Foundation isn’t your only option for giving your skin flawless coverage. In fact, there are three top contenders for your beauty routine: BB cream vs. CC cream vs. tinted moisturizer. While similar, these three skincare-makeups hybrids are all different in their own ways. To help shed light on the key differences and pros and cons of each, we’ve created a complete guide. Scroll on for answers to all of your most pressing questions about how BB and CC cream and tinted moisturizer are different.
What Is BB Cream?
BB cream is short for “beauty balm” or “blemish balm.” These all-in-one products, which originated in Korea before landing stateside, are widely used for offering a combination of SPF protection, anti-aging, and skin-soothing active benefits.
BB creams are lighter than the average foundation. They will even out your skin’s complexion by covering up your blemishes and imperfections while also priming and moisturizing your skin.
How to Use BB Cream
Just remember, one important thing: the amount of broad-spectrum sunscreen in BB creams isn’t enough to suit your sun protection needs-it’s just an added bonus of most formulas!. So, don’t replace your everyday sunscreen for a BB cream.
BB cream should be the last step in your base makeup routine. Use a moisturizer first, followed by your favorite broad-spectrum sunscreen, followed by a layer of a BB cream. Also, remember to reapply SPF throughout the day-every two hours or more-to keep your complexion safe from sun damage.
Want a bit more coverage? You can definitely follow a BB cream with concealer and powder.
If you want to add a BB cream to your routine, we recommend trying the L’Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream. The sheer, lightweight formula contains color-adjusting pigments that flex to fit your skin tone, plus vitamins C and E.
What Is CC Cream?
Although BB creams and CC creams do share much in common, there is one major difference that ultimately sets them completely apart: CC creams, short for color-correcting creams, are designed to generally reduce the appearance of redness or discoloration.
Typically, a CC cream has fuller coverage compared to the BB cream since their main job is to act as color correctors. They are great for when you want the skincare benefits of a BB cream mixed with the flawless coverage of a foundation.
How to Apply CC Cream
Apply it after you moisturize and sunscreen up, just like BB cream. And remember, throughout the day, reapply sunscreen to maintain its protection for your skin! Then, continue with the rest of your makeup.
Some of our favorite CC cream formulas include the IT Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow Lightweight Foundation + Glow Serum With SPF 40 and the IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Natural Matte Foundation with SPF 40. Both options will even out your skin while providing an added layer of sun protection and skincare benefits.
What Is Tinted Moisturizer?
Quite literally, tinted moisturizer is just what it sounds like: a moisturizing cream that has some sort of subtle tint to it. It’s easy to apply with either your fingers, a brush, or a sponge, and they are a go-to reliable for no-makeup makeup days.
On the one hand, the good thing with tinted moisturizers is that they offer very light coverage, light and weightless in feel to even out the skin tone. Since it is lighter coverage, the tinted moisturizer will not totally cover up all blemishes and other imperfections.
How to Use Tinted Moisturizer
You can wear tinted moisturizer over a regular moisturizer and sunscreen. After all, a classic moisturizer usually contains more hydrating ingredients than does a tinted moisturizer, so you won’t want to skip it.
If you want a sheer, lightweight veil of color, try a tinted moisturizer such as the Lancôme Skin Feels Good Hydrating Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 23 or the Urban Decay Cosmetics Hydromaniac Tinted Moisturizer.
Which is better to use: BB Cream, CC Cream, or Tinted Moisturizer?
Whether you are stuck in which is better, BB cream or CC cream, or if a tinted moisturizer may be the best product for what you want to achieve, the perfect product best for you will really depend on the look and feel you are going for. From evening out skin tone, to delivering hydration or anti-aging benefits, each of these products was intended for specific skincare concerns and let your natural beauty shine through.
BB cream
Key benefits:
Hydrates and provides light to medium coverage
Often contains SPF and antioxidants
Skin-soothing and anti-aging features
The best thing about BB cream, in particular, is that it is ‘in-between’ actions, perfect for those with normal to combination skin, offering just the right amount of coverage and skincare packed into one formula. It allows people who want a multi-tasking product offering light to medium coverage with added skincare benefits.
CC cream
Key benefits:
Color corrects, leaves skin even
Medium to full coverage
May have anti-aging and moisturizing properties
If you are debating CC cream vs. BB cream, remember that the former is generally a thicker coverage. This is why CC cream is ideal for those who have irregular skin color or problems like discoloration and darkened spots. CC cream is also unusually suitable for normal to oily skin types, as it doesn’t feel at all greasy.
Tinted moisturizer
Main benefits:
As with all moisturizers, provides hydration and moisturization of skin
Light coverage
Natural Finish: This shade is not highly tinted, but rather quite natural. A good tinted moisturizer improves the hydration level and is hence ideal for dry to normal skin types. It helps to even out the skin tone for a natural finish that’s great to wear every day.
Still not sure which BB cream, CC cream, or tinted moisturizer to choose? We think that’s a good idea to take a look at certain products and see the benefits of which best fit your needs. Sure, there are some overall pros for each type of formula, but specific products may have attributes that lean one direction versus another.