Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream

The one thing that has put me off trying ‘proper’ Asian BB creams is the fact that I couldn’t find a UK based distributor. Thankfully the Ginvera skin care range is now available from Janiro.co.uk which is UK based. Huzzah! At £20 for 25ml this is on the pricier side of the scale so I was keen to try some samples so I could judge for myself whether it was worth the cash.

For me the SPF30.PA+++ is a huge bonus. This really is one of those products you can throw on and go in the Summer without having to faff about with separate skincare, sunscreen or primer which is exactly what I want from a BB cream. The texture is much, much thinner than other BB creams I’ve tried the side effect of which is that you need very little and it spreads seamlessly over the skin. I prefer to apply it with fingers.

In addition to the SPF it has other skincare properties. Green Tea, Ginseng and Chinese Angelica nourish the skin. Hyaluronic Acid is in there too which (and bear with me, it’s a couple of years since I did any chemistry!) is hydrophilic meaning that it attracts water. This has the effect of plumping the skin. I find this to be relatively hydrating but not to the point where it slides of my oily bits.

Skincare aside I have been using this in place of foundation and I’m pleased with the results. When I first swatched it I thought it would be too dark for me but it is a surprisingly good match on my pale skin. I’m not sure how it would work for deeper skin tones though, although it is marketed as being suitable for all skin tones I’m a sceptical. On me though, it works. Initially it has a distinct greyish cast to it but after a few minutes it seems to settle on the skin and takes on a slightly beige/ pink tone. The effect is quite brightening on me. The coverage is light to medium – more medium than light. It does an excellent job of taking down redness but I need a bit of concealer on any blemishes.

The finish is supposed to be matte but on my oily bits I find it to be a little more glowy. I do feel the need to set this with a powder (as I do almost every base). It is very flattering on me and does not pool in my large pores at all. It is a very natural finish on me, a far cry from the heavier foundations I’m used to. It lasts pretty well on me too.

The samples I received lasted me around a week which has reassured me that although you only get 25ml of product that would probably be enough to last me a very long time as I use so little for each application. I really prefer this to a lot of the more orange (in general) toned tinted moisturiser style BB creams you normally find on the Western. And the fact that you don’t have to buy it from overseas thus incurring customs charges sweetens the deal. I like it! X

*These samples were provided free of charge for review purposes. My opinions are my own as always and are not influenced by how I come to try a product. You all know me, I can be brutally honest!*