If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, we may receive an affiliate commission. Learn more about our policies and reviews.
CC Creams are short for color correcting or complexion corrector creams and are a hybrid makeup and skincare product in one. These creams usually serve multiple purposes and pack in a ton of skincare benefits and makeup properties into a one-and-done product.
These creams also tend to be higher in coverage than their BB Cream counterparts as they are meant to disguise imperfections like dark spots, pores, and redness. In addition, they provide hydration, even out skin tone and texture, and supply you with the SPF needed to protect you throughout the day.
We have found some great CC Cream options below that will make your daily makeup application short and sweet. Use these creams in place of or in addition to your other makeup and skincare products as they can easily replace your moisturizer, foundation, and SPF. Lastly, these creams easily layer for fuller coverage and leave a naturally dewy look to the skin.
Premier CC Cream for Normal Skin in Detail
It Cosmetics CC Cream — Best Overall
This cc cream is a full coverage foundation hybrid and also functions as a hydrating anti-aging serum and SPF 50+ physical sunscreen. This multitasking product is infused with a slew of skin-loving ingredients including collagen, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants just to name a few, that all contribute to and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, redness, and large pores all while providing a flawless-looking complexion.
Pros
- This contains an SPF 50+ physical, non-chemical sunscreen
Cons
- If you prefer lighter face coverage, another option might be better
Olay, Total Effects CC Cream — Runner Up
This cream is formulated to help fight seven signs of aging including uneven tone, age spots, and wrinkles while providing instant coverage for flawless-looking skin. With a natural-looking, sheer coverage, the CC component of this all-in-one is designed to be worn alone or can be worn under your favorite foundation for extra coverage. The nourishing moisturizer part contains vitamins and antioxidants while the SPF 15 protects you from the number one cause of skin aging, the sun.
Pros
- This is great for all skin types
Cons
- This is very lightly scented
Clinique CC Cream — Editor's Pick
This cream instantly color corrects a range of complexion concerns including redness and dullness, giving your skin nothing but a healthy-looking glow. This lightweight cream provides three coverage options including spot-applying it wherever the skin looks red or dull for light coverage, smoothing it on bare skin, or mixed with your moisturizer for moderate coverage or you can wear it under any foundation for the ultimate smooth, full-coverage finish.
Pros
- This cream is ideal for men as it blends out easily for a healthy look
Cons
- The formula is slightly thick
Lune+Aster CC Cream — Excellent Quality
This is a multipurpose color-correcting cream, tinted moisturizer, and it has SPF 50 for the ultimate UVA/UVB protection. This formula provides breathable, medium coverage that leaves behind a dewy finish and has intense skincare ingredients to plump and replenish skin. Ingredients including hydrating hyaluronic acid and potent antioxidants rejuvenate and protect the skin from environmental stressors. Use this cream as your moisturizer and/or apply it after moisturizing to use as a hydrating primer for a smoother makeup application.
Pros
- This formula is paraben and phthalate-free with no animal testing
Cons
- This cream is ideal for drier skin types
Erborian CC Cream — Contender
This is is a great K-Beauty option due to its high-tech, multi-use formula. The cc cream is an “intelligent,” multi-purpose formula that contains encapsulated pigments that adapt to your skin tone upon application, making it look radiant and soft. In addition to high-tech coverage, this cream is made with Centella which is popular in skincare to help protect and hydrate the skin while boosting radiance. Lastly, it is enriched with SPF 25 for the all-important, lasting protection.
Pros
- As this formula self-adjusts to your skin tone, you only have to choose whether you are light, medium, or dark-complected
Cons
- The fragrance may be too strong for some people's liking
Supergoop! CC Cream — Also Consider
This cc cream is a 100% mineral-based cream that functions as a foundation, concealer, and SPF 35 all-in-one. This cream is meant to be worn daily and covers imperfections, protects from photoaging, and provides clarity to the complexion in an easy, one-step product. Also included are light-diffusing mica to instantly soften the look of lines, wrinkles, and pores, leaving behind only the freshest, most flawless face. Apply this cream as your moisturizer or after your regular one and blend out until absorbed.
