WHAT: The Lancôme UV Expert SPF 50 PA+++ BB Complete ($80), is a multi-purpose makeup base that purportedly brightens the skin, conceals facial blemishes and protects the skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays and free radicals.

According to Lancôme, the blemish balm’s combination of pink and blue bioptic pigments make the skin glow, whilst fading fine lines, dark spots and other blemishes.

With regular use, the product’s formula is also said to correct skin imperfections over time with its Moringa extract and its anti-UVA and UVB properties.

The product is available in two shades: a pale beige and a warmer variant.

Lancôme UV Expert SPF 50 PA++ BB Complete retails at $80 at all major departmental stores. Click here for the full Lancôme store listing.

THE REVIEW: I dislike having too much product on my face, so it’s great to find a BB cream with an ultra-light texture.

And the Lancôme UV Expert SPF 50 PA+++ BB Complete ($80) is almost feather-light: it hardly feels as if I’ve applied any makeup at all. The blemish balm also carries a gently soothing perfumed scent that perks up my mood, whenever I’m applying the cream.

I am also pleasantly surprised by this Lancôme product’s brightening effect. My skin looks radiant, without the unnaturally fair appearance that some blemish balms can create.

At first, I did have my misgivings about this blemish balm, when I was squeezing it out of the tube. The cream appears to be an almost grayish beige, a hue that seems distinctly different from my fair Asian skin tone.

Upon application however, the cream looks just two shades lighter than my skin. It’s easy to apply; just a few light swipes blends the formula evenly onto the skin. The cream expertly hides patchy skin, evens out my complexion whilst lightening dark eye circles.

The Lancôme UV Expert SPF 50 PA+++ BB Complete is also long-lasting: I felt no need to touch-up on my makeup throughout the day.

I appreciate the blemish balm’s high SPF rating too: there’s no harm applying more of this cream to protect your skin from those harmful UVA/ UVB rays. Plus, I get to skip applying extra sunscreen or a concealer with this multi-purpose product.

Does this blemish balm truly improve your complexion over time? Perhaps it would take a longer period of use for the effects to show on my skin. I’ve been using this product for over a month now but I’ve yet to notice any discernible difference.

In the meantime, friends whom I've not seen in ages have commented that my skin looked naturally brighter and fairer than before, “if that was even possible”, one of them had added. I had worn the Lancôme blemish balm that day; so it does make a great primer. I’ll just have to wait and see if it does improve my skin health too.

RATING: 4/5