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Byrdie / Marcus Millan
TL;DR
IT Cosmetics CC Cream is our best overall pick, an all-around crowd-pleaser that blends out for a natural finish. For a more affordable pick, consider L'Oréal Skin Paradise Water-Infused Tinted Moisturizer, which is ultra-hydrating and packed with humectants to leave you with a healthy dewy finish—a must if you're after a glass skin look.
While foundation will always have its place in our makeup bag, we just can’t go past the light, easy coverage that a BB cream affords. BB creams—short for beauty or blemish balms—are a hybrid between foundation and skincare. The idea is that they’re easy to apply and even out the skin tone while simultaneously improving its appearance. “BB creams are like a skin tint that provides fresh, healthy-looking coverage without the heaviness of a traditional foundation,” explains makeup artist and beauty expert Michael Brown.“They’re great if you want quick, fuss-free coverage.”
We conducted hours of research on the best BB creams, evaluating each formula on active ingredients, benefits, blendability, and overall value. Then we tested them out for ourselves. We also looked at different types of finishes and coverage levels, and considered formulas for every skin type. After considering dozens of brands, and consulting with two celebrity makeup artists, we landed on the following best in show.
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Great coverage
Added SPF
Good shade range
Not ideal for very oily skin
Size: 1.08 ounces | Shades: 22 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
While we do acknowledge that this is a CC Cream, it’s unmatched when it comes to natural-looking coverage, finish, and luminosity. The creamy formula is pigmented, so it does a great job of concealing redness, breakouts, and scarring. One small pump is all you need for a glowing but believable base. “This is a staple for me,” adds Brown. “It does an amazing job evening out the skin without feeling or looking heavy.” Those tight for time in the morning will love how this CC Cream streamlines your entire skincare and makeup routine into a one-step application process. Getting ready has never been so easy as this product not only provides color coverage but is also infused with an anti-aging serum and SPF 50.
Read Full Review: IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ Is Lightweight and Hydrating
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Byrdie / Jessica Juliao
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Very affordable
Infused with skin enriching ingredients
May be too dewy for those with oily skin
This coconut-scented tint melts into the skin to deliver moisture and provide a dewy finish all at the same time. Skin quencher squalane is the main ingredient here and if maintaining your skin’s hydration is your number one priority then this is the BB Cream to reach for. If you find your skin tends to dry out easily and most products end up looking patchy after a few hours of wear, this light cream offers a winning combo of coverage and hydration that results in a more radiant appearance.
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Byrdie / Clare Holden
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Light gel texture
Affordable
Contains SPF
Limited shade range
Size: 1 ounces | Shades: 5 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Light and impossibly fresh, this water-based formula glides over the skin, leaving it smooth, even, and radiant. The coverage is minimal, but it does work well to soften the look of blemishes and refine the look of pores. The self-adjusting shades mean you’ll be able to use it year-round or when you have self-tan on, too.
Those with sensitive skin can benefit immensely from the oil-free formula of this BB Cream. Even if you sometimes still prefer to wear a traditional foundation, subbing in this cream on days when your skin has flared up will provide you with a breathable coverage without further aggravation or clogging up pores.
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Hydrating
Contains SPF
Plumps wrinkles and fine lines
Contains fragrance
Limited shade range
Size: 1.69 ounces | Shades: 7 | Cruelty-Free: No
Packed with hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, and ceramides, Missha’s BB cream is a top choice for those with dry or dehydrated skin. It provides ample coverage and a dewy finish, softening the look of lines, wrinkles, and uneven tone. The addition of SPF 42 is a nice touch, as well.
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Oil-controlling ingredients
Great coverage
Matte finish
Limited shade range
Size: 1.5 ounces | Shades: 4 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
It’s not easy to find a mattifying skin tint that doesn’t feel heavy, but Erborian’s BB Cream strikes the ideal balance. Rich in plant ingredients like wild yam, ginseng, and licorice extract, it’s a nourishing formula with great longevity. Try it if you like a polished finish or find you’re prone to midday shine. We hold this product up as the quintessential BB Cream. If you have been unsure about what all the fuss is about, after seeing the improvement in our skin after one week of wearing this BB cream, we were soon converted. The coverage is light but the benefits immense and the velvet matte finish is a dream.
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Byrdie / Clare Holden
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Long-lasting
Blurring effect
Many shade options
Can be drying
Size: 1.07 ounces | Shades: 25 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
“I love all Fenty Beauty complexion products, and this tint is no different. It’s light and buildable, but unlike so many other dewy base products, it’s long-wearing and relatively transfer-proof,” says Brown. The featherweight consistency of this product makes it the go-to option for anyone who loves the look of wearing foundation but hates the feeling of wearing products on their face. Despite its thinner texture it still provides a blurring effect for skin and its wide range of colors (25, to be specific) enables you to get super specific when shade matching.
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Byrdie / Jessica Juliao
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Great coverage
Contains SPF
Limited shade range
Size: 1.35 ounces | Shades: 4 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
The modern concept of BB cream originated in Korea, so it makes sense that the Dr. Jart+ version is up there as one of our favorites. The formula is thicker than most but smoothes over the skin, leaving it even, plump, and nourished. It’s also bolstered with SPF for additional sun protection during the day. Korean Beauty has long been at the forefront of preventing sun damage and sunscreen has always been seen as an integral part of the daily skincare routine. While the consistency is slightly heavier than other BB Creams, considering it provides SPF 40 as well as coverage it is surprisingly breathable. The natural finish makes it the ideal choice for daily wear and the added benefit of niacinamide, means even your skin barrier gets some attention.
