Review: Lumene Vitamin C+ Illuminating Anti-Age BB Cream SPF20

The product featured in this review was given to Nouveau Cheap from the brand. For my full disclosure, please see the bottom of this blog post.

So I think I finally figured out where BB creams fit into my makeup routine. When I'm in a hurry, I find myself reaching for my BB creams as a quick "I just need something to make myself look presentable" type of product that can give me some light hydration, SPF and coverage.

This probably isn't big news to most of you, since I think that BB creams fit this purpose for a lot of people but, for a while there, I was trying to find a BB Cream that could totally take the place of my favorite foundations. American drugstore BB creams can't quite give me the coverage of my favorite foundations and I've finally come to terns with this. They DO, however, have an essential place in my makeup routine now, and it's with that declaration that I bring you this new BB cream from Lumene.

 Lumene Vitamin C+ Illuminating Anti-Age BB Cream SPF20 in 01 Light

(retail: around $14.99, 1.7 oz)

I'm a longtime fan of Lumene skincare (look for this product in the skincare aisle, not the cosmetics aisle) and so I was really excited when I first posted the news that Lumene was coming out with a BB cream.

You can purchase this product at Ulta, Walgreens and CVS (it's actually on sale for $11.99 at CVS as of the time of this post). I think that the full retail price of $14.99 is a good value consider that you get nearly two ounces of product (most drugstore BB creams are closer to one ounce and retail for about the same price). Like many other BB creams, this product comes in two self-adjusting shades: 01 Light and 02 Medium. 

Keep reading for my full review...

This product comes with a silver foil safety seal that covers the opening (I removed it prior to taking these photos)

I love that Lumene clearly states what this product does (above) without making any grand claims. This is a "light" and "moisturizing" cream that "helps to correct small skin imperfections." It's not going to solve or correct every single issue you have with your skin, and I appreciate that they don't make a million promises to indicate otherwise.

Also, definitely follow the instructions and do NOT get this product near your eyes. Due to the sunscreen, it will burn your eyes if you get it too close to your eye area--take my word on that one.

Here are some before and after shots:

 My skin, freshly cleansed (no moisturizer)

As I always say, my skin is far from perfect. I have broken capillaries on my cheeks, dark circles, fine lines, uneven skintone, old acne scars, enlarged pores...you name it!

 After applying Lumene BB Cream with my fingers

I am very impressed with the coverage of this BB cream. I also love that it doesn't leave a shiny, super-dewy finish on my skin (dewy finishes and my oily skin are generally not a good combo).

Texture and consistency: I think this BB cream has a wonderful texture. It's not thin and watery, but it's also not super thick or difficult to spread across the skin. What's quite interesting about this BB cream is that it has to be the quickest-absorbing BB cream I think I've ever used. When I apply this to clean, non-moisturized skin, I can rub it across my skin and almost instantly, it's completely absorbed. It doesn't have a greasy texture that makes you feel like it's just sitting on top of your skin, never quite absorbing into the skin, if you know what I mean. But the best part is that, even though it absorbs so quickly, it doesn't leave my skin feeling dry, tight or parched (sometimes this happens with products that absorb so quickly on my skin).  Another great thing is that, after it's absorbed, I can go back over with a bit more product to build the coverage and it doesn't feel (or look) cakey. 

Coverage and shade match: Like many Asian BB creams, this product may appear a bit gray when you first apply it. For me, the gray color turns a bit pink (which scared me at first because my skin has yellow undertones). After a few minutes on the skin, this product self-adjusts to my skintone and I have to say it's the best color-match for my NC20 skintone of any BB cream I have used to date (US or Asian). I would consider the coverage to be medium, not light. This is a small miracle, I know, since most US drugstore BB creams provide light coverage. This product isn't going to cover major skin issues and it definitely didn't conceal my dark circles, but it doesn't claim to (remember what it says on the tube!). This product does not settle into my fine lines or accentuate my skin's imperfections--I find it gives a soft, illuminated look to the skin and a bit of an air-brushed quality as well.

Staying power: I think it's important to remember that American drugstore BB creams are not really known for their staying power. So, relatively speaking, I think the staying power of this product is fantastic. I can get about five to six hours of wear during warmer weather before I start to see fading. On cooler days, I can get a full eight hours of wear.  But keep in mind that I do set this product with face powder, and that many of my face powders are good at oil control. I think that's important if you have oily skin, because you will get breakthrough shine when wearing this BB cream. A good setting power can really extend the wear-time of this BB cream.

Hydration: Keep in mind that I have very oily skin, so your results may vary. For me, I find the hydration of this product to be excellent. It provides just the right amount of moisturization throughout the day for my oily skin--not so much that my face feels like a greaseball, but also not so little that I feel like I should apply moisturizer before I apply this product. I can totally skip my regular facial moisturizer and wear this product on bare skin. When I do this, my face does not look or feel dry throughout the day. I can't speak for any long-term benefits since I've only been using this product for four weeks, but I haven't experienced any skin issues or breakouts while using this product. 

Fragrance: This product has a lovely, soft, botanical, berry scent to it. It's not strong, but I do detect it during application. The scent quickly fades though, and I don't notice it after application.

FINAL VERDICT: We've got a winner here, folks. I absolutely love this BB cream and in terms of how it stacks up to all of the other American drugstore BB creams I've tried to date, this one is my favorite. The coverage is impressive, it has a lovely texture, it absorbs quickly, it's easily buildable and, if you set it with a good setting powder, it can last all day, no problem. If you have drier skin, you might have to apply a separate moisturizer beforehand but for my oily skin, this product provides the perfect amount of hydration to get me through the day. I only have two complaints about this product. First, I'm not sure that shade Medium is going to adjust enough for those of you with deeper skintones (I really hope Lumene comes out with a Deep option soon). Second,  I wish that the formula was SPF30 (rain or shine, I don't like to leave my house without anything less than SPF30 on my face). So I do have to apply a separate sunscreen if I know I'm going to be outdoors for any length of time. That said, this is my new go-to for when I'm in a hurry and just need to even out my skintone and be out the door quickly. If you're looking for a new BB cream, and you can find a good shade match in 01 Light or 02 Medium, I think you might be quite pleased with this one.

Have you tried Lumene Vitamin C+ Illuminating Anti-Age BB Cream? If so, I would love to hear how it's working for you. If not, do you think this might be a good match for your needs?

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.