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Missha BB Cream Swatches

ByCordelia

Missha BB Cream Swatches and Review

Hello, beautiful people! Today I’m sharing my updated Missha BB Cream Swatches and thoughts with you. I love lightweight BB creams with adjustable coverage and flexible shade formulas. Missha is a Korean beauty brand that launched in 2000, and past global ambassadors include Elizabeth Olsen.

This post contains a mix of products I’ve purchased and PR samples. This post contains affiliate links, and I earn a small commission if you shop through them, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for shopping through my links!

Where to Buy
Missha US, Amazon, YesStyle

Price
$7-$18 depending on where you buy it

Update: 28 July 2026 – I’ve refreshed this post with new information, and new Missha BB Cream swatches are on the way. Since my original photos, Missha launched the M Perfect Cover Serum BB Cream, so my new No. 21 is the Serum formula (SPF 50+ PA++++) rather than the classic version swatched below. I’ve also tracked down shade 17 in Missha’s newer BB Cream Pro line and ordered it, so Pro 17 swatches are coming to this post too.

The Quick Answer

Missha’s fair BB cream shades decode like this: 13 is very fair neutral leaning pink, 17 is very fair neutral leaning yellow, and 21 runs one to two shades deeper with a muted olive beige undertone. On my very fair neutral cool muted yellow olive skin tone, 17 matched best for depth while 21 nailed my undertone but ran deep. Below, my Missha BB Cream swatches sit next to 18 other complexion products, so you can find your match.

A Note on Cruelty-Free Status

Before we go further, I want to be transparent: Missha is not certified cruelty-free and sells in mainland China, so the brand does not meet my personal cruelty-free standard. I keep this post updated as a shade reference, because Missha’s fair shades are a benchmark that so many of you already own and ask about. My own money goes to the cruelty-free alternatives I compare them against below, and if you’re looking for a cruelty-free swap for your Missha shade, this post will help you find it.

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What I’m Looking For in a Complexion Perfection Product

What do I want in a complexion perfection product? Above all, I want my complexion product to be a flawless shade match. Additionally, it needs to be longwearing for at least 12 hours on primer. I love light to medium coverage that blurs imperfections, so I rarely need or want full coverage. Foundation sticks are my preferred formula because of their customizable coverage, ease of use, and portability. I love a glowy finish, so anywhere from radiant to skinlike is what I’m looking for. See more foundation features.

About My Skin and Skin Tone

My skin tone is a very fair neutral cool muted yellow olive, and when I’m exposed to sun I turn olive. I have dry skin and my main concerns are blurring fine lines and hyperpigmentation, as well as evening out my skin tone.

About Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 PA+++

BB Creams are the OGs of skincare-makeup hybrids. Missha BB Cream touts to brighten, even, soothe, and cover skin imperfections. It’s medium to high coverage, and has a lightweight formula.

Migraine sufferers beware; it does have a light fragrance. While it doesn’t trigger migraines for me, it might for others.

Shade Range

Dave with Cordelia and Carlye in kitsch outfits
Cordelia, Dave, & magical bestie Carlye at the kitsch photoshoot, all 3 of us are wearing Missha #13

First, let’s address the shade range up front: these BB creams only go from very fair to light-medium or medium at best. That said, I’ve found their foundation shades to be very flexible.

I took Shade 13 with me to Las Vegas for my honeymoon. I used Shade 13 on myself, Dave, and Carlye in the photoshoot above. Even though I consider Shade 13 to be slightly too pink-toned for my taste, it works quite well on me. Dave has a pink undertone to his skin and it was seamless for him. Carlye is quite cool toned and it worked perfectly for her as well.

Wear SPF

I put Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV SPF 50+ PA++++, aka my daily spf product, on every single day before wearing makeup. I do not rely on any makeup product that has SPF to fully protect my face, because I apply my foundation sparingly and may not apply enough of it to reach the recommended SPF dose to protect my skin.

How to Wear

I prefer to use one of my favorite primers with any makeup. However, I’ve found that Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV SPF 50+ PA++++ makes a decent primer with my skin. My favorite primers are:

Swatches

Missha BB Cream Swatches on fair skin
Missha BB Cream Swatches on pale skin
Missha BB Cream Swatches on Light skin

Here are my Missha BB Cream swatches of the three shades from my original photos.

