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Every day, we're susceptible to the ads and marketing abilities of the beauty industry; we're ready to be convinced of adding yet another step to our routine. The market is saturated with a potent mix of bases, primers, and toners (as are our vanities). But when two products emerged that promised to cut down our rituals by at least 10 minutes, makeup and skincare lovers paid even more attention. The BB cream and CC cream are both multi-purpose base products that have primer, concealer, skincare ingredients, and sunscreen in them. However, CC cream (which stands for color correcting cream) takes it a step further.
"A CC cream is a multi-action sheer coverage formula designed specifically to color-correct," Nick Lujan, the global director of artistry and education for Kevyn Aucoin Beauty, told Real Simple. "These formulas usually feature soothing ingredients to calm redness and even out blotchiness." A CC cream can often be used as a spot concealer or a uniform base — this means that you should pick shades that are the closest to your skin or a shade darker, as lighter shades can highlight parts you want to cover.
We've found some of the best CC creams in stores and on the net; find the one for your skin type and needs below.
In a lineup of makeup products, you'll find that CC creams are doing the most. They color correct, but they're also going above and beyond the job description. "I think in today's world of foundations, base makeup, BB cream, cc creams, it's really common to find skincare ingredients infused in the product. These include antioxidants, moisturizers. For example, sodium hyaluronate, known commonly as hyaluronic acid. These are quite commonly found in BB and CC creams, because it does not add a significant difference to the texture of the foundations," dermatologist Teo Wan Lin said on his podcast, "Science of Beauty."
Each ingredient has its purpose and for this list of CC creams, we've carefully pored over labels to find products that work for a spectrum of skin types. You'll find CC creams for acne-prone and dry skin, as well as products that are made with consciously clean ingredients. We've also taken ratings and reviews into account — all of these CC creams come highly recommended by beauty editors, dermatologists, and makeup artists. They're doing pretty well on Amazon, too, with none of them going below 4 stars out of 5. Scroll below to find a CC cream that works for you.
The IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream has topped wishlists and 'best of' lists, year after year. It's been Allure's Reader's Choice for three consecutive years, and we're sure there are more than a few reasons why. The CC cream is a full-coverage alternative to foundation for those uninterested in overly thick products, and stays on for hours while smoothing skin tone. "It's got great blendability and coverage, plus the added benefit of SPF," board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara — who uses the cream every day — told Well + Good. "It doesn't make my face look cakey, and instead just makes my skin look smoother overall."
Additionally, the CC cream is infused with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and hydrolyzed collagen to moisturize and calm your skin's redness. One reviewer on Amazon described it: "This stuff is magic! It covers your flaws effortlessly. It has a beautiful light shimmer that makes you glow! Not cakey and doesn't clog your pores. Get it, you won't be disappointed!" Another said, "This CC cream is amazing! Stays on all day even in the humidity and gives your skin a dewy glow."
Price: The IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Illumination SPF 50+ retails for $33 on Amazon.
Coverage and SPF: Full-coverage and SPF 50
Standout Ingredients: Niacinamide, Hyaluronic acid
There's an aisle in your local CVS that holds a product that's in high demand for its color correcting pigments, flawless finish, and affordable price point. The Physicians Formula Super CC cream blends "invisible micro color-correcting pigments and high-tech anti-aging ingredients," according to the brand's website, to offer even coverage and minimal redness.
Beauty YouTuber Christina Marie reviewed the CC cream and said, "It's a very full coverage [formula] that looks natural...it doesn't look cakey, it looks beautiful." One reviewer on the brand's website said that it's "my go-to CC cream. I usually do not use drugstore brands but wow, this surprised me. I have been using this for years and repurchase it constantly." The CC cream is also Amazon's Choice, with over 5,500 ratings giving it a 4.2 out of 5 stars. A customer on the e-commerce site attests to why: "This lives up to all my expectations! I have tried several BB/CC creams. I am a minimalist and like to wear them as a foundation for a natural look. My requirements: full coverage, natural look, include skincare benefits with SPF, and be cruelty free. [The Physicians Formula CC cream] passes with flying colors."
Price: The Physicians Formula Super CC Cream retails for $16.70 on Amazon.
