The perks are endless with this Stila stay all day 10 in 1 HD Bronzing Beauty Balm. Wear it on its own or as part of your makeup look. It is not shimmery, or glittery or anything over the top but it gives the skin a great glow. The medium coverage this product provides is suitable most days, but on the odd day I add to it for extra coverage. I have noticed some reduced inflammation as well as my blemishes that become less noticeable once this beauty balm has been applied.

Sun protection is always important for me, so the SPF 30 is another bonus plus it is water resistant, perfect to apply just this BB cream before heading down for a day at the beach. I really like that it is moisturising too. For some this product may be a little pricey, but I can assure you it does deliver!

This BB cream is quite thick, and I find it doesn't smooth well without a primer or moisturiser. The coverage is less than average, you might need to use it as a primer under your foundation if you are looking for more coverage. I like the minimal coverage for summer though.

It gives skin a tanned glow, which I quite like, although when it is really hot I felt my face looked oily, but that may have just been the insane weather we had. Some bronzing powder does the trick though. I sometimes feel it makes me look to summery and tanny and holidayish for work.(Does that even make sense?)

The best part of this by far is it is waterproof and has an SPF of 30, so it is perfect for the summer holidays! I used it everyday while away this past holiday. It has a strange scent, sort of like sunblock, sort of not, I can't quite put my finger on it.

And it really is waterproof, you can feel it when you remove it at the end of the day. And it really does stay all day.

he Stila website lists the following benefits:

"Contains innovative micro spheres, which have been shown to hide skin imperfections and reduce wrinkle depth by up to 84%
Infused with natural, skin-protecting emollients which have been shown to increase antioxidant activity by up to 89.7%
Enriched with a proprietary blend, which has been shown to reduce skin inflammation, improve texture, stimulate collagen production and reduce the appearance of wrinkles by up to 67%
Broad-spectrum spf 30 protects the skin
Hydrates and nourishes the skin
Helps reduce pore size and provide oil and blemish control
Features an exclusive complex, which helps reduce redness and skin irritation
Uses the smallest particle size of coated pigments for seamless, smooth coverage
Bronzes and primes the skin for a sun-kissed glow
Oil-free, paraben-free, dermatologist tested and ideal for all skin types"

I love this beauty balm! It is the perfect match for my fair skin tone. What I love about the Illuminating Beauty Balm is that while it gives you a dewy glow it doesn't make you shimmer or sparkle, so it can be used on its own if you want a makeup free day or you’re just too rushed. I have tried it with and without moisturiser underneath, and I found it quite moisturising, so unless your skin is on the dry side you don’t really need to add moisturiser. It also didn't make my skin oily. It has great staying power too. In my opinion this beauty balm ticks the boxes when it comes to doing what a BB cream should do.

What can I say? This is fabulosity in a bottle? I've been hearing and reading a lot about the hype that is the BB cream, and after doing some of my own research on what's the best on the market (internationally and locally available) I decided to give this one a try, and I will not look back! It's a bit pricey (between ZAR380 and ZAR400), but it lasts a really long time because you don't lather it on, but spread a small amount evenly. It gives great coverage (so I don't need to use foundation with it - but you can if you want to), and it's very light and smells very fresh! It gives my skin a great boost - from looking pale and run-down I look bright eyed and ready to take on the day which is awesome considering I've been under a lot of stress recently. It lasts all day, and the long term benefit supposedly include diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reducing redness and reducing pore size! Who wouldn't want all of that wrapped up in a pretty silver tube that looks good on your makeup stand too :)