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Testers Say These 8 CC Creams Gave Them an Even Complexion and a Gorgeous Glow

For a “your skin but better” finish.

By Alyssa Kaplan Alyssa Kaplan Alyssa Kaplan is an editor at Byrdie with more than six years of beauty industry experience. She tests makeup, skincare, and haircare products to curate round-ups of the best beauty items you can buy. Alyssa is passionate about helping readers upgrade their beauty routines and make smart purchasing decisions. Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines and Ashley Rebecca Ashley Rebecca Ashley Rebecca is a NYC-based contributor for Byrdie, where she covers makeup, skincare, and more. She has 20+ years of experience as a makeup artist and has contributed to Byrdie for the past ten years. Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 06, 2026 11:02AM Reviewed by Lucy Chen, MD Reviewed by Lucy Chen, MD

Lucy Chen, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami, FL. She specializes in Mohs surgery and cutaneous oncology.

About Byrdie's Beauty & Wellness Board Board-Certified Dermatologist Leave a Comment

In This Article

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In This Article

• Top Picks
• Reviews
• What to Look For
• How We Tested
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Meet Our Experts
• Why Trust Byrdie

TL;DR

Our favorite CC cream, the Lumene Color Correcting Cream, blends effortlessly and delivers a dewy, natural finish that blurs acne scars and hyperpigmentation for an even complexion. Our favorite full-coverage pick, the IT Cosmetics CC Cream With SPF 50+, provides ample coverage and delivers a traditional foundation finish, with added skincare and SPF benefits. Think full coverage that looks and feels weightless on the skin.

A traditional foundation is not the only option for a makeup base. Not to be confused with BB cream (aka beauty balm), CC cream focuses on color correction, which is why it typically offers more coverage than BB cream. "CC cream specifically targets areas that are more problematic, such as redness or discoloration,'' explains celebrity makeup artist Nydia Figueroa. "It can also protect the skin from sun damage, fine lines, and age spots." So, if you love multitasking products that benefit your skin while providing natural-looking coverage, CC cream might be right up your alley.

Both authors participated in this test: one makeup artist with nearly 23 years of experience, always seeking the latest innovations and technologies in CC creams, and a full-time Byrdie editor who loves complexion products that blur imperfections while maintaining a skin-like appearance. Together with other testers with diverse skin tones and concerns, we tested top-rated CC creams, evaluating each on its coverage, buildability, finish, wear, and shade range. Ahead, we’re sharing the CC creams worth your money.

Top Picks

Best Overall: SALE Lumene CC Color Correcting Cream at Amazon $22 $17 Jump to Review Best for Redness: Erborian CC Cream at Amazon $46 Jump to Review Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream at Sephora $45 Jump to Review Best for Oily Skin: e.l.f. Cosmetics Hydrating Camo CC Cream at Amazon $16 Jump to Review Best Skin-Like Finish: CLE Cosmetics CCC Cream at Amazon $38 Jump to Review Best Coverage: It Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ at Amazon $47 Jump to Review Best Long-Wearing: Dermablend Tone-Evening CC Cream at Amazon $41 Jump to Review Best Buildable: Thrive Causemetics Buildable Blur CC Cream Broad Spectrum at Thrivecausemetics.com $38 Jump to Review

Best Overall

Lumene CC Color Correcting Cream

$22 $17 at Amazon $22 $17 at Target $22 at Lumene.com What We Like

• Offers even coverage and a luminous, skin-like finish

• Helps blur acne scars and imperfections

• Doesn’t settle into smile lines or creases

What to Consider

• Consistency feels runny

Shades: 10 | Coverage: Medium | Finish: Luminous | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’re looking for a CC cream that’s easy to blend and offers a second skin finish, this is the one for you. It creates a hydrated, rested appearance and a dewy glow, thanks in part to hydrating Arctic spring water in the formula. Our tester noted that this CC cream looked beautiful on her skin and felt undetectable when applied to her face. She says it looks like “your skin but better;” your complexion will look hydrated and even in tone after one light layer. We appreciate that while it maintains a skin-like finish, this formula offers buildable coverage—just enough to blur acne scars and redness without looking overly heavy.