Coverage and SPF: Full-coverage and SPF 30
Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide (sunblock)
Affordable beauty brand e.l.f. only launched the Camo CC Cream two years ago, but the product still monopolizes drugstore shelves, Amazon carts, and TikTok FYPs. Infused with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, the CC cream is an anti-aging potion that reduces redness and evens out skin tone. Its medium to full coverage formula gives an even and natural finish that leaves your skin hydrated and protected from the sun. According to over 1,600 customers on Amazon, the CC cream is a 4.2 out of 5, but the cream's wide shade range (with a variety of undertones) makes it a 5 out of 5 for us. If you're unsure, use the brand's shade finder to swipe right on your exact match.
"This is a great CC cream with lasting power similar to much more expensive brands. I have oily skin and have a hard time finding anything that will stay. This e.l.f. CC cream lasts all day without primers," a customer on Amazon said. Another said, "I have been looking for a [product that offers a] full coverage, matte finish that looks natural all my adult life. I LOVE THIS PRODUCT."
Price: The e.l.f. Camo CC Cream retails for $12.13 on Amazon.
Coverage and SPF: Medium-full coverage and SPF 30
Standout Ingredients: Niacinamide, Hyaluronic acid
This CC cream is chock full of vitamins and antioxidants, quenching your skin's need for nutrients. Olay's Total Effects CC Correcting Moisturizer claims to give you seven benefits in one package: hydration, replenishment, brightened and even skin tone, minimized pores and firm, smooth skin. It can be used as your daily moisturizer, since it's enriched with vitamins B3, E and B5, as well as antioxidants to neutralize free radical damage.
Vitamin B3 is often known as niacinamide, which can promote the production of ceramides and increase skin elasticity (via Medicine Net). Both vitamins E and B5 help your skin retain moisture. One customer said of the Olay option, "I have been a fan of this product for years and always introducing it to others to try. It's the first thing I use and it always feels like a fresh drink of water for my skin every morning." Another customer used it for six weeks and saw remarkable results. "The hyper pigmentation has been reduced by about 50%, my pores are smaller, the fine lines that were threatening imminence are gone, even when I'm not wearing the product! I get compliments about my complexion now," they stated.
Price: The Olay Total Effects CC Correcting Moisturizer retails for $22.79 on Amazon.
Coverage and SPF: Light to medium coverage and SPF 15
Standout Ingredients: Niacinamide, Vitamin E
People with acne-prone skin are often playing a game of Russian Roulette, but with skincare and makeup. Almost anything can trigger a breakout, which is why it's important to make sure your latest purchase is non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic. "The first thing to look for when shopping for makeup is that the product is non-comedogenic. This term means that makeup won't cause or aggravate acne. If you're especially oily, you may also want to look for products that are labeled as oil-free," Dr. Alan Parks, founder of DermWarehouse, told NBC's "TODAY."
The Neutrogena Clear Coverage Flawless Matte CC Cream is developed with dermatologists, thereby ticking both 'non-comedogenic' and 'hypoallergenic' boxes. The full-coverage CC cream is formulated with fragrance and niacinamide to minimize irritation and any future breakouts. A customer on Amazon confirmed, "This full coverage product is a perfect match for my skin tone, lasted all day, and the niacinamide is amazing for fading acne and picking marks!"
Price: The Neutrogena Clear Coverage Flawless Matte CC Cream retails for $11.99 on Amazon.
Coverage and SPF: Full coverage and no SPF
Launched in 2019, Tower28 has quickly become popular as a beauty brand that is clean, vegan, and designed for sensitive skin. Founder Amy Liu explained to Allure that the brand "uses both a combination of the Credo Beauty no-no list for toxicity and we also use the National Eczema Association no-no list for irritation...They're actually really different lists." The thorough vetting of ingredients makes their Tinted Sunscreen a must-try for those with sensitive skin.
Although it's not technically a CC cream, the product offers a variety of shades as well as benefits for someone who wants to simplify their routine. Equipped with SPF 30 to protect your skin against UVA/UVB damage, the tinted sunscreen also has prickly pear extract and white sage extract to neutralize free radical damage while soothing your skin. Around 70,000 people have favorited the product on Sephora, and many reviewers have come back to report great news. "I have very sensitive skin and was super impressed by this! The sun protection is excellent and it gives a really nice, natural looking coverage...10/10 would recommend, thank you, Tower28," one customer said. Another declared that "this is my favorite product of the summer!!"
