BB Cream Vs. CC Cream: Our Favorite Brands For Each
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There's no getting away from the fact that all of the best makeup looks start with a base that's flawless. As per Byrdie, achieving a base that's smooth, sleek, and that creates a perfect complexion can be slightly difficult to master, particularly as there is such a wide range of base products to choose from.
Two of the most popular base products are BB and CC creams; the main issue is knowing the difference between them and understanding which one is best for you, and of course understanding which brands offer the best BB and CC products. Then there's also the process of knowing how to choose the right shade and finish. It might seem like a near-impossible task, but it doesn't have to be.
BB cream is short for beauty balm or blemish balm — both names are correct — and it acts as a base product that has the ability to even out your complexion and mask blemishes. It's a lot lighter than a foundation, but heavier than a tinted moisturizer. CC cream, on the other hand, is a color corrector or color controller. The texture of a CC cream is lighter than the texture of a BB cream, however a CC cream still offers a foundation-like level of coverage. The aim of a good CC cream is to help to even out hyperpigmentation and redness.
Look to these BB and CC creams for your makeup needs
As per Allure, you can't go wrong with BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream. It boasts a natural-looking finish and is super hydrating thanks to the formula containing hydrating electrolytes and glycerin which locks in moisture. With a cream-based, SPF spiked formula, it's designed to brighten your complexion and is available in 16 different shades. It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ is another fantastic CC cream that offers complete coverage with added sun protection.
If compact and on-the-go makeup is more your thing, spring for the Amore Pacific 'Color Control' Cushion Compact, a Korean beauty staple that comes in a compact form. This product offers buildable coverage, and with SPF 50, it'll protect your skin from those harmful UV rays (as per Elle).
Another Allure recommendation is the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Perfector SPF 20, which is laced with retinol to help brighten your complexion and beat discoloration. It also has SPF protection to protect your skin from the sun. Elle also suggested trying Dr. Jart+ Premium BB Beauty Balm SPF 40, which, as the name suggests, is a beauty balm that can do it all — its formula evens skin tone, masks redness, and calms irritation.