I’ve spent countless hours exploring different types of foundations, tinted moisturizers, and complexion products. Yet, when I’m aiming for a light, natural coverage that feels barely-there but still evens out my skin tone, I turn to CC (color-correcting) and BB (beauty balm) creams. These multi-functional products are the perfect combination of skincare and makeup, offering lightweight coverage that feels fresh while still providing skincare benefits like hydration, SPF protection, and anti-aging ingredients.
If you’re looking to enhance your skin’s natural glow without feeling weighed down by heavy foundation, CC and BB creams are ideal for everyday wear. This article will dive into my top recommendations for these creams, offering insights based on personal experiences, honest reviews, and why each product shines in its own right.
What’s the Difference Between CC and BB Creams?
Before jumping into specific products, it’s important to understand the key differences between CC and BB creams.
- BB Creams: Beauty Balms, or BB creams, are designed to offer sheer to medium coverage while focusing on skincare benefits. They often include hydrating ingredients, SPF, and antioxidants. BB creams provide a more natural, dewy finish, making them great for dry or normal skin types.
- CC Creams: Color Correcting, or CC creams, offer slightly more coverage than BB creams and are particularly designed to address issues like redness, dullness, or uneven skin tone. They typically have a lighter texture than foundation but provide a semi-matte finish, making them a great option for those with oily or combination skin.
Both BB and CC creams work beautifully when you want that “no-makeup” makeup look.
1. IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream
This award-winning CC cream is a cult favorite for good reason. IT Cosmetics’ Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream is a game-changer for those seeking natural-looking coverage while also wanting to treat their skin with anti-aging ingredients. What makes this product stand out is its ability to provide full coverage without feeling heavy on the skin.
- Why I Love It: It gives me a flawless finish without looking cakey. The coverage is more intense than your average CC cream, but it still maintains a natural look. It also contains SPF 50, which makes it a perfect all-in-one product for daytime wear.
- Skin Types: Works best for normal to combination skin but is suitable for dry skin when used with a hydrating primer.
- Key Ingredients: Infused with collagen, peptides, and hyaluronic acid, it provides hydration and helps improve skin texture over time.
- My Experience: When I first used this cream, I was impressed by how it effectively covered redness and minor imperfections while feeling lightweight. It lasted all day without needing touch-ups, and my skin still looked dewy by the evening.
- Price: $44 for 32ml, but it’s worth every penny for the coverage and skincare benefits.
2. Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream
Missha’s M Perfect Cover BB Cream has been a staple in my makeup bag for years, especially when I want a more radiant finish. Originally developed in South Korea, this BB cream offers medium coverage with a dewy glow, making it a favorite among those who prefer a luminous complexion.
- Why I Love It: The texture is smooth and easy to blend, leaving a gorgeous, glowing finish on the skin. It’s perfect for days when I want to look fresh and youthful without too much makeup.
- Skin Types: Ideal for normal to dry skin due to its hydrating properties. Those with oily skin may want to set it with a powder.
- Key Ingredients: Contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides for hydration, as well as botanical extracts to soothe the skin.
- My Experience: The Missha BB cream provides a natural, skin-like finish that doesn’t cling to dry patches or accentuate fine lines. The shade range is limited, but if you find your match, it’s a fantastic option for light coverage with a radiant glow.
- Price: Around $12-15 for 50ml, making it an affordable yet effective choice.
3. Erborian CC Crème
Erborian’s CC Crème is one of my top picks for those days when I need quick, no-fuss makeup that still leaves my skin looking radiant. This French-Korean hybrid product adjusts to your skin tone, providing a luminous finish with sheer coverage that blurs imperfections.
- Why I Love It: The color-adjusting technology is perfect for creating a light, even complexion. It gives me a “your skin but better” effect without feeling like I’m wearing any makeup at all.
- Skin Types: Works well for all skin types but is especially great for combination or sensitive skin.
- Key Ingredients: Centella asiatica is the star ingredient, known for its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, making it perfect for calming redness.
- My Experience: Erborian CC Crème melts into my skin, offering a seamless, hydrated glow. It’s perfect for no-makeup makeup days when I just want my skin to look naturally radiant.
- Price: $44 for 45ml, but the quality justifies the cost, especially with its skincare benefits.
4. Dr. Jart+ Premium BB Beauty Balm
Dr. Jart+ is known for its innovative skincare, and their Premium BB Beauty Balm does not disappoint. It’s one of my go-to products when I want light-to-medium coverage with added skin benefits. What sets it apart from other BB creams is its combination of anti-aging ingredients and SPF 40.
- Why I Love It: It feels more like a skincare product than makeup, which I appreciate for everyday wear. The texture is rich, yet it doesn’t feel heavy on the skin.
- Skin Types: Best for normal to dry skin due to its hydrating ingredients.
- Key Ingredients: Contains bio-peptides, antioxidants, and adenosine to help improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines.
- My Experience: This BB cream gives me a naturally luminous look with medium coverage. It’s perfect for days when I want my skin to breathe while still looking polished. The added SPF protection is a huge bonus for daytime wear.
- Price: $39 for 40ml, and I believe it’s worth the investment for both the skincare and makeup benefits.
5. BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer
Technically a tinted moisturizer, but it performs so much like a BB cream that I had to include it. BareMinerals Complexion Rescue is my go-to when I want hydration and a dewy, natural finish with just a hint of coverage. It’s a perfect everyday option that enhances my natural skin without feeling like makeup.
- Why I Love It: It’s super lightweight and hydrating, making it feel like a moisturizer with a tint of color. It leaves my skin glowing and healthy-looking.
- Skin Types: Ideal for dry and normal skin types, but can work for combination skin if you set your T-zone with a little powder.
- Key Ingredients: Packed with hydrating ingredients like squalane and hyaluronic acid, it keeps my skin moisturized all day long.
- My Experience: This product is a lifesaver on days when I don’t want to fuss with a full face of makeup but still want a fresh, radiant complexion. The light coverage is perfect for evening out my skin tone without feeling like makeup.
- Price: $37 for 35ml, and it’s a great investment for those who prefer lighter coverage with a dewy finish.
How to Choose Between BB and CC Creams
When deciding whether to use a BB or CC cream, consider your skin type and what you want the product to achieve:
- For Dry Skin: BB creams are often more hydrating, making them better for dry or mature skin. Look for formulas that contain moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin to keep your skin supple and smooth.
- For Oily/Combination Skin: If you have oily or combination skin, CC creams may be a better option because they provide a more matte finish and offer better coverage for redness or uneven skin tone. They also tend to be less hydrating, which helps control shine throughout the day.
- For Light Coverage: Both BB and CC creams offer lighter coverage than traditional foundations, but CC creams are often more pigmented. If you’re looking for a barely-there, natural glow, BB creams are the way to go.
- For Redness and Color Correction: CC creams are specifically designed to correct skin tone issues like redness, sallowness, and uneven pigmentation. If your main concern is evening out your skin tone, go for a CC cream.
BB and CC creams are fantastic options for those who want a natural, lightweight makeup look that enhances their skin’s appearance rather than covering it up. After trying dozens of different products, the ones I’ve listed above have become my go-tos for different skin needs and occasions.
On days when I need more coverage or am dealing with redness, I reach for IT Cosmetics’ Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream. For a dewy, radiant look, Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream never lets me down. And for no-makeup makeup days, Erborian CC Crème offers just the right amount of glow.
Whether you’re looking for hydration, coverage, or color correction, there’s a BB or CC cream out there that can give you the natural finish you desire. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find the one that fits your skin’s unique needs.