  • BB Cream in 13
  • BB Cream in 17
  • BB Cream in 21

Missha BB Cream in 21 looks like it’s one shade darker than my very fair neutral cool skin with muted yellow olive undertones. It blends into my skin beautifully.

Meanwhile, Missha BB Cream in 17 appears to be a very fair neutral leaning yellow, while the BB Cream in 13 is a very fair neutral leaning pink.

In my opinion, Missha BB Cream in 17 matches me best in terms of depth and saturation while BB Cream in 21 matches my undertones perfectly but is a shade or two too deep for me.

Comparison Swatches

Very Fair Foundation swatches on very fair skin
Pale foundation swatches on pale skin
Missha BB Creams Comparison Swatches on light skin
Indirect Natural Light indoors and direct sunlight outdoors

These comparison photos put my Missha BB Cream swatches next to 18 other fair complexion products.

Products Featured:

* denotes PR samples

Products That Aren’t a Great Match

It Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow SPF 40 Foundation in Fair Ivory, e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter in 1 Fair, Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer SPF 25 in Fair (Neutral Fair), and Idun Minerals Moisturizing Mineral Skin Tint SPF 30 in Gamla Stan Light are not good shade matches for me. They run dark and peachy orange.

Of these, the Idun Minerals Moisturizing Mineral Skin Tint SPF 30 in Gamla Stan Light has a fantastic formula, I just don’t know what happened to the shade range! In Idun Minerals foundations I wear Jorunn and it looks amazing on me. It’s just more full coverage than I want to wear.

In contrast, e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter in 1 Fair disappointed me because I desperately wanted it to work! I love the doe foot applicator.

Similarly, Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer SPF 25 in Fair disappointed me with how orange it is. Shade .1 in their hydra foundation looks great on me so I don’t know what happened with this. I wish it had more muted undertones instead of being so orange.

Packaging I Hate

The award for the most frustrating packaging is the Surratt Dew Drop Foundation in 1 Very Fair. You need to press down on the top of the foundation lid on the sides while pressing the bottom to get it to dispense. While I love the color and finish, I despise the packaging so much. I regret not trying their stick foundation instead.

Great Complexion Perfection Products

Missha BB Creams are awesome. I still can’t get over the flexibility of shade 13 and how wonderful it was for the photoshoot we did. I picked up shade 21 on sale from YesStyle and I’m very glad I did. While it is a shade or two darker than my skin tone, if I use it around the perimeter of my face it helps to give me depth and dimension that I sometimes find lacking in my finished looks.

Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder in Shade 1 is such a great product, I just wish it was in a stick! I don’t like having to stick my fingers in the jar, but that’s the way I find it applies and looks best. The blurring properties and slight coverage are great for everyday effortless makeup in my opinion.

Salt New York Sneaky Balm Hydrating Skin Tint in N13 is another great product like the Danessa Blurring Balm. And like it, I think it would be better in a refillable foundation stick package instead of the zip up magnetic 4 pan palette that I have for it. In the 4 pan, even my small foundation brush feels too big. I love the muted undertones of this one and think it looks great for effortless makeup too.

Under Eye Brightener vs. Concealer

Rare Beauty Positive Light Under Eye Brightener in Light Neutral is a product that I’ve been waiting for someone to make for a very long time. I have darkness under my eyes and a bit of hyperpigmentation that I find annoying. Under my eyes is the only place that I ever feel like I need full coverage on my face, and with my fine lines, it doesn’t look flattering. The Positive Light Under Eye Brightener is lightweight and light reflecting, so I get the look I want of blurring and brightening without heavy coverage.

How I Wear Missha Now

My favorite Missha technique is using shade 21 around the perimeter of my face for depth and dimension, with a lighter, better-matched product like my Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Foundation in 2.5 Olive at the center of my face, plus Rare Beauty Positive Light Under Eye Brightener in Light. It’s my version of the classic K-beauty two-shade trick, and it gives an effortless, dimensional finish.

Missha BB Cream FAQ

Is Missha cruelty-free?

No. Missha is not certified cruelty-free and sells in mainland China, so they don’t meet my personal cruelty-free standard. I keep this post updated as a shade reference because Missha’s fair shades are a benchmark so many people own, but my own purchases go to the cruelty-free alternatives in the comparisons above.

Which Missha BB Cream shade should fair skin buy?

If you’re very fair and lean pink, try 13. If you’re very fair and lean yellow, 17 is the unicorn shade. If you’re fair-light olive or want a perimeter shade for dimension, 21 is your pick. My Missha BB Cream swatches above show all three side by side.

