It's Probably Time You Learned The Difference Between BB And CC Cream
When I first heard about BB cream, I thought it was a brand. Then I found out it was actually a thing a lot of different brands were pushing, and for good reason.
BB cream is the foundation (no pun intended) many of our beauty routines have been built upon, and has saved this generation from the caked-on makeup look of our ancestors.
But then I found out about CC cream, and for a while, I saw it as BB cream's cousin, but I didn't ask a ton of questions about what the hell it's for, or why I should even try it.
Garnier SkinActive BB Cream, $8, Amazon
But these have become such a huge trend, I felt like I needed to do some research before my next trip to Sephora.
I set out to really discover the differences between these three "alphabet creams," so we don't fall into the trap of buying up something we ultimately don't need, or using something that could be counterproductive to our nearly perfected beauty routines.
BB Cream
Most of us are familiar with it already, but if you're not, you can start celebrating your discovery of this modern beauty miracle now. BB cream is a light foundation with a creamy texture, like a tinted moisturizer. It first made waves in Korea, and the trend spread to the USA like wildfire.
So what does it do? BB stands for "beauty balm," and the cream is basically the perfect marriage of makeup and skincare.
It's thought of as the best tinted moisturizer to ever be invented. It's packed with SPF, so as it moisturizes, it protects the skin from harmful UV rays. A light layer is all you need for full coverage because a little goes a long way.
What makes it unique? BB cream provides the least amount of coverage out of all the alphabet creams. It's meant for a younger woman whose skin needs a pick-me-up, but doesn't have a whole lot of problem areas.
My fave BB cream on the market: Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow.
Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow, $29, Amazon
Not only does Marcelle's BB cream include all the skin-smoothing benefits of a regular BB cream, it provides the skin with a barely-there radiance that doesn't look too made up.
It gives you that just-after-a-facial luminescence.
CC Cream
While CC creams are lighter than BB creams, they actually provide more coverage. CC stands for "color correcting," and this cream is designed to target areas of redness or dullness, where the skin is more uneven in tone.
While CC cream does have all the benefits of a BB cream, it adds a few perks. First of all, it improves the skins elasticity, while covering and preventing any dark spots from appearing on the skin.
It's packed with Vitamins C and E, which act as powerful anti-aging ingredients with the SPF to prevent fine lines and wrinkles.
If you suffer from acne, constant redness, uneven skin tone, or are looking to cover up fine lines and wrinkles, CC cream is what you want to go with.
My favorite brand of CC cream is Supergoop's Daily Correct CC Cream.
With an SPF of 35, it comes in three self-adjusting shades so it works for a variety of skin tones. It's also infused with fatty acids, Omega-3 and Omega-6, to neutralize discolorations and blotchiness, and minimize inflammation. Goodbye, face-bloat!
Supergoop Daily Correct CC Cream, $32, Amazon
One helpful way to categorize these two creams is to think of them in terms of age groups.
BB cream is for younger women in their teens and early 20s, while CC cream is for those in their late twenties and 30s, who are starting on or are already into personalized beauty regimen.
