product rave review///what is a bb cream?

I found this post from months ago, and have decided to post...would still love to hear thoughts!

*this looks like the medium light shade! - photo credit: smashbox

So...I am very aware that BB Creams have been on the market for quite some time now...and being a medium to full coverage foundation loving girl, I quickly dismissed the "genre" if you will. Needless to say, I have dabbled in the odd tinted moisturizer when I'm having a good skin today (thanks to ridiculously colour matched samples at the bottom of my Sephora bags). However, I've been going through an "o.k." skin patch lately, and my YSL Touche Eclat foundation has not been making me happy - sitting on top of my skin at the end of the day, making me look super oily; please tell me if you have similar issues!...I digress, I asked for a sample of the Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream (SPF 35) from Sephora one day, and dayumn, it's been lovely...I'm on my third sample...ahem spending ban...more on that later...or not. Regardless, it will be the next "foundation" I buy; perfect for summer. It holds up well in heat...I have normal - dry combination skin, and what some would call an oily t-zone. But I find with my Laura Mercier Universal Translucent powder on top, it's perfect. Not greasy at all in the way of a tinted moisturizer.

Now all though BB Creams are an alleged 5 in 1 product (moisturizer, primer, sunscreen, skin treatment, concealer, and foundation), I would use this product as a foundation + spf coverage alone. I most definitely need a separate concealer - I always do, and will never not use a traditional moisturizer. No go. However, I have yet to use this BB Cream as a primer, and layer it underneath a foundation. I do think that it would make a great base for night's out. For reference, I wear the medium light shade, and I am a NC42 at MAC.
In summary,

Pro's
-More coverage than a tinted moisturizer, but not as heavy as a foundation
*Feels very similar to Nars Sheer glow (in my experience)
-lightweight and non-greasy/oily
-buildable - in my opinion, not according to Smashbox--> click here

Con's
-very small amount of product for $50; however, the price is comparable to the majority (99.9%) of tinted moisturizers/bb creams/foundations avalailable at Sephora. As aforementioned, BB creams are a 5 in 1: moisturizer, primer, sunscreen, skin treatment, concealer, and foundation...so you do the math, is it worth it?

I would love to read your opinions!


**I have since bought and love Smashbox's BB Cream in Medium Light...I haven't been wearing it recently as this gorgeous Vancouver summer has made me many a shade darker - still contemplating buying it in a darker shade. Has anybody else tried it? Do tell!


<3 devina.