The other day I noticed that most of my recent reviews are very positive, perhaps it's the fact that I love to show you products that I love. But I can't only show you the good, there are other products I don't like as much and I'm afraid that the Dior Hydra Life BB Creme is one of them.

You'll have to excuse the manky-looking tube, I have been using this BB cream for a very long time now and I haven't got much left, so I wanted to talk to you about it before it runs out, as I don't think I will be repurchasing it again.

What does it promise?

Before I bought this BB creme I had heard a lot about these miraculous tinted moisturizers, they were supposed to be better than foundation as they were meant to be an all-in-one product combining skincare and foundation. BB cream stands for beauty balm and they're all the rage in the Eastern market, in theory it's a serum, moisturizer, primer, sun block and foundation in one.

I was dying to try out one of these miraculous products so when I saw a poster at a local Dior counter I decided to inquire about it. I like a natural finish to my foundation, as if I wasn't really wearing any, so the makeup artist suggested I only use a small amount. He said that the BB creme would provide moisture and protection just as a skincare product would and it would adjust to my skin tone and even it  out thanks to the micro pearl pigments.

Packaging

I have to say that the Hydra Life range by Dior doesn't seem luxurious in a way, it seems to have been designed to look more medical. The minty green they have chosen reminds me of hospitals and doctors, and I think they've done that on purpose as if to say that this isn't just foundation, that it is good for your skin.

The creamy product is housed in a minty-green plastic tube with a pump dispenser. I really like pumps because they usually deliver the perfect amount of product, in this case a full pump will give you quite a lot of coverage so I try half a pump for a more natural look.

Another positive point about this type of packaging is that the product inside remains in good condition, which is particularly important when there are skin care ingredients.

Composition

One of the benefits of a BB creme is that it includes SPF protection of 30 and the titanium dioxide provides UVA screening.

It also includes some beneficial ingredients such as Black Rose (natural antioxidant), Centella (supports collagen production) and Jisten (optimizes water flow in the skin) and it has also been formulated without parabens.

Unfortunately it also includes alcohol which can dry out the skin and like most Dior products it contains a lot of fragrance which can be irritating to sensitive skin.

Shade Selection

The Dior Hydralife BB Creme is available in 3 shades : Luminous Beige, Golden Peach and Sunny Amber. I have the lightest one, Luminous Beige, and although it seems more or less okay on initial application it oxidizes very badly on my skin.

This was truly a beginner's mistake as I had tried it on at the counter and it seemed fine but as time went by it definitely turned out to be too dark for me. I can only use it in the summer with a tan!

The shade selection is very poor and they definitely don't work for all skin tones. The fact that there isn't a lighter shade than Luminous Beige is a definite problem and on top of that it may oxidize. If you do find a shade to suit your skin you might be very happy with this BB cream however!

When you first pump the BB cream onto your skin you will notice it's a thin lotion with quite a runny consistency so it's easy to work with. You'd think that it wouldn't have much coverage, which happens with most BB creams, but it provides a nice amount of coverage and I don't feel I need to use a concealer.

In fact it is so pigmented that I have to be careful not to overapply it as it builds quite quickly although it never looks too cakey. I also have the added problem that it's too dark, so if it were the right shade it might be good at layering.

The finish is velvety but quite dewy on the skin so it doesn't accentuate dry spots. I think it would be a great option for mature skin because it makes the skin look plump and filled with a natural shine. I have oily skin so it looks a little too shiny after a while but it's ok if I set it with powder or I blot later on in the day. 

If you're looking for a BB cream with a natural finish you will like this one, although it definitely looks like you're wearing foundation; so if you thought it was going to look as if you're not wearing anything you should look for a lighter BB or CC cream. 

A positive thing I have noticed is its lasting power; I work extremely long days and I don't usually expect my foundation to last the whole time. I have noticed however that at the end of the day, when I remove it, that there is still an impressive amount on the face.

Overall

I am really torn with this product because on paper it really should work. The coverage is very good for a BB cream because it's exactly like a foundation, so if you were looking for a BB cream that is thicker than a tinted moisturizer, this could be a good option for you. 

Unfortunately the very poor shade range, the fact that it oxidizes on me and its price considering that the composition isn't that special makes it a fail for me. In fact, I have been trying to finish this for so long that I have to add a good point: a little goes a long way. 

I won't be repurchasing this again, unless they come up with a wider shade range and make the price a little better or the composition a little more special. I do have to say that the Dior Hydra Life BB Eye Cream from the same range is one of my favourite concealers, so it seems as if the concept is good but the execution isn't quite there. 

Do you regularly use a BB cream or do you prefer a foundation?