I had a list of BB creams to get in Hong Kong because there were a number of interesting products that can't be obtained locally. Instead, I only returned with one. I felt quite proud that I could exercise some restraint!
BRTC stands for Bio Remedies Therapeutic Cosmetics and it sounds like quite a scientific name. I have read quite a few good things about the Jasmine Water BB Cream and saw somewhere that BRTC products were available in Watson's. However, I think they have pulled out from our local market because I can't find them anywhere.
Product Description:
Jasmine Water BB Cream is a triple function cover cream. It provides good moisture, promotes skin elasticity and acts as an excellent coverage for skin imperfections for a radiant, fairer and natural complexion. This product has a beautiful and natural scent of jasmine.
Mine comes in a purple tube, although it has apparently been repackaged to a blue and white tube. There is 35g worth of product, which is a little more than other BB creams that usually contain around 30g.
My Thoughts:
What I like about Jasmine Water BB Cream is its creamy texture that's not too thick and is easy to spread. I know some people have trouble with blending it using their fingers but I've been using a Beauty Blender sponge to tap and bounce the product all over my face and did not face any issues.
It is in a light beige shade with slight peach and pink undertones. I generally find such shades to be a better match on my skin as opposed to the ones with yellow undertones. It does not feel heavy and offers a light to medium coverage. It does help cover some redness on my face and a few minor imperfections.
* freshly applied, no other makeup or powder *
What I like about this BB cream is that it helps provide a certain radiance to my skin. Although the redness on my cheeks are not fully covered, it definitely helps tone them down and I don't look so pink. I have combination skin with an oily t-zone and dehydrated cheeks, and the Jasmine Water BB Cream seems to balance out most of my skin problems. I'd like to stress that I've been using a damp sponge to apply because I find that it may get a little streaky when using fingers.
* after 12 hours... a full day at the office and after dinner *
Oil-control is pretty good and I only had to blot once throughout the day. I noticed that the area under my eyes were a little bit drier due to air-conditioning so I freshened up by lightly spritzing Clinique's Moisture Surge Face Spray. By the way, I love this face mist... it's really nice and I need to get the full sized bottle soon. The BB cream offers SPF30 sun protection but I hardly rely on the SPF in base products and still use a sunscreen below.
Overall, I am satisfied with the Jasmine Water BB Cream and it is now one of the better BB creams in my collection. In fact, I now prefer this over Vichy's. Although it is perfumed, the faint floral scent does not bother me. It reminds me of several Paul & Joe products, which have similar scents. I have used BRTC's BB cream four times and have not suffered any breakouts or skin problems so far.
Pros:
• Light to medium coverage, good for those who do not want heavy makeup.
• Decent oil-control.
• Does not feel too oily or too dry.
• Offers SPF protection.
• Feels quite lightweight.
Cons:
• May not be available locally.
• Comes in one shade only.
Availability:
I purchased the BRTC Jasmine Water BB Cream from Sasa in Hong Kong for HK$160 (approximately RM63 after conversion). I believe you can order from their online website too.
