BB Cream vs. CC Cream: How to Use BB Cream and CC Cream

BB cream stands for “beauty balm” or “blemish balm cream,” so-called for its ability to cover up slight blemishes on the skin. It also enriches skin with hyaluronic acid and other nourishing ingredients. This skincare product comes in a select number of hues, but it provides basic brightening capabilities while covering any small, unwanted areas. It also provides a base layer for any additional makeup you wish to apply.

CC cream is a “color correcting” cream users can apply for broader purposes than they would a BB cream. Many CC cream products serve as a foundation substitute, concealer, or sunscreen. They can cover up dark spots under your eyes, improve broader discoloration, address hyperpigmentation, and mitigate issues that are the result of acne-prone skin.

Knowing when to use BB cream instead of CC cream will help you get ready for the day faster. Consider these seven areas of comparison between the two products:

1. 1. Consistency: CC cream provides lighter coverage and has a lighter consistency overall than BB cream. CC cream has a glossier finish, whereas BB cream has a slightly more dewy finish.
2. 2. Hues: The sheer coverage BB cream provides often comes in fewer tints than the more expansive coverage CC cream provides. As a result, you might have an easier time finding a CC cream to match your natural skin tone or pigment.
3. 3. Ingredients: Both BB and CC creams contain many of the same ingredients, including vitamins, antioxidants, hydrolyzed collagen, peptides, niacinamide, and others. This is largely because both serve similar purposes as foundation substitutes, concealers, skin brighteners, sunscreens, and so on.
4. 4. Moisturization: BB cream services dry skin more effectively, while CC cream works better for oily skin. BB cream has hydrating capabilities, making it a natural match for low-oil or oil-free skin types. CC cream has more of a matte finish to mitigate some of the issues people with oilier skin run into, like broader discoloration and acne. There are also variants of each product specifically for those with sensitive skin.
5. 5. Purpose: The basic purpose of both creams is the same: to mitigate skin issues and even out coloration overall. But they also serve more specific, respective purposes. BB cream works best on smaller breakouts or blemishes and provides a “no-makeup look” because of its light coverage. CC cream, which looks more similar to regular foundation, is more applicable when a more intensive color corrector is in order.
6. 6. SPF coverage: Both BB and CC creams often have built-in sun protection. Look for broad-spectrum SPF 30 to SPF 50 products. This cream SPF helps to battle the sun’s harmful UV rays while the other ingredients work to create a balanced skincare product.
7. 7. Versatility: BB and CC creams are both all-in-one products beauty brands have designed to provide multiple skincare benefits. Alongside evening out coloration for your skin, they also contain anti-aging properties, sun protection, vitamins and other nourishing ingredients, and more. CC cream is more versatile than BB cream because it mitigates broader skin color issues.

Full-coverage foundation operates in a similar manner to both BB and CC creams, but it has a more specific purpose than either skincare product. The two creams often combine multiple elements of a skincare routine into a single product (providing blemish reduction, concealing capacity, moisturization, and sun protection alongside acting as a foundation substitute). By comparison, foundation generally serves as a base layer upon which to apply the rest of your makeup. Still, some foundations include extra perks, too. Tinted moisturizer can also address some of the same concerns as any of these products.

Individuals experience different levels of sensitivity to ingredients found in various skincare products. To prevent adverse reactions, consult a dermatologist before applying a new product to your skin. This article is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

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