Erica, tester with hyperpigmentation and acne scars: “Once it's on the skin, this CC cream has a soft, powdery feel to the touch, and I think this contributed to its staying power. The product stayed put and maintained its luminous-looking finish throughout the day without creasing or caking.”

Best for Redness

Erborian CC Cream

$46 at Amazon $46 at Ulta $46 at Dermstore What We Like

• Effectively evens redness and discoloration

• Feels very natural on the skin

• Both hydrating and breathable on the skin

What to Consider

• Coverage isn’t the most buildable

• Limited shade range

Shades: 3 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Luminous | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This CC cream is exceptionally lightweight and natural-looking on the skin, making it ideal for anyone seeking a product that covers redness without looking or feeling cakey. It comes out of the tube white and adapts to your natural skin tone as you blend it in with your fingertips or a brush. It looks beautiful worn on its own to subtly even your skin tone on minimal-makeup days, or layered under a fuller-coverage foundation or concealer when you want maximum coverage. 

Because the pigmentation isn’t super intense, the shades are relatively flexible, though we absolutely hope the brand expands the range to offer more depths and undertones. 

Ashley, tester with combination skin: “I like that this product feels very natural and helps even out redness; it’s the lightest CC cream [texture] I’ve ever tried.”

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream

$45 at Sephora $45 at Ulta $45 at Nordstrom What We Like

• Effectively covers redness and blemishes

• Blends effortlessly on the skin

• Feels lightweight and natural

What to Consider

• Coverage can wane towards the end of the day

• Limited shade range

Shades: 3 | Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: No

Touting a seamless blend that delivers natural-looking coverage, this CC cream is ideal for anyone looking to cover blemishes without streaking or pilling. Offering light coverage with a luminous finish, this will look like your skin, just better, all while helping to camouflage imperfections. 

Our tester, with combination, acne-prone skin and uneven tone, noted how effortlessly it blended into her complexion. She used it alone or in conjunction with her favorite concealer to add extra coverage where needed. Another bonus? She noted no oxidation throughout the day, though it’s worth noting that it’s not the most long-wearing option on our list. 

Madison Barber, Byrdie writer with acne-prone skin: “This formula truly felt like nothing on my face. So lightweight and even felt moisturizing without any greasiness. It felt completely breathable—I almost forgot I was wearing anything on my skin whenever I wore this.”

Best for Oily Skin

e.l.f. Cosmetics Hydrating Camo CC Cream

$16 $16 at Amazon $16 at Ulta $16 at Elfcosmetics.com What We Like

• Stays put for several hours on oily skin

• Provides full coverage

• Offers SPF protection

What to Consider

• Takes some effort to blend

Shades: 15 | Coverage: Medium to full | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’ve got oily skin and are looking for a CC cream that offers more of a powder-like finish, look no further. This unique formula features a blurring component to smooth imperfections and cover problem areas, leaving the skin looking even and matte. Our tester appreciated that one layer creates medium coverage, though a second layer or spot application achieves full coverage. While it takes a bit more effort to blend than other options on our list, we think it’s worth it, because, once it’s on, it’s on for good. 

Erica, tester with oily skin: “This CC cream stays put! I wore it to Disneyland on an 80-something-degree day, and there were no streaks or smudges after a long day of walking, laughing, screaming, and sweating.”

Best Skin-Like Finish

CLE Cosmetics CCC Cream

$38 at Amazon $38 at Nordstrom $38 at Clecosmetics.com What We Like

• Nongreasy, glowy finish

• Easy to blend on skin

• Feels very lightweight

What to Consider

• Coverage isn’t super buildable

Shades: 14 | Coverage: Light-Medium | Finish: Natural/glowy | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Offering light to medium coverage and impressive SPF 50, this CC cream starts out white and adapts to your skin tone as you blend it in with your fingers (thanks to microcapsule technology). Once blended, it creates a subtly glowy veil of coverage that evens your complexion while still letting some of your natural skin peek through. 

Our tester loved how beautifully it looked on her skin and how weightless it felt as she wore it. We also love that it features skincare ingredients, such as blueberry extract, which provides antioxidants; hyaluronic acid, which boosts hydration; and niacinamide, which helps brighten and even out your skin tone.