Price: The Tower28 SunnyDays Tinted Sunscreen Foundation retails for $30 on Sephora.
Coverage and SPF: Light coverage and SPF 30
Standout Ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide, white sage extract
When we think of complete sun protection, we think of Supergoop! Over the years, products like the brand's Unseen Sunscreen have gone viral, collected awards, and won loyalists. All of them live up to the hype. The Supergoop! CC Screen is one of those products; a clean, lightweight formulation that color corrects, hydrates, and gives your skin broad-spectrum protection.
The mineral sunscreen in the CC cream, made with non-nano zinc oxide, is especially great for those with sensitive skin as it doesn't absorb UV rays but reflects them. You're also not really going to need another sunscreen since this CC cream clocks in at SPF 50. Additionally, the red seaweed and apple extract nourishes your skin with vitamins and antioxidants, as well as blurs pores.
A customer with sensitive skin raved about the product, "I'm in my late 30s with very oily skin, the occasional breakout, and eczema prone. This CC cream is my holy grail. It doesn't break me out, the finish is natural, it is lightweight but buildable. plus SPF!!! So glad I found this." Another said, "Super Yes!" and elaborated, "I find that this product stays all day and looks good after many hours. I was pleasantly surprised and I have already purchased a refill given that this will be in regular rotation."
Price: The Supergoop! CC Screen retails for $42 on Amazon.
Coverage and SPF: Light coverage and SPF 50
Standout Ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide, red seaweed
Never buy another foundation nor a sunscreen; Dermablend's Continuous Correction Tone-Evening CC Cream is a creamy full coverage formula with SPF 50 that corrects, blurs, and covers anything you want it to. It's made without comedogenic ingredients, which means that it won't clog your pores — but it is made with a blend of baicalin, niacinamide, vitamin E, and caffeine. The combination of antioxidants, weightless tints, and sunscreen have made it one of the brand's best sellers.
The CC cream has over 16 shades for you to choose from — all work to reduce the look of redness, hyper pigmentation, dark spots, and age spots. On Amazon, the CC cream has 4.2 out of 5 stars and one reviewer said, "I like it so much that I came back to buy another shade. I live in SC (hot/ HUMID!) and this stuff really holds. I love the coverage, I personally consider it to be full coverage...This just works. Better than any other CC cream I've tried." Another spoke of its coverage, "Really love the coverage and it blends in nicely leaving a fresh dewy look all day. Doesn't settle into lines at all, which has been an issue for me with other foundations and CCs."
Price: The Dermablend Continuous Correction Tone-Evening CC Cream retails for $39 on Amazon.
Coverage and SPF: Full coverage and SPF 50
Standout Ingredients: Niacinamide, Caffeine, Vitamin E
Cle Cosmetics introduced another 'C' with their Color Control & Change Cream (CCC Cream), a multifunctional product that adapts to its wearer. A customer on the brand's website described their first application: "Oh my goddddd.. it was like watching MAGIC happen before my eyes. The cream came out as white in the tube, and when I worked it into my skin, I saw the cream change from white to my skin tone. It was the PERFECT match. I have never been able to find anything that matched my skin so perfectly! On top of that, it looks amazing on my skin! I have very oily skin, and it left a matte finish... This cream is amazing and so worth the money!"
However, cosmetic chemist Perry Romanowski explained the magic to Allure: "As you rub the product on the skin, the capsules or beads break and the color changes." Regardless, the color changing adds to the experience of wearing a lightweight formula with a dewy natural finish. A customer said, "The coverage was light but it left my skin looking glowy and more polished. I was able to build a little more coverage where I felt like I needed it and the product didn't feel like it was just [slipping] off."
Price: The Cle Cosmetics Color Control & Change Cream (CCC Cream) retails for $38 on Cle.
