Korean TV soaps have a big following in Singapore and now the weepies are giving fans an extra glow - thanks to a skin cream popularised by its dewy-skinned stars.

Blemish balm creams, known as BB creams, are the latest craze in Japan, Taiwan and now Singapore for those wanting flawless faces.

The beauty of the dream creams, endorsed by Korean TV actresses and celebrities such as pop star Rain, is that they are said to combine several uses in one.

They not only cover blemishes but also act as a moisturiser, sunscreen, make-up base and foundation. Despite doing all that, they have a light and dewy finish.

But wait, there is more. Prolonged use of these creams is said to help improve overall skin texture, increase radiance and even out skin tone.

This wonder cream, which used to be available from only online beauty stores, hit the shelves here a few years ago but gained popularity only last year.

Most BB cream brands come from South Korea and popular ones include Bio Remedies Therapeutic Cosmetic (BRTC), Skin 79 and Dr Jart.

Men do not miss out either - there is a BB cream for guys by South Korean brand VOV Homme.

Major chains and stores here that stock BB creams include Stardust by John Little, Watsons and Sasa as well as The Face Shop and Skin Food.

The creams are priced from $30 to $60, and sales are on a roll.

Skin Food's marketing executive Constance Goh says sales for Aloe Sun BB Cream have jumped threefold within the past few years, with an average of 160 to 175 tubes sold per month. The tubes cost $38 for 50g.

Despite their Korean associations, BB creams were developed in Germany and used as skin soothers on patients who had undergone laser skin treatment.

The cream caught on in South Korea in 2007 after remarks by celebrities there fired up interest, according to the Joong Ang Daily newspaper.

Its arrival was timely, coming amid the craze for flawless 'ssaengeol' or nude-look faces pioneered by Korean actresses such as Han Ga In.

Singapore beauty blogger Sesame Chew, who is in her 40s, was so intrigued by the hype that she attended a DIY skincare workshop conducted by a Korean beautician here last year to learn how to make her own BB cream.

She says: 'What attracted me was the healing properties touted and it sounded really innovative.'

Fans say that it does everything from moisturising the skin to fading scars.

Undergraduate Nelly Sulaiman, 22, who has been using BB cream for five months, says: 'My acne scars have diminished and I take only about five minutes to do my make-up now because the cream doubles as a foundation and sunscreen.'

However, some users are not so enthused.

Shirleen Ho, 40, a project manager who has been using the cream for half a year, says the cream makes her look fairer but does not erase her blemishes.

'The benefits are either psychological or very mild,' she says.

Other gripes include skin break-outs and the limited shades available - making users look pasty or ashy.

Make-up artiste Andy Lee, 46, advises users to choose the correct formula according to skin type.

'If someone has oily skin and uses a rich formulation, it might lead to break-outs, likewise for those with dry skin who use alcohol-based formulas.'

He adds that the cream acts more like a tinted moisturiser.

'It will not conceal pigmentation or blemishes. These need foundation with more coverage.'

Another make-up artiste, Larry Yeo, 41, who is trained in biotechnology, says the concentration of whitening agents in BB creams are usually too low to make skin fairer.

For better protection and complexion, he recommends sunscreen instead.

Dream cream or something to gloss over? Whatever your verdict, Urban lists some brands of BB creams to check out.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.