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Byrdie / Jessica Juliao
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Great for acne-prone skin
Natural finish
Pricey
May be slightly too shiny for some
Size: 1.18 ounces | Shades: 20 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This top-rated skin tint is infused with plant-based squalane, hyaluronic acid, and mineral sunscreen, giving it plenty of nourishing properties without congesting the skin. The lightweight gel feels light and cooling, providing sheer coverage that blurs blemishes without concealing natural texture. It also grabs bonus points for the vast shade range. Keep your oil under control without a pressed powder in sight. When it comes to some skin solutions sometimes less is more and if you tend to clog your shiny t-zone by overloading it with product, changing up your base for this 3-in-1 tinted moisturizer will finally enable you to achieve a dewy finish without ever crossing over to greasy or caked.
Read Full Review: The Anti-Foundation I Keep Getting Compliments On
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Sheer finish
Antioxidant benefits
Pricey
Limited shade range
Size: 1.7 ounces | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
While expensive, this tinted moisturizer from Chantecaille comes with a stack of skincare benefits, plus a lightweight tint to boot. The formula contains edelweiss, honeysuckle, and green tea. The addition of sodium hyaluronate helps with hydration levels. The finish is sheer but noticeable (think more even tone, reduced redness, and refined pores). It can also be teamed with a concealer for those who need a little extra coverage in certain spots but still want to maintain a minimal makeup look.
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Hydrating
Affordable
Oil-free
Limited shade range
Size: 1.0 ounces | Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Like a tall drink of water for parched skin, this skin tint from L'Oréal is supremely hydrating without feeling heavy. Made on a base of water, aloe vera, and the humectant glycerin, it plumps fine lines and improves luminosity while subtly concealing uneven tone and texture. It comes with some sun protection, too.
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Blendable and hydrating
Wears well
Dewy finish
Might not be the best choice for those prone to breakouts
Size: 1.7 ounces | Shades: 20 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
While not technically a BB cream, Brown swears by Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer and has carried it in his professional kit for years. “It has a light, blendable texture that evens out skin tone without caking.” It’s also infused with macadamia and kukui nut oils for nourishment, while silica-treatment pigments ensure a dewy, radiant finish.
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Formula is hydrating but lightweight
Very radiant finish still looks natural
May be too dewy for oily skin type
No shades for dark skin
Size: 1.4 ounces | Shades: 11 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
For those who like a full-on dewy effect, this pick is the choice. It’s packed with hydrating ingredients (hyaluronic acid, glycerin), which in and of itself makes your skin appear plumper and more radiant. Add to the mix light-reflecting particles, and you’ve got yourself a full on glow, no highlighter needed. The medium coverage is also nice, and the shades available work well for a variety of light-to-medium complexions. However, it is worth pointing out that it doesn’t come in any shades for darker skin.
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Very affordable
Comes in a nice line-up of shades, especially considering it’s a drugstore product
Water-based formula could be slightly more hydrating
Size: 1.0 ounce | Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you love your skin to look more matte, reach for this drugstore buy. Along with the wallet-friendly price tag, we also love the matte finish that keeps shine at bay, but never looks cakey or chalky. Plus, it’s both oil-free and non-comedogenic, making it a top pick for those with acne-prone skin, too. The coverage is considered light, though many reviewers point out that it’s still plenty to even out tone and/or camouflage minor skin issues. Just FYI, unlike many other BB creams out there, this one doesn’t contain SPF, so make sure you’re applying your daily dose of sunscreen separately.
What to Look for in a BB Cream
- Desired Outcome: "When looking for your ideal BB cream match, think about what your desired outcome is," explains pro makeup artist Megs Cahill. "Do you want sun protection, hydration, or shine control? Some things to look for in BB creams based on your wants/needs [include] skincare benefits, priming abilities, SPF, shine control, coverage level, consistency, and wear time.”
- Consistency: When testing the product, Cahill recommends opting for something lighter weight and non-greasy. “We want this to blend into the skin, not sit on top of it.” Those with oily skin especially should avoid anything containing oil and opt for a product that's designed to be mattifying. Those with very dry skin should seek something with hydration and a dewier finish.
- Shade range: The good thing about BB creams is that they have a thinner consistency and coverage, so shades are more likely to stretch to match multiple skin tones. Look for formulas that come in a wide range of skin tones to better your chances of finding something for your unique skin tone.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Emily Algar has always subscribed to the idea of no-makeup makeup and loves the lightweight coverage a BB cream affords. She’s tried a bunch throughout her beauty writing career and has also called on a few experts in the field to curate the best.
Byrdie contributor Clare Holden was slow to convert to BB Creams, preferring to wear full coverage makeup AM to PM. But after her skin decided to erupt in unexplained breakouts she knew a change was needed. After discussing the situation with fellow makeup artists and testing out the offerings, she discovered BB Cream provided the perfect solution to give her skin a much needed break from heavy foundations without leaving her completely bare faced.
For this story, we also interviewed two experts to gather more insights about what to keep in mind when buying a BB Cream. Those experts are:
- Michael Brown is one of Australia’s leading celebrity makeup artists who has worked on the faces of Gisele, Sofia Richie Grainge, and Alessandra Ambrosio.
- Megs Cahill is a former professional makeup artist turned beauty entrepreneur with specialized expertise in skincare.
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