Alyssa Kaplan, Byrdie editor with combination skin: “This CC cream starts out white but quickly deposits even pigment as you rub it in. It feels incredibly lightweight and undetectable on the skin. It's glowy but not greasy, it blends in nicely, and it feels hydrating. I barely notice I have anything on when I'm wearing it.”

Best Coverage

It Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+

$47 at Amazon $47 at Sephora $47 at Ulta What We Like

• Can be built up for nearly full coverage

• Comfortable feel on the skin

• SPF 50 sun protection

• Excellent shade range

What to Consider

• Can emphasize skin texture

Shades: 30 | Coverage: Full | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes

TheIT Cosmetics CC+ Cream is an ultra-popular product—and for good reason. In addition to SPF 50 mineral protection, it offers buildable, nearly full coverage with a finish that looks very much like traditional foundation, without appearing dry or cakey. We appreciate its lightweight feel on the skin, making it a stellar choice for both daily wear and glam looks.

While our tester was impressed by the finish and level of coverage it provides, she noted that it can emphasize skin texture, especially if you overapply it. While it’s not ideal for those seeking a super undetectable-looking complexion product, we highly recommend it to people who like a CC that offers excellent coverage. And unlike many other CC creams, this one is available in 30 inclusive shades. 

Madison Barber, Byrdie writer with acne-prone skin: “It offers more coverage than any CC cream I've used and a higher level of SPF, but it has less of a natural look than others that I've liked.”

Best Long-Wearing

Dermablend Tone-Evening CC Cream

$41 at Amazon $41 at Ulta $41 at Dermstore What We Like

• Long-lasting while feeling comfortable

• Excellent coverage

• Does not oxidize after prolonged wear

What to Consider

• It can look heavy if too much is applied

Shades: 14 | Coverage: Full | Finish: Satin | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When looking for a CC cream that provides adequate coverage and pairs well with other makeup products, this option is at the top of our list. Offering a more matte finish, the formula plays nicely with other textures while feeling incredibly lightweight on the skin. A little goes a long way; just a pea-sized amount is enough to achieve full coverage that conceals redness and imperfections seamlessly. 

Our tester, who experiences daily redness, was impressed by how well this CC cream eliminated it, while maintaining a comfortable feel and a natural finish. Need additional coverage? No problem. It’s easy to build, helping skin look even and fabulous all day.

Ashley, tester with combination skin: “This CC cream stayed in place and did not need any touching up, and held well throughout long work days without much fading at all. The most noticeable benefit was how well it covered my skin and evened out my redness and tone. The shade matched my skin perfectly, and there was no oxidation.”

Best Buildable

Thrive Causemetics Buildable Blur CC Cream Broad Spectrum

$38 at Thrivecausemetics.com What We Like

• Coverage can be built up to nearly full

• Blurs imperfections

• Feels lightweight on the skin

What to Consider

• Our tester experienced some creasing

Shades: 16 | Coverage: Medium to full | Finish: Semi-matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’re looking for a product you can manipulate depending on your preferences or skin’s needs, we recommend trying this one. It provides buildable coverage that can be applied with your fingers or a favorite makeup brush, and it blends easily without caking or patchiness. Our tester recommends using a smaller dot rather than a long streak of product to build coverage more easily with your fingers.

With a lightweight feel that doesn’t look greasy, she notes that the formula holds up well against the elements—minus a bit of creasing around the nose after several hours of wear. Apply one layer for sheer coverage, or build it up for a little more punch.

Madison Barber, Byrdie writer with acne-prone skin: “This formula has more medium (but buildable) coverage, so although it was super easy to blend with just my fingers, it took longer if I put too much formula on one area. Otherwise, the product blends effortlessly into the skin without cakiness or patchiness. It layers well with my creamy concealer.”

What to Look for in a CC Cream

• Coverage: Some CC creams have light coverage and act like tinted moisturizers, while others can pass as traditional foundations. The coverage level you choose depends on your preferences and how you plan to wear it. If the goal is to blur and color-correct, light or medium coverage will suffice. But if you use CC cream for glam looks, special occasions, or photos, you may want full or at least buildable coverage.
• Finish: Like foundations, CC creams come in different finishes, including matte, semi-matte, natural, dewy, radiant, and luminous. This is also a matter of preference, but those with oily skin may prefer matte or semi-matte finishes. In contrast, those with drier skin types and mature complexions might prefer a natural or dewy finish.
• Shade Range: Since many CC creams offer lighter coverage than traditional foundations, shades are often flexible, though you’ll want to look for one as close to your skin tone as possible. Look for an option with a wide shade range, and if possible, test the shades on your skin before purchasing to find the best match.
• Skincare Ingredients: CC creams often provide skin benefits in addition to coverage. Some provide SPF protection, while others offer moisture or free-radical protection with antioxidants. Some of the most common and widely beneficial skincare ingredients in this type of product include hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and niacinamide.

