BB cream

I'll admit it: I leave my SPF up to my foundation, which isn't always the best thing unless you're using 3Lab Perfect BB Cream SPF 40 PA+++ ($95). This tube is a skin-perfecting wonder that's packed with broad-spectrum sun protection and a myriad of ingredients for serious skin care benefits. Apple stem cells help to heal skin and prevent signs of aging, while other ingredients fight dark spots and help stimulate collagen. There is also a range of tints available to give you a moderate amount of coverage for a flawless complexion. Plus, there is no telltale smell of sunscreen, which makes using a higher SPF every morning so much easier to do.

BB cream is the multitasker of the makeup world. And we're pretty sure you'll fall in love with it all over again with Allure's three new ways to wear it.

By now, I bet you know all about BB creams. (If not, here's a refresher course: They're supercharged tinted moisturizers, usually with anti-aging ingredients and SPF, and they've become a beauty bag staple for women on the go.) But instead of just slathering it all over your face, try some of our favorite new ways to wear a BB cream. Learn the tricks when you read on.

Over the last year or so, beauty balms have flooded the US market, but some women with medium and dark skin tones have found it difficult to find their perfect shade. "I said if I can't find one to match me then there’s a problem because I’m really in the middle. But I couldn't [find one]," Iman, founder and CEO of Iman Cosmetics, told WWD.

In response, the beauty brand is releasing its Skin Tone Evener BB Crème SPF 15, which caters to women of color. Iman set out to fill this need in the BB cream market and added skin care ingredients specific to darker complexions. "The biggest problem women with skin of color have is hyperpigmentation, blotches of different colors on their face," Iman said. "This is a skin treatment. It is not just topical." The formula contains skin brighteners like vitamin C and licorice root and moisturizing agents like coconut and almond oils. The line will reach stores in December and retail for $20.

The BB cream craze has recently migrated from Asia to the Americas with big-time brands getting in on the action. Unfortunately, many of these lines cater mostly to fair to medium skin tones, but finally there is an option for darker-skinned women: Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream ($39), which comes in five different shades. Used alone, this lightweight cream acts like a tinted moisturizer to even out your skin tone and add protection from UVA and UVB rays with SPF 35. And if the darkest formula is still too light for your complexion, you can use it under your foundation as a primer and oil suppressant. The finish is matte, but you get a dewy glow that signifies healthy skin. And as an added bonus, this product contains peptides with antiaging properties. A few weeks of this, and you'll be prepared for your close-up — more like Instagram than paparazzi, that is.

BB creams have been all the rage in countries like Korea and Japan, and recently there's been an increasing popularity in the multitasking makeup in the States. A cross between foundation and skin care, BB creams offer plenty of coverage without looking overly heavy, chalky, or cakey. What's not to love?

For an excellent option, try Dr.Ci:Labo's BB Perfect Cream ($48). The brightening foundation glides on smoothly, and you don't even need to wear a serum, moisturizer, or primer under it. This BB cream is also powerful enough that you probably won't even have to use a concealer in conjunction with it. The only drawback is that the shade selections are limited, especially for darker skin tones. You'll also have to be sure to wear an SPF, as well, to shield your skin from the sun. But for natural-looking makeup that instantly perfects the skin, you can't go wrong with this one.