Alert! BB Cream at...Costco?!!

Imagine my surprise when I was perusing my local Costco this afternoon, (primarily trolling for samples, in all honesty,) and I spotted a display of Hydroxacone BB Creams. The display was nearly empty, so I decided to take the plunge and purchase it without knowing much about this particular iteration, especially as my mom was interested as well, and since it comes with two full-size products for the price of one (which was under $48). I decided to pick it up, do some research when I got home, and decide if it was worth keeping. There actually isn't a wealth of information about this product out there other than from the brand themselves, so I don't know much other than the claims espoused by the company. They claim it contains ingredients that support the natural renewal process of skin, such as:

• Vitamin C: Support optimal skin health by promoting the skin’s own regenerative properties help stimulate collagen used during the skin’s own regenerative process
• PhytoCellTec: Formulated with an ingredient that help skin stem cells maintain their natural renewal capacity
• PhytoCellTec & EMortal: Formulated with ingredients that increase the vitality of the skins’ stem cells.
• SPF 40: SPF 40 Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB protects the skin from the elements including harmful UV rays and oxidative stress

Certainly sounds interesting! From what I can tell, this is a primarily skincare focused US brand, and they at least get brownie points from me for trying to incorporate a lot of active ingredients in the fashion of a traditional Asian BB cream, which differentiates their version from many of the US ones I have seen.

However, I do have a bit of a dispute with the way this is being marketed at Costco...it clearly states in multiple spots on the Costco packaging that this is a Universal shade product, that will work for all skin tones and skin types. I was already a little wary of the product when I saw this claim, as most shades that are allegedly "universal" tend to turn a fetching shade of Oompa Loompa orange on me. But I became even more suspicious when I did my research on the product and discovered that it actually comes in three shade options (light, medium, and dark) when sold at any other retailer, as well as on their own website, on which it doesn't make any sort of universal claim. So it is my conclusion that this is most likely a medium shade which they are just repackaging as a universal shade in the hopes that the casual consumer doesn't catch on. It really bothers me when companies insult our intelligence like that, yet I am still very intrigued by this product. I am still not sure if I will be keeping this and giving it a try; Costco does have a good return policy though, so I suppose I can test the shade out, and if it is an atrocious match return it. We shall see.

Anyways, just wanted to hop on here and share this find in case anyone else is interested in checking out their Costcos. If nothing else, Costco stocking this product demonstrates just how prevalent BB Creams have become in the Western market; I remember even a few months ago when mentioning the idea to someone not immersed in the latest and greatest in beauty's offerings and they would have no clue what you were talking about. And now they are everywhere, including Costco!