Beauty's all in one: The balm that claims to be a moisturiser, sun block, primer AND foundation, but does it work?  

Blemish Balm Cream is among Asia's hottest beauty products right now. Where did it come from and how did it become so popular?

It is said that the formula comes from Germany where dermatologists prescribe it to heal laser skin surgery because it has soothing and skin-regenerating properties. Famous South Korean actresses then began using it for beauty purposes and since Asian dramas are huge all over, a craze was born.

We’re now so beauty savvy that when it comes to creating the perfect canvas, we know exactly how to juggle primers and concealers and what to do with mineral powders and colour correctors.

But just when you thought you had it all sewn up, here comes another product.

Meet the BB cream, hitting the UK this summer and — if experts are to be believed — set to be this year’s biggest beauty trend.

Unless you’re tapped into the Korean cosmetics market or an avid reader of beauty blogs, you’ve probably never heard of BB creams. The initials stand for ‘blemish balm’, which might sound like a euphemism for spot cream, but actually refers to a cosmetic/skincare hybrid.

The BB cream is billed as the answer to all your skincare woes in a single tube.

It brightens skin in the same way a primer does, evens out complexion like a lightweight foundation, covers blemishes like a concealer, has the hydrating properties of a moisturiser, soothes skin like an anti-inflammatory, contains UV protection — so no need for sunblock — and has the sort of anti-ageing ingredients more commonly found in serums.

In short, it’s the Swiss Army knife of the beauty industry.