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The 9 Best Drugstore BB Creams Money Can Buy

Though we’ll be the first to admit we’d happily fork over our paychecks for brighter, clearer skin, we also love a beauty steal. Fortunately, drugstore beauty has come a long way in recent years: In fact, some of our all-time favorite products are inexpensive pharmacy buys. Of course, finding the diamonds in the rough can take a bit of trial and error (and errors, when it comes to beauty, aren’t particularly fun). Luckily for you, we’ve done all the hard work: Ahead, you’ll find nine editor-approved, time-tested, and award-winning BB creams, all of which you can find at your local drugstore. Check them out below, and put that hard-earned money to good use — you're welcome!

By Gillian Fuller

August 18, 2017

Photo Illustration: Maria Asare-Boadi/Allure

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

1/9
Maybelline New York Dream Fresh BB Sunscreen SPF 30
This sheer-coverage BB cream won our Best of Beauty award way back in 2012, and continues to be a fan favorite, racking up Readers' Choice Awards in 2015 and 2016. We think it has something to do with the oil-free formula's lightweight, gel-like texture and dewy, natural finish — but the price (just $9!) certainly doesn't hurt, either.
$9, (Ulta.com)
2/9
Olay Total Effects 7 in One CC Tone Correcting Moisturizer With Sunscreen
For busy mornings, this inexpensive buy from Olay is a no-brainer: Formulated with ingredients to minimizes fine lines, blurs pores, and offer serious hydration, it eliminates the need for layering a moisturizer and a primer and a base. The oil-free, sheer-finish formula also offers enough SPF to protect your skin while you're high-tailing it to work.
$24.99, (Ulta.com)

3/9
Garnier SkinActive 5-in-1 Miracle Skin Perfector Oil-Free BB Cream
For acne-prone skin, this multitasking BB cream cannot be beat: The oil-free formula keeps shine and breakouts at bay, while mineral pigments blur pores for a smooth, even-looking finish. The non-comedogenic formula also boasts fruit antioxidants, which fight work over time to even skin tone and brighten the complexion (meaning the more you use it, the less you'll need it).
$12.99, (Ulta.com)
4/9
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Aging Perfector Tinted Moisturizer
This Best of Beauty winner is among our go-to picks when our skin needs a little extra TLC. The lightweight formula (starring retinol) sinks into the skin like a moisturizer but covers imperfections like a sheer foundation. Though it is SPF 20, be sure to layer on a stronger sunscreen if you plan on being outside for more than a few minutes, as retinol can make you more susceptible to sunburns.
$11.99 (Target.com)

5/9
Physicians Formula #Instaready Super BB Cream SPF 30
We love the idea of matte-finish formulas, but too often, they end up feeling uncomfortably heavy and cake-y. Not so with this ultra-lightweight BB cream, which boasts tiny micro-spheres to blur pores, smooth fine lines and keep oil at bay. The result is a natural-looking, velvety finish — like an Instagram filter in real-life (hence the name).
$14.99 (ulta.com)
6/9
Revlon Photoready BB Cream SPF 30
This rich, hydrating BB cream feels more like a high-end skin cream than a drugstore base. The coverage, too, is impressive: Not only does it conceal minor imperfections and even the skin tone, but it renders pores nearly invisible. Our only complaint? It only comes in three shades — none of which are suitable for those with darker skin.
$6.50 (Target.com)

7/9
Rimmel London Radiance 9-in-One BB Cream
When we want to look extra dewy, this is the formula we choose. Not only does it provide a good deal of coverage (really, it's more like a medium-coverage foundation than a BB cream), but the rich, shea butter-infused formula features light-reflecting mica for that lit-from-within, "I swear it's just water!" kind of glow. In other words, it makes your skin look damn good for less than $10.
$6.99 (ulta.com)
8/9
Covergirl Vitalist Healthy Elixir Foundation
Part foundation, part skin-perfecting serum (OK, it doesn't say BB, but it's BB in concept, if that make sense), this drugstore buy is one of the best of the bunch (at least, where complexion benefits are concerned). Though the coverage is fairly sheer, it's buildable; and the lightweight, antioxidant-infused formula works overtime to improve skin tone and texture with every wear. Bonus points for the shade range, which includes shades for light, medium, and deep skin tones.
$9.99 (Target.com)

9/9
Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream
Sometimes, your body needs a little extra TLC too — that's where this four-time Best of Beauty winner comes in. In addition to hydrating dry skin like a regular body lotion, the tinted, shade-matching formula blurs minor imperfections (think: varicose veins or bacne) all while imparting the skin with a subtle, luminous glow.
$11.99 (Ulta.com)