What Is a CC Cream and How It It Different From a BB Cream?

What's the difference between a CC cream and a BB cream? Find out which one is best suited to your needs.
What Is a CC Cream and How It It Different From a BB Cream?

Written by Editorial Team

Last update: 23 June, 2023

Are you looking for a solution to improve the appearance of your skin without having to use a lot of products? If so, a CC cream may be the answer you’re looking for. Also called ‘color correcting cream’, this type of cream is an evolution of the popular BB cream.

It’s designed to correct skin tone, reduce the appearance of blemishes and provide light, natural coverage. How do you use it? What’s the best choice for your skin type? We’ll answer these questions in this article.

What is a CC Cream?

CC cream or color-correcting cream is a beauty product that has become very popular in recent years. It combines the properties of a foundation and a skin care product to cover imperfections, moisturize, protect, and improve skin texture.

Its ingredients include color-correcting agents, such as vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, which help to brighten and even skin tone. It also has sunscreen, whose function is to reduce the negative impact of UV rays.

As if that weren’t enough, some have antioxidant substances and nutrients in their components that contribute to the prevention of wrinkles and fine lines.

Benefits of using CC Cream

This type of cream has interesting benefits when used before heavy makeup. Let’s take a closer look.

Skin tone correction

One of the main advantages of CC Cream is its ability to correct skin tone. It’s formulated with special pigments that counteract specific facial tone issues such as redness, dullness, and dark spots. When applied, a more even and radiant appearance is achieved.

Moisturizing

Many CC Creams contain ingredients that provide a boost of hydration to the skin. This is beneficial for people who have a dry, dehydrated complexion, as it helps to keep it soft and supple throughout the day.

Some of the most commonly used ingredients in this type of product are vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. Each of these components acts differently on the skin and provides a comfortable appearance, while benefiting the health of the face.

For example, niacinamide is a type of vitamin B3 that is responsible for regulating sebum production, reducing inflammation, and improving the skin’s protective barrier. While vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and promotes hydration.

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Sun protection

Another important advantage of this product is that it often contains sunscreen. Its sunscreen formula protects the skin against aggressions caused by UVA and UVB rays. In this way, they help prevent premature aging, sunburn, blemishes, and other imperfections.

Using a CC cream alone as a sunscreen is not enough, but it can be an extra help.

Light and natural coverage

Unlike traditional foundations, CC creams offer a lighter and more natural coverage. It allows one to even out skin tone without creating a heavy or masked appearance. The soft, lightweight texture of this product blends into the skin, providing a natural finish.

Multifunctionality

In addition to correcting skin tone, many CC creams offer additional benefits. They may contain moisturizing, antioxidant, soothing and nourishing ingredients. Thus, they become a multifunctional product.

How does a CC cream differ from a BB cream?

BB cream or ‘blemish balm cream’ is a product that combines skincare benefits with makeup. The CC cream, on the other hand, focuses on correcting skin tone and providing additional care. Let’s take a look at their main differences.

Coverage and texture

  • Coverage: BB cream offers light coverage to even out skin tone and minimize imperfections such as blackheads. At the same time, it provides a natural look. CC cream, on the other hand, provides light to moderate coverage and focuses on correcting specific skin tone issues such as redness, dullness, or dark spots.
  • Texture: BB cream has a lighter texture, which makes it easy to apply and blend into the skin. On the other hand, CC cream also has a light texture, but is formulated with special corrective pigments that make it creamier.

The benefits and objectives

  • The main objective: BB cream is primarily intended to provide skin care, offering hydration, sun protection, and texture enhancements. On the other hand, CC cream focuses on correcting skin tone by counteracting specific problems such as redness and dark spots.
  • Additional benefits: Some CC creams are formulated with additional ingredients that improve the overall appearance of the skin and address specific skin tone issues.

It’s important to note that the features and benefits of BB creams and CC creams may vary by brand and specific formula.

When choosing between them, it’s advisable to consider your individual needs and preferences in terms of coverage, texture, skincare goals, and specific tone issues you wish to address.

How safe is it to use these products?

According to the Enviromental Working Group, the combination of ingredients and the multifunctionality of these products can be more beneficial than using several products at once for the same purpose.

In other words, by using a CC or BB cream, you’re treating several skin problems with one product, rather than using, say, three different products for the same thing.

This means that you’re exposed to fewer ingredients and formulations from different products. However, the group also recommends that you read the ingredients section when purchasing either of these two options, as they may contain chemicals such as oxybenzone that can cause damage to your health.

BB cream or CC cream: Which is the best option?

When it comes to skincare and makeup, there are so many options on the market that it can be difficult to decide what’s best for your skin. For many, the choice comes down to a CC cream or a BB cream.

Both options are multifunctional products that combine moisturizer, sunscreen, and light coverage, but there are a few key differences between them.

In general, the BB cream is ideal for those looking for lighter coverage and a natural finish, while CC cream is ideal for those who need to correct their skin tone and conceal blemishes or redness.

For that reason, when considering which is the best option, it’s important to consider your individual skin needs and the type of coverage you want to achieve.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.



This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.