Drugstore BB Cream Series Part Eight: MUA All-In-One Beauty Balm

Hey everyone!

This Drugstore BB Cream Series is almost over! One more post to go. Today's is part eight, but you can see parts one to seven by clicking here. If you don't know what it is, my mum and I tested out all nine BB creams available on the UK market; you can see more about our skin types here. 

Today's BB Cream is the MUA All In One Beauty Balm (£4.00), the cheapest of all the BB Creams tested. I got the shade Medium Shade 2. I had to purchase online as my local Superdrug does not have a MUA Professional stand.

Shade range: Three; Light, Medium and Dark.

SPF: None.

Packaging: 30ml. This is a black and silver squeezy tube with a short nozzle. It reminded me of the 17 Beauty Balm, but looked slightly less cheap to me. I had to pierce the protective silver tab over the nozzle as there was no flap to peel it off. 

Claims: The MUA website says the BB cream is inspired by Asian brands, and acts as a full-coverage foundation that conceals, brightens and evens skintone. Is one of the few BB creams I've seen recommended for use with a brush. 

Formula: The consistency doesn't look thick in these pictures but it is. It was quite dry and difficult for me to blend on my dry skin. I had to use more to cover my face as it didn't blend as easily. The shade was wrong for me too, although I bought online so couldn't test the others. It was very yellow and ashy.  I applied with my fingers, because I applied all the BB creams with my fingers. There was a slight plasticky smell.

I experienced no irritation, but my mum did and had to remove it. This could have been down to a new moisturiser she was using also, so we don't know which caused the irritation. 

Coverage and Longevity: It feels like a thick foundation, and looks like I had foundation on. I would definitely says this was medium to high coverage - it covered my redness, sports, freckles and canceled out a little of my undereye blueness. However the shade did look ashy and yellow on me, so I feel I look a little unwell in the photo above.
The finish was tacky for a while after application. The skin looked brighter, like it had a glow, but it also looked more made up.
It oxidised a little over the day as well - where the thick formula had caught at the fuzz around my brows, it went orange, and also on a dry patch on my forehead.
It started fading by the 5 hour mark, and looked shiny by the 8 hour mark when I removed it.

Here I am with makeup on:

In summary:

Pros:

• Very cheap price.
• High coverage.
• Does seem to provide a highlight type effect.
• Relatively long lasting.

Cons:

• No SPF.
• Very thick formula like foundation.
• Oxidised on me - possibly not for dry skins in general!

So, what are your thoughts? Have you tried this BB cream?