Pros
- The addition of Omegas-3 and 6 and apple extract helps to correct hyperpigmentation, providing a clearer, more even skin tone
Cons
- There are only a few color choices available
Buying Guide: CC Cream For Normal Skin
CC cream is one of the most powerful makeup tools in anyone’s arsenal. It is a quick and effective solution to one of the biggest skin complexion issues faced by folks around the world while also being fairly inexpensive and safe. Read on to find out everything you need to know about it before making your purchase decision.
What Does CC Cream Do?
As the name suggests, CC creams are extremely effective at correcting the overall tone and complexion of your skin. If you suffer from decoloration, redness, hyperpigmentation, or anything similar, CC cream is perfect for you. Sure, there are other alternatives that solve the same issue, namely the concealer plus foundation combo, but none are as quick as applying CC cream. The foundation and concealer combo is also a hassle to use on a regular basis, and CC cream is lightweight enough to be a viable daily option.
The benefits of CC cream don’t stop at just the complexion correction, though. It is also a great way to keep your skin moisturized and get a lively glow on your face. Some CC creams even come with SPF sun-blocking properties.
How to Apply CC Cream?
Here is a simple step-by-step guide to applying CC cream.
- Wash your hands and face with mildly cold water.
- Pat your hands and face dry with a clean towel.
- Get in front of a mirror.
- Apply small dabs of the cream on your nose, cheeks, forehead, and chin.
- Now gently rub these dabs until the cream is evenly distributed on your face.
- Do not rub aggressively or very fast.
- Wash your hands afterward.
Is CC Cream Safe?
Yes, CC cream is generally pretty safe and does not have any noticeable side effects on the skin of an average healthy person. However, if you have a skin condition, then using CC cream without the approval of your dermatologist is not a good idea. Also, make sure that you can use this cream in tandem with the ointments and skincare products that you already use.
Another point of caution is to check for the ingredients in the CC cream you’ve bought. Different manufacturers add different chemicals to their cream to improve its performance. Checking the ingredients will help you avoid any chemicals you’re allergic to. Lastly, if you notice any side effects, no matter how mild, consult your dermatologist. If you follow these precautions, then CC cream is completely safe for you.
Which CC Cream Should I Buy?
Buying CC cream is a bit more complicated than most other beauty and makeup products. Here are the most important factors you have to consider before making a purchase.
The shade of your skin
The main purpose of CC cream is to even out the complexion of your face and make it all uniform. This is only possible if the cream matches the natural shade of your face. You don’t have to get something that's an exact match, but applying CC cream with wildly different shades than your skin can lead to disastrous results. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about undertones as all CC creams take care of it automatically.
Type of your skin
The type of your skin also plays a massive role in finding the right match. Sure, you can find CC creams that claim to be suitable for any and all skin types, but those universal creams tend to be of lower quality. Besides, you can easily find CC cream that is designed from the ground up to be perfectly compatible with your type of skin. These specialized creams don’t even cost more than the universal ones.
Cost
Quality CC cream can cost anywhere between $20 and $60. This large variation is due to the different sizes of tubes, as well as the additional features included by some manufacturers, like more robust sun protection or extra glow. Anything outside of this sweet spot tends to be not worth your hard-earned money.
On the upper side of things are the premium luxury brands with CC creams with a price tag of several hundred dollars. These creams are great but not much better than most quality creams you can find around the $50 mark.
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum are the cheap options. These can cost as little as $5 for a tube, and none of them are worth it. These cheap no-name CC creams don’t work at all at best and can cause severe skin damage at their worst. No amount of money that you can save by opting for these cheap options is worth the risk for your precious skin.
What Is the Difference Between CC Cream and BB Cream?
BB cream is a great alternative to CC cream and serves a very similar purpose. It provides plenty of moisturization and enhances your overall look. However, BB cream doesn’t even come close to CC cream in terms of coverage. If your reason for using cream is to cover up complexion irregularities, CC cream is the way to go. But, if you only need a cream for that light no-makeup look while also rocking a glowing face, then BB will work just fine. Also, CC cream is a lot better for protection against the sun.
