The whole idea of BB creams appeals to me. Who doesn't want to moisturise, smooth pores, treat wrinkles and protect their skin from the sun all at the same time - all via one little bottle? "Blemish Balms", "Beauty Balms", or whatever you would like to name them, were first created by the German dermatologist Dr Christine Schrammek to protect and heal the delicate skin of her post-operative patients. The trend later hit Korea like a hurricane, because of the camera-ready glow they give to the skin. The rest of the world followed suit, and it was all that we read about from the beauty bloggers for the last year. For those of you who are somewhat blinkered by the beauty industry, either out of ignorance or complete lack of interest, a BB cream brightens the skin in the way that a good-quality primer will, evens out skin tone, covers any dark marks or redness in the way that a concealer does, and acts as a shield from damaging UV rays, all while preforming as an intensive moisturiser. It can be worn alone (giving slightly more coverage than a tinted moisturiser) or as a base to add concealer or powder to, depending on the desired amount of coverage. Oh, and most of them contain the same anti-ageing ingredients that are more commonly found in expensive serums, in case you're interested in cutting your budget in half. Being lighter than foundation but heavier than a standard tinted moisturiser, they seemed like the perfect answer for our beauty routine in a Middle Eastern summer. All was great - we spent time exploring the options. We learnt that the cream of the crop came from Stila, with their Stay All Day 10-in-1 HD Beauty Balm. Those with dry skin that needed extra moisturisation were steered toward L'Oréal Paris Nude Magique. Oily skin, with a predisposition toward blemishes? No problem - the answer was found in Estée Lauder's DayWear Anti-Oxidant Beauty Benefit Creme SPF 35 (because even acne-prone skin needs moisture). Then, along came CC cream, (also known as "Colour Control" cream, or "Colour Correcting" cream) and marketed as a refined version of BB, as such, just to throw a spanner in the works. Besides the PR machine working its way through the alphabet, what do these creams actually do, and how do we decide between them? Well, the difference between BB and CC creams is subtle - CC specifically addresses problem issues such as rosacea, acne and dark spots, and is slightly lighter than BB cream in consistency. And, just when you thought you had it all sewed up, enter DD cream. If you think that I'm stringing you along now, I'm not. And, if experts are to be believed, it's set to be this year's biggest beauty trend. The mind boggles. Named the"Dynamic Do-all" cream, it's said to combine the power and benefits of both BB and CC creams, with a main focus on anti-ageing properties. Julep DD Crème, which has an SPF 25, is made from hibiscus and olive to hydrate, and can be built on layer by layer in accordance to coverage preference. Unfortunately, our skin is somewhat of a disloyal friend as we age, but we have to work with what we have in the best way possible. One thing that I'm certain of when it comes to the art of a youthful appearance? That everything begins and ends with good skin, so despite the unreasonable amount of choice on the current market, it's well worth the experimentation. Follow us Follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thenationalArtsandLife">Facebook</a> for discussions, entertainment, reviews, wellness and news.