!

xa0

My experience with using it

xa0

A bit about my skin: right now it's combination, sensitive, with some minor breakouts and redness. I've got a light complexion (very fair/fair/porcelain) with a cool (pink) undertone.

xa0

Application:It's super easy to apply thanks to its liquid consistency. The product doesn't dry off too quickly, so you can blend it easily. It applies evenly to the skin, without streaks or patches.

I'd recommend applying it with your fingers or a brush only if you've got normal skin and no flakiness, breakouts, or redness.

For dry/combination/problematic skin, use a damp sponge instead.

If your skin is very dry, oily, or has severe textural issues (deep wrinkles, acne, flakiness, etc.), it's best to use a primer suitable for your skin type. PuroBio actually offers two primers (for dry and oily skin) that'll enhance the product's staying power and overall look.

Another thing I'd recommend checking out is the official YouTube channel for PuroBio tutorial on how to apply it.

xa0

Covering abilities:

I'm blown away by this BB cream's concealing power. Despite its lightweight texture, it's got a medium level of pigmentation, which makes it perfect for covering small blemishes, red capillaries on my nose, and even partially concealing dark circles under my eyes. It also sets well on my skin. However, I do agree with the manufacturer's advice to avoid applying it under my eyes, as it can dry out the skin and make fine lines more noticeable.

Right after applying, the BB cream has a neutral undertone on my skin, but it does oxidize a bit later on. Not always, though – I'm not sure what causes that. For me, it's not a huge deal, since the color still suits me. The best part is that I don't need to mix it with anything else – it looks natural, has a subtle matte finish, and even gives my skin a radiant glow (thanks to the glycerin in the formula). My skin texture looks more even, too.

I mentioned earlier that you can layer it or apply it locally where needed, but be careful not to overdo it, or you'll end up looking like a dalmatian.

xa0

How it feels on the skin:

The most comfortable. Once it's fully dried, the BB cream doesn't cling to the skin at all and is barely noticeable. No inflammation appears, pores don't get clogged, and the skin looks great afterwards. The product washes off easily with just water, but it's better to use a special cleanser for that. The sponge also washes off well with water.

Longevity:

It lasts really well with powder for 4 hours in any weather (works best in cold weather, and, ironically, in the heat, this BB cream tends to run). After 5-6 hours, it gradually gets absorbed and starts to show the concealer and skin imperfections, and fine lines and wrinkles can become visible in the nasolabial fold, as well as flakiness in particularly dry areas. If you don't have flakiness or skin imperfections, you can just smooth out the lines in the wrinkle area, blot your face with a tissue, and lightly powder. But if you do have flakiness or imperfections, you'll need to be prepared in advance to avoid this. Either use a primer, or use a scrub, peel, or mask the night before and apply a face cream suitable for your skin type before applying the BB cream. This measure works with this BB cream, but it didn't with the German tonal creams I've tried. Even if they improve the skin, it's all for nothing. I think a primer is the only solution. But I don't want to spend money on it. However, with this BB cream, I can get away without a primer because I don't have any serious skin issues and retouching the makeup is no problem, as this BB cream doesn't dry onto the face like a mask, unlike the ones I mentioned.

I've gotta say, this tonal foundation is super finicky about water - so, yeah, steer clear of snowstorms, downpours, or just plain ol' tears.

xa0

The results are pretty clear:

Four hours in: I'm talkin' BB cream, powder, and a corrector. Sorry for the blurry pics.

Artificial lightingAlmost six hours in: I used the Neobio 01 neutral corrector, PuroBio 01 BB cream, and Alverde naturelle 010 compact powder. You can see the corrector stain on my cheek and the BB cream I applied on top of it - I may have overdone it a bit there.

Artificial lightingI'll try to add some pics under natural light and without powder.

xa0

The verdict:

The PuroBio BB cream really impressed me with its color and coverage, but what really stunned me was the price. So, I'm not even thinking about re-purchasing it - I just got lucky with the discount this time. But I'd definitely recommend this BB cream to girls with light skin who care about what they put on their faces and aren't afraid to splurge.

xa0

UPDATE 2018

I have to say, I was really disappointed to find out that the VV cream oxidized so badly in the packaging after the expiration date. Even I didn't notice at first that the cream had darkened. And when I applied it, I was shocked by the yellowish color with an orange tint on my face. I had to cover it up with a light mineral powder, but even that didn't quite match. And to think there was still a month left on the expiration date... So, keep this in mind when buying, especially if you don't wear makeup that often.

xa0

But there's some good news! The BB cream actually has a SPF 10:

The manufacturer conducted an SPF test, and a lab confirmed the results. The natural filter is titanium dioxide. If you have a BB cream, yours probably has SPF 10 too. The formula hasn't changed, and the SPF has been tested and confirmed. This BB cream is a great option for a light summer tone when you want a lightweight texture and sun protection.

xa0

Thanks for reading!

xa0

Other natural foundation options:

NEOBIO Foundation

Alverde Mineral Make-Up Foundation

PuroBio is definitely the best here!