Coverage and SPF: Light coverage and SPF 50
If you're looking for a filter-free routine, add Erborian's CC Crème to the list. The Korean brand's offering is a popular one, with over 4,000 reviewers giving it a 4.5 out of 5 stars. One reviewer sums up why: "I have used this as my everyday base for a couple of years now, and it is my absolute favorite, holy grail complexion product...It evens out slight discolorations and has a blurring effect. My skin just looks naturally fresh and dewy." Another said, "This is my absolute favorite CC cream!! As a person who doesn't like to wear a lot of heavy makeup, this is perfect for daily use. It's lightweight, not oily at all and provides just the right amount of sheer coverage. It's a generously sized tube and it does not take much product at all to cover. I love it!"
The CC cream has a 'second skin' quality to it; you'd barely know you have it on. Using color changing technology, the white cream turns into a potion of soothing Centella Asiatica (or tiger grass) and luminous pigment when you put it on. It also has SPF 25, but we'd suggest layering on another sunscreen for extra protection.
Price: The Erborian CC Crème retails for $44 on Amazon.
Coverage and SPF: Light coverage and SPF 25
We have another color changing CC cream on this list. One of the bestsellers at Hey Honey, a cruelty-free and clean brand, is the Trick and Treat CC² Cream. A moisturizing combination of their signature ingredients – honey and bee propolis — makes this CC cream a nourishing option. Both ingredients also lend their antibacterial properties to the cream, which is infused with squalene and dead sea minerals as well.
According to the brand, its products are cruelty-free and certified by Peta. All of its ingredients are clean and are formulated without mineral oil, sulfate detergents, parabens, or phthalates. These ingredients can impact the environment as well as our own endocrine systems (via MDPI). The CC cream also uses physical sunscreen in the form of titanium dioxide, instead of chemicals like oxybenzone that are unsafe for coral reefs.
The cream itself has great reviews — 4.7 stars out of 5 on Amazon. Many reviewers echo the same sentiment as this one: "This has great coverage, feels light and is quick and easy! I don't like heavy makeup so this is perfect for great coverage with a light airy feeling!"
Price: The Hey Honey Trick and Treat CC² Cream retails for $39 on Amazon.
Coverage and SPF: Medium coverage and no SPF
Visible signs of aging — like fine lines and wrinkles — loosely define mature skin. Both are also signs you're going to need to revamp your skincare and makeup. "In general, collagen production starts to drop off in our mid-20s, and by age 30 we're losing about 1% of collagen per year," Dr. Dendy Engelman told Ipsy. To counteract this loss, look for ingredients like adenosine in your products, as it has proven to be a collagen stimulant and anti-wrinkle agent (via Medical News Today).
The Skin Tone Adjusting CC cream from Perbelle has adenosine as well as antioxidant flower extracts that can help with skin elasticity. It also has hyaluronic acid to moisturize your skin, something that should be prioritized for mature complexions. "Hydrated skin is healthy skin, so to improve both appearance and function, it is important to stay hydrated. This is true at any age, but it is especially vital as our skin barrier matures and becomes vulnerable," Dr. Engelman said.
Over 12,000 reviewers have given the product a 4.7 out of 5 stars, and one said, "A natural skin toning product especially great for aging skin like mine. Smooths skin tones and covers age spots, diminishes wrinkles and lines beautifully and without looking like heavy makeup."
Price: The Perbelle Skin Tone Adjusting CC Cream retails for $42 on Perbelle.
Coverage and SPF: Medium coverage and SPF 43
Standout Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Adenosine
One of the more prominent areas that experience discoloration and need color correcting are our under eyes. "Eyelid skin is one of the areas where the skin is the thinnest in the body. So, essentially you have very thin delicate skin sitting over a hollow structure around the eyes where you have bone, blood vessels, fat pads, and muscles," Melissa K. Levin, MD, told Byrdie. Whether it's genetics or lack of sleep, covering these up requires color correction and moisture.
The Tarte Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector is made specifically for this thin skin. A combination of rose, yellow, and purple clay minimizes the look of dark circles while caffeine reduces the appearance of puffiness and low circulation. The cream also has licorice extract to brighten your skin, and sodium hyaluronate and squalane to deliver moisture.
A customer on Sephora left a raving review: "I've tried many under eye correctors, either they didn't do anything for my dark circles (hereditary) or turned my concealer cakey. [Tarte CC Undereye Corrector) blends beautifully. Even without a concealer, it gives me very good coverage."
Price: The Tarte Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector retails for $26 on Sephora.
Coverage and SPF: Full coverage and no SPF