The Best CC Creams For Your Skin Type

Like many beauty bloggers I find myself frequently taking on the role of a guinea pig, testing several different beauty samples a week. I can’t complain; as a self-proclaimed “beauty junkie” on Twitter, I enjoy discovering the best products and sharing them with you. That said, I’ve sampled numerous BB and CC creams over the past few months and while some creams weren’t for me (Smashbox, I’m looking at you), I realize they may be a perfect match for other skin types based on reviews and word of mouth. For this post, I’ll focus on the best CC creams for your skin type, undertones, and primary skin concerns. I have a cool skin tone, oily-combination skin (depending on the season), and my primary skin concern is anti-aging, in case you were curious. My favorite CC creams are the ones listed under the cool + neutral category.

Like their alliterative counterparts, BB creams, CC creams – or color correcting creams – prime, protect, and perfect skin. Many come with broad spectrum SPF and some contain vitamin C for brightening dull skin. Of course, some CC creams are better at reducing blemishes, brightening skin, and correcting skin tone better than others, which is the purpose of this post. If you’re a BB cream diehard and wondering why you should give CC cream a try, the difference between them is that CC cream tends to be more lightweight and akin to a tinted moisturizer in terms of coverage (most of the time, anyway). CC cream also focuses primarily on – you guessed it – correcting uneven skin tone, including redness, dark spots, and sallowness. I use BB and CC interchangeably depending on my daily skin needs and desired coverage. Generally, I find myself reaching for CC cream whenever I have skin flare-ups or when I want a more natural look.

And now for the best CC creams. Take a look around and hopefully you’ll find the best option for your skin needs. Stay tuned for part two featuring the best BB creams. On a side note, I realized you may not know your skin undertones. Here’s a good resource from The Beauty Department.

Best for Cool + Neutral Undertones

Hydroxatone Anti-Acne CC Cream*: Best for combination and oily skin. Primary concerns: acne, dark spots, redness, uneven skin tone.

Olay Total Effects 7 CC Cream SPF 15*: All skin types. Primary concerns: sun protection, anti-aging, redness, dry skin.

Yes To Grapefruit CC Cream SPF 18 (Light): All skin types. Primary concerns: dull skin, uneven skin tone, dark spots, anti-aging.

Best for Warm Undertones

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream SPF 30 – Warm Glow: All skin types. Primary concerns: blemishes, dark spots, uneven skin tone.

Peter Thomas Roth CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30: Best for normal or dry skin. Primary concerns: dull skin, anti-aging, sun protection.

Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30: Best for normal or dry skin; caused breakouts on my oily skin. Primary concern: hyperpigmentation or dark spots, redness, sun protection.