CC creams definitely deserve a spot as part of your overall beauty routine. Thanks to their lightweight formula, they’re great if you’re after a more effortless and natural makeup look. But we get it: it all can be a little confusing – from BB (beauty balm) creams to CC (colour corrector) creams and even DD (daily defence) creams, it’s easy to get overwhelmed when trying to figure out what you need and what works for your skin.
To help you choose a product that is best for you, we’ve put together a round-up of the very best CC creams available that match your budget, preference and skin type (plus an extra bit of info on CC creams in general). Below, you’ll find that we’ve cherry-picked the best formulas on the market, so you can rest assured that you’ll definitely find one that ticks all the boxes.
BB creams vs. CC creams – what are the differences?
What you do need to know, however, is that although BB creams and CC creams might appear very similar, they do have a few key differences. Essentially, the idea behind CC creams is that they contain pigments that help with colour correcting, which is especially useful if you have areas of hyperpigmentation, acne scarring or dark circles. In fact, these products are specifically designed to conceal – and sometimes treat – redness or sensitivity.
Best CC creams at a glance – our top picks
- Best CC cream overall: Erborian CC Crème, £40, Sephora
- Best CC cream for full coverage: IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream, £26.40, LookFantastic
- Best hydrating CC cream: Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream, £31.91, Sephora
- Best CC cream with vitamin C: Summer Fridays CC Me Serum, £60, Cult Beauty
- Best affordable CC cream: L’Oréal Paris C’est Magic CC Cream, £10.99, LookFantastic
How do CC creams work?
CC creams are also perfect for neutralising unwanted shades from our skin tone by introducing a little colour wizardry. You might know that shades that sit opposite each other on the colour wheel cancel each other out. If you put this in action, then you can use a green tint to take away redness, while orange can counteract blueness (hence the use of salmon concealers by makeup artists) and lavender will help to erase yellow tones.
This is why CC creams can also be ideal for acne-prone skin, since many of them are specifically designed to camouflage the redness in spots. It’s why they’ll help to brighten up unwanted dullness too, regardless of whether you’re using something that provides a sheer or matte finish.