I am a big fan of Bourjois foundations. They have the same feel as the Chanel foundations and can be considered an affordable alternative. I recently purchased Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream, which has been around for quite a long time. I remember I bought the original Bourjois 123 foundation when it first came out. Everybody liked it and raved about it. But I was not impressed with that. It was a little drying and had that cracked foundation look on my skin. So, I assumed that 123 CC Cream would be a similar experience, but no. Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream is a different story. It is something between Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation and the Healthy Mix Foundation, my two favourite drugstore foundations.
Here is how Bourjois describes the foundation. 123 Perfect CC Cream is an oil-free foundation that erases imperfections in your complexion. It conceals all imperfections thanks to three-colour correcting pigments – apricot that hides fatigue, green that conceals redness, and white that covers dark spots. The lightweight texture glides onto the skin and makes it perfectly smooth. It has an SPF 15 UV screen that protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays. It is suitable for all skin types, including combination skin. Side note: it has only four shades (CC and BB creams usually have only 2 or 4 shades). Shade 31 Ivory is neutral and slightly pink. Shade 32 Light Beige has a yellow undertone. 33 Rose beige and 34 Tan are pretty deep colours.
Well, the foundation does what it says in the description. It blends perfectly and gives you a flawless, luminous complexion. It is lightweight, hydrating, and leaves a semi-matte, radiant finish. Obviously, if you like a dewy skin look, it is not quite the foundation for you. Oh, and it is not the most natural-looking foundation in the world, but it comes pretty close. You can apply it with your fingertips or a buffing brush. You generally don’t need to set it with powder if you have dry or normal skin type. However, if you have combination skin like me, consider using translucent powder on your T-zone.
The product description claims that all skin types can use 123 CC Cream. However, I would say it is more suitable for normal to dry or normal to oily skin types. If your skin is slightly oily or combination-type, you can use it with some translucent powder. But it would be too greasy for people with very oily skin. It is not the right foundation for you if you are looking for a long-lasting formula. Unfortunately, in terms of longevity, it is not very long-wearing.
CC Cream stands for colour-correcting cream. As a type of foundation, it is designed to provide many benefits, such as hydration, colour correction, and sun protection. They are used to improve the look of the skin and make it look healthier. CC creams are usually considered sheer products. However, it is not the case with this foundation, don’t let the CC label mislead you. This product is not sheer at all and has decent coverage. It provides more coverage than my City Radiance Foundation, for example. It is buildable and you can get medium coverage with it. Overall, it’s a good affordable foundation that is worth trying.
