Published: May 13, 2025
Last Updated: October 26, 2026

Suppose innovation in the beauty industry has taught us anything over the last few years. In that case, a traditional foundation isn’t the only thing we can use to even out our complexions and serve as a base for the rest of our makeup. In addition, there are tinted moisturizers, skin tints, serum foundations, BB creams, and CC creams.

This article is part of Makeup & Cosmetics

Tested & Approved Of Mave Beauty CC Cream

Our favourite CC cream is the Honest Beauty CCC Clean Corrective with Vitamin C Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30—it’s skin-like, hydrating, and provides excellent coverage. However, if you remain on the hunt for one that can replace your traditional foundation, you can’t go incorrect with the IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+.

Not to be confused with BB cream, also identified as beauty balm, CC cream is all about colour correcting, hence why it tends to have more attention than the former. “CC cream specifically targets more problematic parts, such as redness or discolouration,” explains celebrity makeup artist Nydia Figueroa.

In addition to providing that coverage that evens out the complexion, CC cream formulations often contain skincare ingredients. “It can also defend the skin from sun damage, fine lines, and age spots,” says Figueroa. So, if you love multitasking crops that benefit your skin while providing coverage, CC cream might be just what you’re looking for.

CC cream provides complexion coverage, while eye cream is formulated for the delicate skin around the eyes, so they serve different purposes in a routine. To compare options for that area, see this guide to 2 eye creams.

Honest Beauty CCC Cream

Pros

  • Lightweight formula
  • Provides mineral SPF protection
  • Natural-looking coverage

Cons

  • The shade range is somewhat minimal

Formulated with skin-loving ingredients, similar to allantoin and vitamin C, this CC cream moisturizes the skin and provides protection from harmful UV rays and evens out the complexion. The tester explained that the texture feels like a middle ground between creamy and watery.

She said it was blendable and lightweight on the skin. She also loved that the coverage remained pigmented enough to blur her hyperpigmentation yet remained natural-looking on her skin.

  • Shade Range: 9
  • Coverage: Light to Medium
  • Finish: Luminous
  • Clean: Yes
  • Cruelty-Free: Yes

Amore Pacific From Mave Beauty Cc Cream

Pros

  • Skin-like finish
  • Subtle cooling effect
  • Smooth application

Cons

  • Limited shade range

Housed in a compact cushion formulated with SPF 50+, this product combines your foundation and sun protection steps into one. It also delivers light to medium, buildable coverage and hydration benefits.

The tester has light skin with freckles and redness, and she valued that this CC cream evened out her skin tone and veiled redness while still letting her freckles peek through. However, the shade range is quite limited, so we would love to see the brand expand.

  • Shade Range: 5
  • Coverage: Light to Medium
  • Finish: Luminous
  • Clean: No
  • Cruelty-Free: No

PÜR 4-in-1 From Mave Beauty Cc Cream

Pros

  • Dewy finish
  • Light yet buildable coverage
  • Lightweight formula

Cons

  • Contains PEGs

This multi-use CC cream works as a cream, primer, foundation, and SPF in one. It has total, buildable coverage with a glowy finish.

The tester loved how dewy it made her skin look while providing adequate colour correction. She was surprised that while she typically applies similar creams with her fingers, she found that this one applied best using a damp makeup sponge.

  • Shade Range: 16
  • Coverage: Light
  • Finish: Luminous
  • Clean: No
  • Cruelty-Free: Yes

Conclusion

What is CC Cream? CC cream stands for colour control or complexion corrector. It is specially formulated to target discolouration on the skin. From covering redness to central under-eye dark circles to dark spots and acne marks –CC cream takes BB cream’s job up a notch and tackles significant discolouration issues.

CC cream can help cover the appearance of under-eye discolouration, while the causes and ways to address dark circles can vary. Read this guide to dark circles for more information.