BB Glow: The Secret to Give Your Clients an Incredible, Radiant, Beautiful Skin

What is the BB Glow?

If you’ve ever loved getting a BB Cream foundation glow but wished you could have one on a more permanent basis, well what a time to be alive because the technology finally exists!

A BB Glow Facial is like microblading but instead of focusing on brows, the main focus is the facial skin. To get that glow, the treatment uses microneedling, a technique usually used just for skincare. A pigment is used with the microneedling and works as a semi-permanent skincare treatment and doubles as a BB Cream in how it minimizes the look of pigmentation, fine lines, redness and large pores. The BB Glow is like your primer and tinted moisturizer all-in-one but can last for up to a year.

What to Know About That Glow

Microneedling is a process that uses a small wheel that looks like a mini paint roller covered in tiny microneedles to roll across the face delivering skincare deep within the skin. It might make you wonder why anyone would want to do this in the first place, but celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Aniston are known to be fans.

As the needles create itty-bitty punctures in the skin called micro-tears, your skin doubles up on its collagen and elastin production as it works to heal itself from the micro-tears. After a day or two, your new skin should be ready to come out and play!

The difference between a microneedling roller and the BB Glow treatment roller is that the BB roller uses thicker needles to hold in ink and penetrate it deeper into the skin. Regular microneeding gets rolled over skincare serums while the BB Glow facial uses a cosmetic-grade pigment containing vitamins C and B3 to enliven and brighten skin while adding coverage. The dye itself is comprised of thousands of microscopic spheres of cosmetic-grade pigment whose particles are a lot smaller than regular tattoo ink. Unlike a lot of old-school permanent makeup ink, micro-pigment keeps its shade as it fades over time.

The number of passes applied will be the difference between having light or medium coverage. No matter how light you go, you will immediately begin to reduce the look of pigmentation, skin discoloration, scarring, rosacea, age spots and undereye circles. Currently, semi-permanent BB Glow pigments are only limited to three shades in light, medium and tan so darker skin tones will need to wait until the shades can be more inclusive.

How Much Does a BB Glow Treatment Cost

Depending on where you have the treatment done, the facialist you work with and the packages they offer, a BB Glow treatment can start at $600 for two sessions and go well into the thousands. With a BB Glow treatment, you get what you pay for, so it’s always recommended to only work with a highly-trained artist who has valid accreditation from a reputable school. Because the BB Glow is still a relatively new treatment, be aware of the necessary precautions.

Will You Like the BB Glow Facial?

It’s always recommended to do a patch test for all permanent makeup and to avoid it if your skin is prone to keloids—thick, raised scarring. Those with skin disorders like psoriasis or eczema should wait until their skin is in shape to have any permanent makeup done. Also, just like microblading pigment, a semi-permanent BB Glow isn’t regulated by the FDA so use your best judgment. Allergic reactions to the process are rare but when you get the patch test, place it behind the ear just in case of any redness or irritation. During your patch test, you can also start the shade matching process and dive right in when it’s time for your first treatment.

When you begin a BB Glow facial, your skin is prepped and readied to receive the pigment with a deep cleansing and exfoliation routine. Then, you will receive a numbing treatment that will sit for an hour or so to minimalize any possible pain while having the pigment implanted. Most people have compared the process to a mild inconvenience.

How the BB Glow is Applied

Your practitioner will layer the entire face with an even application of the tint—even your eyelids. Then, they will take out the microneedling tool and go over the entirety of the face in an even veil to give the skin full-spectrum coverage. It takes about two or three sessions to get the full effect depending on how much correction and coverage are needed but the difference can be noticeable immediately.

After the color application, a hyaluronic mask will be used to seal in the pigment with hydrating and nourishing moisture. Now, you’ll be ready to take a look at a version yourself that looks just like you but with a more even skin tone and a lack of redness or pigmentation.

For 24 hours after your treatment, you have to avoid getting the skin wet in any way, so make sure that there is no need to wear makeup or work out after—you now have an excuse! Just go home and have a literal Netflix and chill time to keep you relaxing indoors and out of the sun while your skin heals. The need to stay out of the sun shouldn’t take more than a couple of days but always keep your sun care and hats with you before you leave the house.

Living That Glow Life

After the top layer of skin heals, you will notice a more radiant-looking complexion and a subtle lightened effect. Skin will look and feel softer and more hydrated. A BB Glow treatment helps to reduce melanin production, so it can help to prevent future pigmentation too!

You might have to freshen the treatment every three months to once a year depending on how your skin works with the pigment and what kind of coverage you’re looking for but be careful because it’s easy to become addicted to waking up to flawless-looking, glowing skin every morning!