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Banish Discoloration With The 11 Best CC Creams for an Even-Looking Complexion

Color correction and a skin-like 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 Catherine Hufton Catherine Hufton Catherine Hufton has spent over 15 years in the fashion and beauty industry. As a writer and editor based in London, she’s tested hundreds of products and attended countless launches—with a particular interest in suncare, anti-aging formulas, and sensitive skin—honing a sharp eye for what’s truly worth the hype. Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 10, 2025 12:02PM 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
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Meet Our Expert
• Why Trust Byrdie

Traditional foundation is far from the only option for a makeup base. Not to be confused with BB cream (aka beauty balm), CC cream is all about color correcting, which is why it tends to offer more coverage than its counterpart. "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 coverage, CC cream might be right up your alley. We researched top-rated products, checked our makeup drawers, and put dozens to the test to find the best CC creams, evaluating coverage, buildability, finish, wear, and shade range.

Top Picks

Best Overall: Honest Beauty CCC Clean Corrective Tinted Moisturizer at Ulta $27 Jump to Review Best Budget-Friendly: e.l.f. Cosmetics Camo CC Cream at Amazon $16 Jump to Review Best Coverage: SALE It Cosmetics CC+ Cream With SPF 50+ at Amazon $47 $30 Jump to Review Best Multiuse: PÜR 4-in-1Tinted Moisturizer at Amazon $36 Jump to Review Best Luminous: Huda Beauty GloWish Multidew Skin Tint Foundation at Amazon $19 Jump to Review Best Matte: Dermablend Tone-Evening CC Cream at Amazon $41 Jump to Review Best Shade Range: Neutrogena Matte CC Cream at Amazon $13 Jump to Review Best for Mature Skin: SALE Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Hydrating Skin Tint SPF 15 with Hyaluronic Acid at Amazon $49 $40 Jump to Review Best for Dark Skin Tones: The Lip Bar Tinted Skin Conditioner at Target $17 Jump to Review Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Tower 28 SunnyDays Tinted Sunscreen at Amazon $32 Jump to Review

Best Overall

Honest Beauty CCC Clean Corrective Tinted Moisturizer

$27 at Ulta View on Target View on Vitacost What We Like

• Lightweight yet creamy formula

• Provides mineral SPF protection

• Blurs hyperpigmentation

• Natural-looking coverage

What to Consider

• Shade range is limited

• Oily skin may need to set with powder

Shades: 7 | Coverage: Light to medium | Finish: Luminous | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This CC cream from Honest is formulated with skin-loving ingredients like soothing allantoin and radiance-boosting vitamin C, plus mineral SPF protection. We loved how it moisturized our skin and evened out our complexions while offering light to medium coverage. The creamy, slightly watery texture is blendable and lightweight on the skin.

We also felt that the shade we used was pigmented enough to blur hyperpigmentation (dark spots) while still looking natural and skin-like. This makeup base wears nicely without getting greasy, but you might want to set it with translucent powder if you have oily skin. That said, the shade range could undoubtedly be broader, which was our only gripe.

Best Budget-Friendly

e.l.f. Cosmetics Camo CC Cream

$16 $16 at Amazon $16 at Ulta $15 at Target What We Like

• Natural-looking, skin-like finish

• Can be blended with fingers

• Expansive shade range

What to Consider

• May get cakey without proper blending

Shades: 30 | Coverage: Medium to full | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We tried e.l.f.'s Camo CC Cream and were totally impressed. The ultra-creamy, pigmented formula can be used like tinted moisturizer or as more of a foundation, depending on how much you apply. You can build up coverage by adding a little extra in spots you need it, like your nose and chin.

We used our fingers for most of the applying and blending, but you might want to grab a damp makeup sponge to buff it out and prevent it from getting cakey. This CC cream's skin-like finish was virtually undetectable, and it stayed fresh and nongreasy throughout the day.

Best Coverage

It Cosmetics CC+ Cream With SPF 50+

$47 $30 at Amazon $47 at Sephora $47 at Ulta What We Like

• Comfortable feel on skin

• SPF 50 sun protection

• Great for all skin types

• Excellent shade range

What to Consider

• May not fully cover dark spots

Shades: 22 | Coverage: Full | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes

IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream is an ultra-popular product—and for good reason. Besides mineral SPF 50 protection, it offers buildable, full coverage with a finish that looks a lot like traditional foundation, without appearing dry or cakey. We like that it has a lightweight feel on the skin, making it a stellar choice for daily wear as well as glam looks.

