In the past it seems we were obsessed with finding the heaviest foundation possible to mask everything on our faces but gradually (and thankfully) the trend has shifted to finding the perfect barely-there foundation base.
Nothing achieves this better than a CC cream which works to camouflage any imperfections whilst not stripping skin of its natural glow and radiance.
First of all CC isn’t just a jumble of random letters. ‘CC stands for Colour Correcting. A CC cream is a skincare-make-up fusion for an even, flawless and glowing complexion’, explains Chanel Make-Up Artist Ninni Nummela.
Not only do they provide a flawless finish, they also provide a number of skincare benefits. ‘A CC cream has a slightly lighter texture, and most often include more targeting skincare ingredients to brighten any discolouration, protect the skin from environmental stressors, and to smooth any fine lines while offering more coverage’, explains Nummela.
The beauty of a CC cream is that it’s not time consuming to put on, unlike some foundations that take what feels like a whole year to blend in seamlessly. Nummela recommends applying them with ‘the warmth of fingers but you can also buff into the skin with the help of a foundation brush’. It’s as simple as that.
Check out our pick of the best CC creams out there right now.
La Roche-Posay Rosaliac Anti-Redness CC Cream - £20
If your skin is prone to sensitivity (resulting in dreaded redness flare ups) this La Roche Posay CC Cream will do the trick. It harnesses the skincare power of the brand's Rosaliac range by balancing and calming irritated skin whilst leaving a natural-looking glow.
Trinny London BFF Cream SPF30 - £35
The benefits of a BB cream meets a CC cream in this skin perfector. It provides the hydration of a daily face cream with the coverage of a foundation for the ultimate no-make-up-make-up coverage.
The Body Shop Instaglow CC Cream SPF20 - £15
If you want diamond-blinding shine from your coverage, this CC cream is an Instagram filter in a bottle. You can either wear it under foundation to add an extra hit of glowiness or wear on its own if you prefer a lightweight pearlescent finish.
L’Oreal Paris C’est Magic CC Cream Anti-Redness - £9.99
If your main concern is patchy redness or neutralising blemishes, this CC cream is one to add to your arsenal. It diffuses any unwanted colour, without creating a mask over the skin. Ideal to wear on its own if you like a light coverage finish or use as a primer underneath foundation if you prefer a bit more coverage
Giorgio Armani Prima CC Cream - £38
Apply this in the AM to erase the side effects of late night Netflix sessions. The colour-correcting technology mixed with instant brightening effects, wakes up skin instantly. Think of it as a cup of coffee for your skin.
Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defense CC Cream - £31.50
Not only does this CC cream give you the coverage of a tinted moisturiser but with SPF50 sun protection, it also provides an enviable sun-kissed glow whilst preventing any UV damage. The light and compact packaging also makes it ideal for keeping in your handbag and topping up as and when you please throughout the day.
Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme Global Anti-Aging CC Creme SPF10 - £49
If you’re on the dryer-side of the skin spectrum and find that normal foundation causes coverage to flake off throughout the working day, this will be your best match. Although coverage is sheer, this provides skin with a hit of hydration that keeps skin soft and dewy all day long.
Erborian CC Cream - £39
The normal problem when it comes to lighter coverage products is the limited shade range but Erborian eliminates this problem with their multi-purpose CC Creme which adapts to your natural skin tone. It helps camouflage any blemishes whilst giving skin a much-needed radiance boost.
It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ - £32
The holy grail of CC creams, this is a household name for a reason. Famous for providing the full coverage finish of a heavy duty foundation, without leaving skin looking cakey. This can cover any redness or blemishes you throw at it whilst still being undetectable on the skin and providing an enviable glow.
By Terry Cellularose Moisturizing CC Cream - £58
A miracle in a tube, this sheer cream melts into skin instantly to correct any redness or dark circles, whilst leaving skin plumped and smooth. It provides the ideal day-to-day coverage without leaving skin feeling greasy.
Chanel CC Cream Super Active Complete Correction SPF50 - £48
Get the iconic effortless French girl glow with this luminous cream. It works to moisturise skin as well as correcting any uneven skin tone at the same time as protecting skin from the future damage of UV rays. It really does it all.
Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream SPF30 - £30
If you’re a lover of Clinique’s iconic Moisture Surge moisturiser then this is the next best thing. It provides the same moisturising benefits as their holy grail cream but with the added bonus of a little coverage - it’s a lifesaver for parched skin.
Yves Saint Laurent Top Secrets CC Creme SPF35 - £42
Harnessing all the colour correcting powers, these YSL CC Creme’s come in three different shades to target uneven skin tone, dull-looking and pasty skin. You just have to pick your fighter depending on your number one skin concern.
Charlotte Bitmead (she/her) is the Senior Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. She has over six years experience writing about beauty and has previously written for ELLE and The Sunday Times Style, covering everything from politics to sustainability to inclusivity within the beauty industry. When she’s not writing in-depth features, testing out the newest skincare fad or trying to decide what nail art to get, you can find her overspending in bookshops or shouting at Arsenal matches. Find her on LinkedIn
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