The famous flesh-colored fluids, BB & CC Cream, you see on the shelves of a departmental store are the potential skin-perfecting options available out there. But what do they do exactly and what’s the difference between a BB cream and CC Cream? Ahead, the meaning of the two products, how they differ, plus how to use them, so you can determine which one is the best pick for you.
What is BB Cream?
BB cream (short for Beauty Balm or Blemish Balm) first gained popularity in East Asia over 10 years ago. BB cream is basically an all-rounder which has primer, moisturizer, SPF, anti-ageing properties and foundation to it. This means you can skip a few beauty steps & get away with using just a beauty balm, when you’re in a hurry.
These creams are formulated with skincare benefits but offer pretty light coverage – so look at them like an addition to your makeup collection, rather than picking them up as an alternative to some of your already tried & tested favorites.
Most BB creams tend to be oilier than CC creams as they are focused more on hydrating dry skin, thus not always recommended for oily skin. But there are BB creams available in the market that are specially formulated for oily skin. They are a great option when you do not want a ton of coverage yet still wanna look put-together.
What is CC Cream?
The initials stand for “color correction”. CC creams usually provide a little more coverage cause they are meant to address issues like redness or sallowness (pale-yellowish complexion). Such creams contain all the benefits of that of a BB cream plus color correcting ingredients that helps improve overall skin complexion.
They have more of a whipped, fluffy feel & finish and are much lighter in texture and are less oily than BB creams. The matte finish of CC creams make it a suitable option for those with shiny or greasy skin.
They do offer more coverage than BB creams, so if you do have areas that need more coverage or if you’ve got any unevenness on the skin, CC cream is the better option. To apply CC creams, follow the above mentioned steps.
BB and CC Cream vs Tinted Moisturizer
Tinted moisturizer is exactly what it sounds like — a moisturizer that has a slight tint to it. If you are having good skin days or you’re a fan of minimal dewy base makeup, then tinted moisturizer is a great choice for you.
People tend to confuse tinted moisturizers with BB creams. The difference between these two is quite subtle – while tinted moisturizers are moisturizers that offer only a hint of coverage, BB creams also offer skin care benefits like skin protection, hydration, shine control depending on the formula you use. Even then, some tinted moisturizers are heavier than BB and CC creams, due to their emollient properties.
Shop Related Products
- Dr Jart+ Premium BB Beauty Balm SPF 40. Buy It: $40; sephora.com
- It Cosmetics CC+ Cream Illumination SPF 50+. Buy It: $39.50; ulta.com
- bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream SPF 30. Buy It: $33; ulta.com
- Lancôme Hydrating Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 23. Buy It: $35; ulta.com
How to apply BB and CC Cream:
• Take a pearl size amount of BB cream on your finger.
• Apply it in little sections over your bare face and then you may set it with a setting powder. Try to avoid your eyes & the lip area.
• Gently blend it in with your fingers. (Using fingers make it easier to blend as the texture of BB creams is very soft since they already contain moisturizer and we generally don’t need a brush to apply a moisturizer or a primer.)
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