Though it didn't fully cancel out our dark spots, we loved how this product blurred our complexions. It was extremely comfortable to wear, too—we often forgot we had makeup on. And unlike many other CC creams, this one comes in a diverse range of 22 shades.

Best Multiuse

PÜR 4-in-1Tinted Moisturizer

$36 $35 at Amazon $36 at Ulta $36 at QVC What We Like

• Works as a primer, foundation, moisturizer, and SPF

• Light yet buildable coverage

• Great for dry or balanced skin

• Leaves skin dewy and hydrated

What to Consider

• Can get greasy throughout the day

Shades: 12 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Dewy | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This multiuse CC cream works as a moisturizer, primer, foundation, and SPF in one. It has a glowy finish that left our skin looking dewy while providing excellent color correction. The coverage leans more sheer, but we were able to add another layer or two to achieve medium coverage.

It applied nicely with our fingertips or a damp sponge, and we liked how comfortable and moisturizing it felt on our skin once applied. This tinted moisturizer did get a bit greasy after a few hours of wear, so we recommend setting it with powder if you have oily skin.

Best Luminous

Huda Beauty GloWish Multidew Skin Tint Foundation

$19 at Amazon View on Walmart View on Hudabeauty.com What We Like

• Glowy yet natural finish

• Sheer but buildable coverage

• Contains hydrating ingredients

What to Consider

• Not ideal for oily skin

Shades: 13 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Luminous | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The brand claims this product has sheer coverage, but we were pleasantly surprised by how well we could build it up to cover imperfections and create a more even-looking complexion. Beyond the light yet flexible coverage, it has an intensely glowy finish that looks radiant but still natural on the skin.

If you have oily skin, you might find the level of glow a bit much, especially around the T-zone. But we could see those with dry skin—and anyone going for a radiant look—falling in love with this one. We also appreciate that the inclusive shades range from dark to fair.

Best Matte

Dermablend Tone-Evening CC Cream

$41 $37 at Amazon $41 at Ulta View on Dermstore What We Like

• Full, natural-looking coverage

• Feels weightless and breathable on the skin

• Good shade range

What to Consider

• Transfers without setting spray

• Limited dark shades

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

Despite being incredibly pigmented with full coverage, this CC cream blends into the skin without looking heavy or mask-like. Although it has a matte finish, we like that it's not a drying, flat finish.

The weightless, breathable formula felt good on our skin. It can transfer, though, so we suggest following with a setting spray. Another reason this product stands out? It delivers SPF 50 protection. Whether you're looking for a matte option or the best cc cream for oily skin, we think you'll be pleased with this one.

Best Shade Range

Neutrogena Matte CC Cream

$13 $13 at Amazon View on Target $15 $14 at Walmart What We Like

• Available in 34 shades

• Great coverage with a small amount of product

• Doesn't look or feel greasy

What to Consider

• Can settle into lines and pores

Shades: 34 | Coverage: Full | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: No

It's no secret that drugstore makeup has a history of lacking in the shade department, but this CC cream comes in up to 34 shades (depending on availability)—and they're nicely dispersed across skin tones. It provides full coverage with a matte finish, plus it's fragrance-free (good for sensitive skin) and infused with niacinamide, which is known to help reduce dark spots.

While the product has a thick texture, just a little bit goes a long way. You can count on it to even out your skin tone and create a nice veil of coverage without looking or feeling greasy. It can settle into pores and fine lines, but applying a smoothing primer first should help prevent this.

Best for Mature Skin

Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Hydrating Skin Tint SPF 15 with Hyaluronic Acid

$49 $40 at Amazon $49 at Sephora $49 at Ulta What We Like

• Doesn't settle into fine lines

• Lightweight, natural-looking coverage

• Moisturizes and protects

What to Consider

• Low SPF

Shades: 18 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: No

If you ask us, this pick from Bobbi Brown is the best CC cream for mature skin. It moisturizes while providing light, natural-looking coverage to ensure it blends seamlessly and doesn't settle into fine lines.

The lightweight, humidity-resistant formula won't crease when you smile, talk, or otherwise move your face throughout the day. And the color correction should hold up for at least 12 hours. We also like that it's blended with vitamins and antioxidants to protect from free radicals and create a radiant complexion.

