Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream Blemish Balm Vs. Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream SPF 30
Comparison Review & Swatches of Shades
New for Spring 2014 (in the U.S. at least)
Price: $8/ounce
Maybelline has just released their Dream Pure BB Cream in the United States. It has been popular in other countries in the east for quite some time, and people have eagerly awaited its arrival here. It differs quite a bit from their Dream Fresh BB Cream and I think that the difference between the two is interesting as it encapsulates the difference between the two BB Meanings; Beauty Balm versus Blemish Balm.
A Beauty Balm is a BB Cream as we know it in its more common form. It is usually a hybrid between a sunscreen & a tinted moisturizer (at least in America). It may have antioxidants but has no special miracle properties. This is what Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB Cream is.
A Blemish Balm, is, quite simple, a foundation or tinted moisturizer with a specific skincare attribute; an acne fighting one. In the case of Dream Pure BB Cream, it is in the form of 2% Salicylic Acid.
Salicylic Acid is a fabulous acne fighter and its found in many over the counter treatments with percentages varying from .5% to 10%, so 2% is not a nominal quantity for a product which is supposed to be used all over your face, even on breakout free areas!
Because I don't have severe break out prone skin, it probably isn't the product for me to smother my face in everyday, however I have tested it. I used it in both Light & Light Medium and overall, I do like the performance of it and the finished product much better than Dream Fresh. Coverage with Dream Fresh is more like a tinted moisturizer where as Dream Pure is more like a foundation with a semi-matte finish.
I think that I would actually like both better if there was a hybrid between the two. I like the shade range, finish and formula of Dream Pure, but, I like the fact that Dream Fresh has an SPF factor.
I'm not sure if 2% S.A. is enough to treat blemishes on its own, I would imagine that stubborn areas will need a different treatment in the morning or evening, and its because of this, that I wish they had just left the Salicylic Acid OUT and offered an alternate finish & formula to the Dream Fresh BB Cream.
Maybe the introduction of Dream Pure will motivate Maybelline to convert this specific product into a spot treatment of some sort while changing Dream Fresh's Shade Range & tweaking it to match Dream Pure's, because that is one area which has definitely improved, in addition to the coverage.
It's just so disapointing because even the most acne prone of us should absolutely, positively, under no circumstances, substitue sunscreen for acne treatment. Sorry ladies. This is a now vs. later situation. If you really want to use Dream Pure then you will HAVE to add a sunscreen underneath it. If you're adding another product, why not just put on a spot-treatment under your regular BB/TM/Foundation with SPF?
Another issue, is that even though it is only 2%, you should NOT, repeat NOT, go putting this on your eye area. Period. So you had better use a concealer, which is another product you may not have needed if you're satisfied with natural/sheer/light coverage offered by most good all in one products.
I can only imagine how horribly tempting it must be for the acne prone to want to try Dream Pure, but beware of the extra steps its use will require and think it through thoroughly. Dream Fresh may not have the appealing shade range, but it is a safer choice to use that along with a separate acne treatment for areas that are problematic.
All in all, its too bad that Maybelline released such an "almost" product. Its even sadder when a product like this, which has been popular in China and has a potential for irritants, has been tested on animals like we know this one has.
Stila Tinted Moisturizer,
Too Faced Beauty Balm,
Laura Geller Beauty Balm, and
Wet 'n Wild 8-in-1 BB Cream are all some great cruelty free options to consider!
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| Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream SPF 30 Beauty Balm TOP: Swatches of Shades Light, Light/Medium, Medium, Tan, Deep, Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream (2% Salicylic Acid Blemish Balm) BOTTOM: Swatches of Shades Light Light/Medium, Medium, Tan, Deep |
thank you for this blog! some ladies have been saying it has SPF 15, but when i looked in-store at both products, the newer one mentioned nothing about sunscreen so i chose the original instead.
ReplyDeleteIt's My Pleasure!
ReplyDeleteI think that you made the smarter choice if sunscreen is your concern-
Let me know how it works for you!
I found your blog after a few days that I bought the Pure bb cream (Medium) and looks pinkish on me and I can't return it to Target because it's open :( I can see that my color is Light/Medium... Great post, thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteNo problem! Thank you for your kind words!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you bought the wrong shade, I know Target can be one of the worst stores to return to since they are very inconsistent with returns. While its not a huge amount of money and may not be worth your time, it may be worth looking up your states Consumer Protection Law which usually mandate that a store follow its official return policy. Target's "official" policy is that they will accept unopened, unused items, but only items like DVD's & CD's MUST be unopened to be accepted.
Usually if an item is the wrong shade or causes irritation or breaks someone out they will take it back but knowing your states law is always helpful, especially if you ever make high end purchases!
In the UK the dream pure has SPF 15! It's too bad it's not the same in North America :(
ReplyDeleteThat's great! Be sure to check the active sunscreen ingredients. I don't know how the UK rates SPF but It may be the same exact formula. Sometimes different countries have different rating systems or Maybelline may just not have bothered to get it "certified" in the US. There's no universal standard. Its also possible that the UK and US have different standards on HOW they decided what's SPF. In the US a product can have a 100 SPF and offer no protection against UVA (aging) rays which just proves how absolutely silly the US is in regards to sun protection!
DeleteHey are tan and medium/deep the same shade with a different name?
ReplyDeleteHey 👋 Which one is good for dry skin? Please let me know.
ReplyDeleteIt's 2022 and this is still relevant and helpful. I needed to understand the difference between Fresh and Pure. Thank you so much!!!
ReplyDelete