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BB Cream Vs CC Cream | The ULTIMATE Guide! [Updated 2023]

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BB Cream vs CC Cream, that is the question on everyone’s mind. BB and CC Creams have been all the rave lately, but what do they really do and what’s the difference between the two? In this post, I’ll be breaking down the A to Z on all things BB and CC Cream and I’ll also be sharing with you my top 2 holy grails for each type! Are you ready? Let’s get into it!

What is BB Cream?

Let’s start with the basics of each product. First, what is a BB Cream? BB in BB Cream commonly stands for “blemish balm”, although it has a few more meanings floating around on the internet. To put it simply, BB Cream is basically a foundation that has added benefits for your skin. When it comes to the benefits, they typically vary from product to product, but they almost always have some kind of SPF protection in them. BB Creams typically also have a lighter coverage, meaning they tend to look more natural on your skin than a full coverage foundation. Additionally, BB Creams can be formulated for different skin types ranging from dry to normal to oily.

Now that I covered some of the basics, one of the questions that I want to hit on is the difference between a tinted moisturizer and a BB Cream since they sound super similar at their core. The difference is super simple: tinted moisturizer doesn’t tend to have all of the yummy benefits for your skin as a BB Cream would. Although both of them are super similar in terms of being lightweight with a lighter coverage to them, I feel as though a BB Cream edges out a tinted moisturizer simply because of the benefits that your skin can get from them.

Given everything that has been going on lately in the world around us, I’ve found myself veering away from typical foundations and reaching for BB Creams. I really like how they provide some coverage yet still look super-natural, are easy to apply, provide skincare benefits while wearing them (along with SPF), and since they’re lighter coverage, I’ve found that they work perfectly when wearing masks since they don’t really come off. After we talk about the world of CC Creams, I’ll share with you the BB Cream that I’ve been totally obsessed with and I haven’t been able to put down lately!

What is CC Cream?

And now, let’s dive into the world of CC Creams. The “CC” in CC Cream typically stands for “Color Corrector”. When comparing BB Creams and CC Creams, although they’re pretty similar they do have a few differences. CC Creams typically tend to provide a little more coverage since their purpose is to correct color. I’ve found that CC Creams usually have a bit of thicker texture/consistency since their purpose is to provide a bit more coverage. Also, since CC Creams are marketed as color correctors, you typically don’t have to use a separate color corrector in your routine.

Just like BB Creams, CC Creams tend to also have skincare benefits and SPF as well. Before we wrap up our CC Cream talk, I just want to quickly mention the difference between a CC Cream and a foundation. Since CC Creams tend to be a little more full coverage than BB Creams, there is a fine line when it comes to the difference between a foundation and a CC Cream. When comparing both, I would say that foundations are a little bit heavier and they also typically don’t have many skincare benefits to them.

BB Cream Vs CC Cream

To sum it up, although the two are super similar, I’ve found that CC Creams are a little thicker and tend to have more coverage when applied to the skin when compared to BB Creams. They’re also super easy to apply, they last great on the skin, and they also provide a perfect amount of coverage if you don’t really feel like wearing a heavy foundation. In the next section, I will also share my favorite CC Cream that I’ve been using for years!

Now that we know all about BB Creams, CC Creams, and the difference between the two, we’ll cover my favorite products in each category and I’ll also give you some tips and tricks on how to use them!

BB Cream vs CC Cream: My Favorite Products

My Favorite BB CreamMaybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream 8-in-1 Skin Perfector ($8.99)

This BB Cream has been with me for years, and when I say years, I really mean YEARS! This product was actually one of my first “foundation-like” products that I used when I started to use makeup regularly in high school. When it comes to other BB Creams that I’ve tried, this one is just complete perfection, hence why it has stayed with me through all of these years. Whenever I don’t feel like applying a full coverage foundation (which has been every time I do my makeup now), this is the product that I reach for. It provides a very sheer tint to the skin, but it is enough to even out your skin tone. When applied, this product looks super-natural, since you can still see your freckles and your skin peek through, but it also provides a nice light amount of coverage.

When looking at the benefits and claims of this product, it says that it will hydrate your skin, provide SPF (SPF 30), brighten, blur imperfections, smooth out your skin, enhance, is oil-free, and it also doesn’t contain any heavy ingredients. After using this product for so many years, I can honestly say that I’ve found all of these claims to be accurate and true. When it comes to my skin type, I have super oily skin which gets even more oily in the Florida humidity. This BB Cream has been so perfect for me, even with all of my oils (since it’s oil-free), but it also adds radiance to my skin so it looks super-natural.

I apply this product with my fingers when I want a super quick and light coverage finish, however, when I want a tiny bit more coverage I use a damp beauty sponge to apply it. Although this product on its own is perfect, I usually apply some sort of mattifying primer underneath and a setting powder on top of it, to really set it in place and ensure it lasts all day on my skin.

If you’re looking for a product that has tons of benefits for your skin, has SPF, provides a natural finish on your skin, has a light coverage, and is super easy to apply; then this product is definitely worth giving a shot!

My Favorite CC Cream – It Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ ($39.50)

And now, for my favorite CC Cream! For the longest time, I always saw the It Cosmetics CC Cream make its rounds on the beauty blogs and in YouTube videos, but I was a little hesitant to try it given the price point. A few years ago, I got a gift card to Sephora and I just knew the first thing I had to do was to get my hands on this product and give it a shot. Let me tell you, it only took one application for me to fall in love with it and know that this product is a game-changer. The It Cosmetics CC Cream can honestly pass for a foundation since it has a much thicker texture and a fuller coverage when compared to my favorite BB Cream. The product provides a light to medium coverage, wears great throughout the day, and it really works great to even out your skin tone, and still gives a natural finish.

When looking at the specifics of the product, it claims to hydrate your skin, diffuse skin imperfections, and provide a natural finish to the skin. A few of the ingredients in this product include Collagen (supports skin elasticity for a youthful appearance), Niacin (which promotes an even skin tone and helps to fight the appearance of acne), Peptides (helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles), and Hyaluronic Acid (attracts moisture to your skin while boosting elasticity).

This CC Cream works really great to provide a good amount of coverage to my skin and it also has all of those amazing benefits as well that work wonders on my skin. Since I have oily skin, I’ve found that this product really provides a radiant finish, but I have to apply a matte primer underneath in order for it to last throughout the day. A few years ago, they released a Matte version of this product which also works super great. However, I’ve found that when comparing the Matte CC Cream to the Original formula, the Matte one is great if you want a super-duper Matte finish on your skin while using a matte primer with the Original CC Cream is perfect for a natural finish that isn’t too flat or matte; the perfect combination.

When applying this product, you definitely have a few options. When I want to have a more natural look on the skin, I like to apply this product with my fingers because it tends to sheer out the coverage. However, if I want more of a full-coverage situation on my skin, then I go in with a damp beauty sponge and it works perfectly! If you’re looking for a product that’s lighter than a foundation that will still give you great coverage, provide tons of skincare benefits (as well as SPF), and leave your skin looking radiant and natural, then this product is definitely a must-try!

BB Cream Vs CC Cream | Conclusion

I hope this post helped to explain the world of BB Creams and CC Creams and helps you choose between the two and also know the little differences when picking what formula is best for you. Overall, I love both and would definitely pick both of those products over a typical full-coverage foundation any day! Thank you for reading my BB Cream vs CC Cream “Simply Beauty” Beauty and Makeup Blog post!

Have you ever tried out any BB Creams or CC Creams? What is your favorite? Let me know down below! 🙂

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