Best for Dark Skin Tones

The Lip Bar Tinted Skin Conditioner

$17 at Target View on Thelipbar.com View on CVS What We Like

• Nuanced, deep shades

• Covers dark spots and under-eye circles

• Buildable coverage

• Moisturizing

What to Consider

• Potentially too shiny for oily skin types

Shades: 12 | Coverage: Light to medium | Finish: Radiant | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This CC cream from The Lip Bar comes in 12 shades, including multiple nuanced shades with varying undertones that work with dark and very dark skin tones. While it has light coverage, we were impressed by its capacity to be built up to medium. What's more, it effectively covered our dark spots and color-corrected our under-eye circles.

Thanks to hyaluronic acid, rosewater, and Irish sea moss in the formula, this multipurpose product moisturizes your skin while enhancing your complexion. The radiant finish is a touch luminous. It might be too shiny for those with oilier skin, but this could be fixed by setting it with translucent powder.

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

Tower 28 SunnyDays Tinted Sunscreen

$32 $29 at Amazon $32 at Sephora View on Credo Beauty What We Like

• Doesn't irritate skin or clog pores

• Inclusive shade range

• Contains mineral SPF 30

What to Consider

• Not the most buildable

Shades: 17 | Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Tower 28 SunnyDays has a stamp of approval from the National Eczema Association, plus it's made without fragrance and is free from essential oils. Promising not to cause breakouts or clog pores, it's ideal for those with acne-prone skin and reactive complexions.

This sunscreen-makeup hybrid is a great option for no-makeup makeup days. It provides SPF 30 protection with mineral UV blockers, medium coverage, color correction, and a natural-looking finish. We also like that the shade options are more diverse than others, and the brand continues to add more to work with a broader range of skin tones.

Best K-Beauty

Erborian CC Cream

$46 $44 at Amazon View on Ulta View on Dermstore What We Like

• Easy to apply and blend with fingers or brush

• Lightweight feel on face

• Blurs pores and corrects uneven tone

What to Consider

• Limited shades

• May oxidize with extended wear

Shades: 4 | Coverage: Light | Finish: Radiant | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We tested this CC cream from the Korean beauty brand Eborian and have lots of good things to say about it. The lightweight texture makes it easy to apply and blend with your fingers or a makeup brush. And wearing it feels like there's barely anything on your face.

The shade range is really limited, but if one of the colors matches your skin tone, you can expect Eborian CC Crème to blur your pores and generate a more even-toned complexion. Unfortunately, it seemed to oxidize as the day wore on, which made the shade we tested appear slightly darker. But if you're looking for something with light coverage for quick outings, it's worth buying.

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 level of coverage to look for depends on your preferences and how you intend to wear it. If the goal is to blur and color correct, light or medium coverage will do. But if you use CC cream for glam looks, special occasions, or photos, you may want full or at least buildable coverage.
• Finish: Like foundation, CC creams have 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, and those with drier skin types and mature complexions might like a natural or dewy finish.
• Shade Range: Since many CC creams have lighter coverage than traditional foundations, the shades are often somewhat flexible, like how tinted sunscreen can sometimes be a universal shade. However, if you get one too far off from your skin tone, it may not work for you. Look for an option with a wide shade range, and flip through photos of models wearing the shades to get your match just right.
• Skincare Ingredients: CC creams often provide skin benefits in addition to coverage. Some have SPF sun 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.

FAQ

• What does CC cream do?

  As a makeup-skincare hybrid, CC cream can do a lot. "A CC cream is a multitasking product that color corrects, covers, and can offer skincare and sun protection benefits all in one step," explains Figueroa.

• How do you apply CC cream?

  As with foundation, the right 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.

Meet Our Expert

We consulted with the following makeup artist to learn more about CC creams and what to look for when evaluating them:

• Nydia Figueroa is a celebrity makeup artist and beauty educator based on the East Coast.

Why Trust Byrdie

Alyssa Kaplan is an editor on Byrdie, covering makeup, skincare, fragrance, haircare, and more. She's an experienced writer in the beauty industry and a product tester specializing in cosmetics.

Catherine Hufton is a London-based lifestyle journalist and has been a contributing writer and editor for Byrdie since 2022. Her freelance career has given her the opportunity to work for some of the world’s biggest beauty brands and women’s titles and test hundreds of makeup and skincare products in the process. She digs deep into all things fashion and beauty to find the very best shopping must-haves using her own knowledge, expert advice, and detailed insights from Byrdie’s NYC testing lab.

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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