Noni Smith's Guide to BB Creams & CC Creams

BB creams and CC creams have been around for a while now, but there’s still confusion surrounding what each one does. And it’s understandable: unless you know what the ‘BB’ and ‘CC’ stand for, their names don't give much away.

We're here to clear things up and give you a few pointers on how to work these must-have products into your beauty kits.

What is a BB cream?

BB cream stands for Beauty Balm, and it combines the benefits of skin care with makeup for an effortless, flawless complexion.

What is a CC cream?
A CC cream, on the other hand, stands for Colour Correcting, and as the name suggests, can be used to counteract unwanted tones in the skin.


Still confused? Noni Smith, L'Oréal Paris Makeup Director, breaks it down even further. “The simple difference is a BB cream is something that treats your skin,” says Noni, adding that “It doesn’t colour correct; that’s what a CC cream is for”.

BB cream benefits
At a minimum, BB creams moisturise, protect and even out skin tone. But many go above and beyond. Take the L'Oréal Paris C'est Magic BB Cream, for example. “It’s a four-in-one product: it gives you flawless coverage, it can hydrate your skin, it gives you a dewy glow, and it evens your skin tone,” says Noni. It’s the best BB cream for combination skin, dry skin and oily skin, all in one easy-to-use formula.

BB cream vs foundation
Given its tinted formula, it’s easy to see why so many are confused about whether or not a BB cream and foundation are the same thing. While they're not (BB creams provide more skin care benefits than foundations, although they tend to deliver a lighter, more natural-looking coverage than foundation), they can be used interchangeably. You don't need to use a BB cream and a foundation together - just pick one or the other. A BB cream is also similar to a tinted moisturiser, but it provides greater coverage and does more for the skin than simply moisturising it.

How to use CC cream?
The L'Oréal Paris C'est Magic Anti-Redness CC Cream, has a green tint to neutralise the appearance of irritated skin that's flushed and red. The way to use a CC cream is to blend it only into the areas that need it. In this instance, the Anti-Redness CC Cream will come in handy around the nose area or along the jawline and cheek area. As an added beneift, its enriched with Glycerin and Fig extracts for long lasting hydration. If you're using both a CC cream and a BB cream, the CC cream should be applied first.

Use our virtual makeup try on to find out what the different products will look like on your skin.

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