When coming into the warmer months, opting for the best CC cream instead of applying your usual foundation routine is a great way to keep the skin looking flawless but feeling fresh.
We all want our make-up to appear radiant when it's sunny outside, so discovering a new CC cream will help to even out the skin tone while looking natural and providing enough coverage to suit your preference.
What is a CC cream?
CC stands for 'colour correction' and is great for those who struggles with any redness, pigmentation or discolouration in their skin.
Household skincare brand, Olay, summed up the definition of a CC cream perfectly. Olay said, "CC creams neutralise the look of skin imperfections by utilising colours opposite of each other on the colour wheel. For example, if you were to have purple undereye circles and veins, you’d want to go for a peach/orange colour option, and if you’re dealing with redness associated with rosacea, sunburn, acne, or broken capillaries, a green one would work well to neutralise the reddish colour."
How should you use a CC cream?
A CC cream is similar to a tinted moisturiser and usually has lighter coverage. If you prefer, they can be applied with your fingertips, as you normally would your daily moisturiser.
However, if you prefer to apply your complexion products with make-up brushes or a sponge, feel free.
Related: The best foundations for mature skin.
The best CC cream to buy
1. IT Cosmetics CC Cream
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IT Cosmetics CC Cream is a colour-correcting cream designed to make the skin look flawless. The skin looks airbrushed and is great if you're looking for a colour corrective cream that's medium to high coverage. This product is a mix of full coverage foundation, a hydrating concealer, and added SPF 50. It also has a colour correction and anti-ageing properties to make a product ideal for everyday use.
Ingredients to note:
Hyaluronic Acid - to hydrate.
Vitamin C - to add radiance.
Pros: Replaces the need to use a foundation.
Cons: A fuller coverage than your typical CC cream if you're looking for a lightweight finish.
Review: "I love everything about this product. The consistency is smooth and coverage is buildable. It leaves a lovely finish and lasts all day. It also leaves my skin feeling super soft and hydrated. I would 100% recommend it!"
2. Revolution Pro CC Skin Tint
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This skin tint from Revolution is a quick and easy way to even out the skin tone and replaces the need to use a foundation in the warmer months. We love that this is adapts to your skintone, giving your make-up look a real glow.
Ingredients to note:
Vitamin E to hydrate and add radiance.
Pros: Vegan, cruelty-free.
Cons: Available in three shades.
Review: "Amazing!! I was a bit reluctant to buy this because it’s a bit more expensive than my usual foundations, and is only a tint. But it’s beautiful on the skin, so incredibly natural and sits well on my dry skin. The colour is great and I’m extremely pale, it’s sheer enough to match but also not look ghostly. It does have some coverage, especially if you set it with a powder it could be perfect for everyday wear when my skin isn’t looking too bad! It lasts well too and blends perfectly just using fingers."
3. Erborian CC Creme
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If you are looking for a product that instantly evens the skin tone: this is the CC cream for you. This product appears as a white cream and adapts to your natural skin tone, designed to even out any discolouration. Once blended into the skin, this product provides an even, radiant coverage promising to last all day. Perfect to use during the summer months if you're looking for a product that has a lighter texture with the added SPF 25.
Ingredients to note:
Vitamin E
Honey
Pros: Great for all skin tones, the product adapts to the natural tones of your skin to blend seamlessly.
Cons: None.
Review: "I have got to write a review on this product. So, I like to put some makeup on every day. I find foundations too heavy and was looking for a more natural, sheer effect. I have had a few bb/cc creams and spent quite a lot of money and time until I found this one. I always read reviews but we’re all different. With my combination skin I’m more than happy with this product, don’t need no powder, my skin looks amazing, not oily/shiny."
4. Rodial Skin Tint
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It's a skin tint designed to mimic the best version of your complexion. This product comes in a range of shades to adapt to all skin tones and is excellent for those who prefer a medium coverage to their CC cream.
Top tip - find your perfect shade using 'Findation'. This website takes into account your existing shade from any product from any brand to calculate your perfect shade when shopping online.
Ingredients to note:
Hyaluronic Acid - adds instant hydration for those with dry skin and has anti-ageing benefits.
Pros: Super buildable to coverage you prefer.
Cons: Only available in limited shades.
Tried and tested by Commercial Content Writer, Georgia Scott: "This is a great daily skin tint, ideal for evening out any discolouration or redness. I wear the shade Hamptons and it's ideal for my skin tone. I always opt for a lighter complexion product during the summer and this product provides enough coverage as well as creates a healthy glow."
5. Olay 7 In One CC Cream
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An ideal way to introduce a CC cream into your routine: this daily cream from Olay acts as your tinted moisturiser. It has multiple skincare benefits, evens out any discolouration and provides sun protection.
Ingredients to note:
Green Tea Extract
Vitamin C & E
Niacinamide
Pros: Absorbs quickly into the skin.
Cons: Limited shade range.
Review: "Amazing results and good coverage! Been using it for about a year and I can see such visible improvements. Won't stop using - ever."
6. L'Oreal C'est Magic Cc Cream Anti-Redness
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A lightweight CC cream that's ideal for those who struggle with any redness in the skin. Are you looking for a cream to even out the complexion and help diminish redness? This product is one to try. This skincare-infused cream promises to keep the skin hydrated for 24 hours and provide SPF20 sun protection.
Ingredients to note:
Fig extract
Vitamins E & B5
Pros: Provides long-lasting hydration.
Cons: None.
Review: "I'm a makeup artist and I've been struggling to find a nice cc cream for the summer that can also cover up my flares of acne, This stuff is honestly a miracle in a bottle! It goes on green and then adjusts to my shade but the green helps counter out the redness, it has the perfect amount of coverage and it is so gorgeous on the skin! DEFINITELY WORTH YOUR MONEY!!"
7. Erborian CC Red Correct
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Designed to target those who suffer from any redness or rosacea, the glowing formula contains green pigments to instantly correct and conceals any redness visible on the surface of the skin. This colour corrector works well as a primer to disguise any redness under your make-up.
Ingredients to note:
Tiger Grass Extract - helps soothe the skin.
Vitamin E - antioxidant and provides hydration.
Green Pigments
Pros: Acts as a primer but can also be worn alone to naturally colour correct.
Cons: On the pricey side.
Review: "I suffer from eczema and skin allergies so my face at times looks flushed . I've tried loads of products to calm my redness but they irritate or are too heavy and you need to wear foundation over it . This is perfect calmed the redness straight away and doesn't feel heavy or look like I'm wearing a correcting product skin feels smooth and a balanced skin colour."