The Big Difference Between BB and CC Cream — And How to Use Them Together

From BB to CC to the emerging category of DD creams, beauty is slowly but surely making its way through the alphabet. To help you determine which option is best for you (and, exactly what each cream does) we put together a guide to BB and CC creams — the most popular options on the market — and the ones you should be mixing to get that dewy, your-skin-but-better look.

BB Cream
Focusing on skincare benefits, BB cream (short for beauty balm) is an all-in-one serum, moisturizer, primer, SPF and foundation that originated and first became popular in Asia. You’ve probably seen the shelves stocked with this trendy item for a while now, and here at Makeup.com we’re definitely on board with BB cream thanks to its convenience, natural-looking coverage and skin-boosting benefits.

CC Cream
You know what they say: When the market gets saturated with options, create the next generation of product. This is exactly what happened with the introduction of CC cream. Short for color correction, CC creams contain all of the BB benefits, plus color correcting ingredients like vitamin C to brighten dark spots and improve overall skin tone. Some even have different colored undertones to help counteract redness in skin. These creams tend to offer more coverage, and they’re especially great for people who have dark spots, acne, or unevenness.

Ahead, find our picks for each category that you can apply together, separately or even mix and match.

Maybelline Makeup Dream Fresh BB Cream + It Cosmetics CC+ Cream

The super creamy Maybelline BB Cream is our absolute go-to when it comes to a drugstore beauty balm. It’s super rich — but it seamlessly glides onto your skin and fills in any uneven texture. If you’re looking for a CC cream that has a similar feel and sense, this It Cosmetics pick is the one for you. It’s one of those makeup products you’ll find in a beauty editor’s cosmetic bag, and one that you’ll be repurchasing on the reg.

L’Oréal Nude Magic Skin BB Cream +  YSL Top Secrets CC Cream Color Correcting PrimerAnother excellent drugstore BB cream option, the L’Oréal Nude Magic lives up to its name. This all in one beauty balm can serve as an excellent primer under foundation, or can even be worn on its own. For a higher end color correcting experience, we love the YSL CC cream to use along with a great BB. This formula comes in three different shades (Rose, Apricot and Lavender), which guarantee to conceal and correct any discoloration or hyperpigmentation.

Lancôme Bienfait Teinté BB Cream + Armani Luminessence CC CreamFor a natural finish and 24-hour moisture — Lancôme’s Bienfait is the beauty balm you’ve been searching for. To pair with and over it, we recommend the Armani Luminessence, a brightening CC with anti-aging properties to combat any lackluster skin.