Was Missha shade 17 discontinued?

The classic M Perfect Cover in 17 effectively disappeared from most retailers, which was a real loss because it was the rare very fair yellow shade. However, shade 17 lives on in Missha’s newer BB Cream Pro line, which comes in 8 shades including #17 Fair. I’ve ordered it from YesStyle and Pro 17 swatches are coming to this post.

What’s the difference between the Missha BB Cream formulas?

There are now four generations. The classic M Perfect Cover is SPF 42 PA+++. Next, the RX version is a slight reformulation with a very limited shade range. Meanwhile, the Serum version bumps sun protection to SPF 50+ PA++++ and adds niacinamide and hyaluronic acid in a perfume-free base; note the niacinamide if your skin is sensitive to it. Finally, the newest Pro line is SPF 42 PA+++ with hyaluronic acid and ceramides, and it’s where shade 17 survives.

Final Thoughts

Missha’s fair BB cream shades remain a benchmark for very fair skin. The flexibility of these formulas is real, the perimeter trick with shade 21 still earns its place in my routine, and I’m genuinely curious whether the new Serum and Pro formulas match the classic shades I swatched. Watch this space for new Missha BB Cream swatches of the Serum and Pro formulas.

Have you tried Missha BB Creams? What shade do you wear, and have you found a cruelty-free dupe for it? Let me know in the comments!

Affiliate Links You May Want to Check Out

  • ULTA – Ulta is my most shopped mainstream store
  • ETSY – I buy lots of unique and custom gifts from Etsy, as well as bespoke clothing
  • AROMALEIGH – code CORDELIA for 15% off, lots of gorgeous eye and cheek products
  • AXIOLOGY – code CORDELIA for 20% off (they now have a Clinique Black Honey Dupe!)
  • A GIRL’S GOTTA SPA! – The body lotion is amazing!
  • AMAZON – I shop directly from brands on Amazon and often find things I can’t find locally in store
  • SEPHORA – I only shop for brands I can’t find elsewhere, such as Rare Beauty
  • YESSTYLE – Where I find a lot of Missha and Canmake
  • MISSHA US – Another place to find Missha

More to See

 

Cordelia Frost is a leading expert in cruelty-free indie beauty, gothic fashion, and bold alternative makeup for pale and very fair skin. For nearly two decades, she’s shared her in-depth knowledge on Phyrra.net, helping people find the best products and techniques for hooded and deep-set eyes, unique complexions, and creative style.

Cordelia is the author of the acclaimed “Hooded Eyes Makeup Manual,” and she has been featured on TV, at major beauty industry events, and in partnerships with brands like Idun Minerals, Urban Decay, Too Faced, and Nyx Cosmetics.

If you’re seeking trusted advice on cruelty-free beauty, alternative fashion and lifestyle, or how to make your own style rules, Cordelia’s guidance is the gold standard in the indie beauty world.

12 Comments

  3. I thank you for such a thoughtful review! My skin is on the fair side with pink undertones so it’s tricky to find a match that doesn’t make my face look different from my neck. And your swatches are perfection!!

    Reply

  4. cordelia, you are still cordelia despite the circumstances you’re going through. other than a double a masstectomy, have you ever hear of a lumpectomy if you decided to keep your chest the way?

    Reply

    1. I’ve had cysts cut our previously. I want to lower my lifetime risk of breast cancer. With my family history, I feel my best chances are the double mastectomy.

      Reply

  5. Love hearing your thoughts, comments whenever you feel up to it. Thinking of you and yours often and sending love and all the good vibes in the world to you!

    Reply

  6. Loved the updates on what you’re currently wearing. I’ve been favoring a five-minute face these days, so your recommendations are just in time!

    Reply

    1. That’s definitely a 5 minute face, super quick and non fussy! The part that takes the longest for me is the lips and that’s because I like a bold lip. Happy you enjoy it!

      Reply

  7. I don’t think you ever have to feel bad about updating after an absence. We’re all just happy to read your updates when you can! I’ve heard about this product before, and I’ll keep my eye out for it when I look for new complexion products (as a lazy, colorful makeup user, I only use complexion products less than half the time I play with other things).

    Reply

    1. I love the Missha BB Creams for lazy day complexion with bright and colorful makeup! I have been so down that I haven’t felt like putting on bright and colorful eyeshadow, only bright lips.

      Reply

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