How We Tested CC Creams

Our testers used these CC creams at home for two weeks. We asked them to take before-and-after photographs, application videos, and extensive notes on each formula's coverage, finish, feel, and more.

• CC Creams Tested: 18 between two rounds of testing
• Testing Period: Two Weeks
• Methodology: Over two weeks, testers wore CC creams daily with other products such as powder, concealer, bronzer, blush, and more. Our testers wore these CC creams for extended periods, indoors and outdoors, and documented how each product performed overall. Testers applied using different application tools, including fingers, brushes, and makeup sponges. Each one was evaluated on how well it held up and looked on the skin from application to the end of the day.
• Factors Considered: Each CC cream was evaluated across several criteria, including finish, feel, coverage, shade, and SPF. The CC creams were also tested on how well they covered redness and imperfections, and whether the product oxidized or stayed true to the shade throughout the day and evening wear.

FAQ

• What Does CC Cream Do?

  “CC creams are a hybrid product that merges both skincare and makeup in one, providing all the benefits of skincare with the coverage foundation tends to offer,” explained aesthetician Samantha Susca. “These color-correction creams help minimize redness, blemishes, and uneven skin tone, all while simultaneously treating the skin with nourishing ingredients. Many CC creams also contain SPF, which adds another layer of benefit streamlined into one simple step.”

• How do you apply CC cream?

  As with foundation, the proper application method comes down to your preferences. If you like fuller coverage, use a brush or your fingertips. If you want lighter coverage, opt for a damp makeup sponge. Figueroa suggests applying a pea-sized amount to the center of your face and blending outward toward the perimeter.

• What is the difference between BB and CC cream?

  “CC stands for color correction, and BB stands for beauty balm. A CC cream provides more coverage and color corrects, making it a better option if you're looking to conceal or blur specific areas,” explains Figueroa. BB creams, “on the other hand, provide sheerer coverage and an overall more radiant look to the skin,” she says.

• Which skincare products work best with CC creams?

  “Because CC creams offer a multitude of benefits in one step, they fit best into a minimal routine,” Susca explains. “After cleansing and using a treatment essence or serum, a CC cream would follow and take the place of three things: an emollient cream, a sunscreen, and foundation. Keeping your skincare routine simple can help prevent CC creams from both pilling and slipping.”

Meet Our Experts

We consulted with the following makeup artists and aestheticians to learn more about CC creams and what to look for:

• Nydia Figueroa is a celebrity makeup artist and beauty educator based on the East Coast.
• Samantha Susca is a master aesthetician based in New York City who runs her studio, Refinery4, located in WSA NYC.

Why Trust Byrdie

Alyssa Kaplan is an editor on Byrdie, covering makeup, skincare, fragrance, hair care, and more. She's an experienced beauty-industry writer and product tester specializing in cosmetics. She has tested multiple CC creams, including the Cle Cosmetics one on this list.

Ashley Rebecca is a makeup artist based in New York City and a longtime writer and contributor for Byrdie. She covers everything from editorial content to product testing, treatments, skincare, hair care, makeup, and more. With a genuine love for complexion products, Ashley is always excited to test anything in the foundation category, with CC creams among her favorite products to wear personally. Her experience in the beauty industry, spanning more than two decades and including testing thousands of products, has made her an expert in product feedback and recommendations.

Article Sources Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

1. Gehring W. (2004). Nicotinic acid/niacinamide and the skin. J Cosmet Dermatol. (2):88-93. doi: 10.1111/j.1473-2130.2004.00115.x.

2.  Hoang HT, et al. (2021). Natural Antioxidants from Plant Extracts in Skincare Cosmetics: Recent Applications, Challenges and Perspectives. Cosmetics. 8(4):106. doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics8040106

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