The buzz about BB creams has been building in recent years, and with good reason: These multi-tasking products are a perfect solution when you don’t want to wear heavy concealer or foundation. While moisturizing your skin, a BB cream can also provide just the right amount of sheer coverage without a caked-on appearance. Moreover, most of these products have SPF to protect against sun damage. In addition, they can act as a primer for the rest of your makeup and survive through sweat for a long-lasting look.

Finding your match
With a slew of BB creams out there, it can be hard to know which one to choose. The best BB cream for you depends on your specific concerns and priorities. If you’re looking for a product that can lift sagging skin while fighting fine lines, the B. Kamins Chemist BB Cream is chock-full of powerful vitamins and antioxidants that revitalize aging skin. Not only that, but particles in the cream reflect light on your face for a boost in radiance.

The G.M. COLLIN Mineral BB Cream SPF 25, on the other hand, is a great alternative if you just want to correct any discoloration while hydrating and smoothing out the skin. This cream is also lightly pigmented to give you a healthy bronze glow. However, if you’re looking to address serious breakouts or blemishes with BB cream, She Knows advises getting a dermatologist’s opinion to help you decide on a product.

Let the benefits begin
Before applying the selected BB cream, thoroughly cleanse your face. If your skin is ultra dry, celebrity makeup artist Piper Cline told She Knows that it can be helpful to first put on a moisturizer. Next, take no more than a tiny dollop and dab it onto areas in need of correction, such as redness in the cheeks or dark undereye circles. Finally, use a foundation brush to distribute the product evenly across the rest of your face. Cline also noted that dusting on a finishing powder afterward can help to achieve a flawless, shine-free complexion all day long.

There are plenty of uses for BB cream beyond evening out your skin tone. Allure magazine explained that applying BB cream over a blush, whether it’s a cream, powder or stain formula, can tone down a cheek color that’s too intense. The magazine also pointed out that mixing a shimmery loose powder into the BB cream can brighten up a drab complexion or act as a highlighter on cheekbones, browbones and the collarbone.