The Comparison, in One Table
| BB cream | CC cream | |
|---|---|---|
| Stands for | Blemish balm, blemish base or beauty balm | Usually color correction |
| Main job | Light coverage plus skincare | Evening out color, such as redness |
| Coverage | Sheer to light | Light to medium, sometimes full |
| SPF | Usually | Usually |
| Origin | First made in Germany in the 1960s, developed further in South Korea | A later variation on the BB idea |
Brands use both terms loosely, so a BB cream from one company can cover more than a CC cream from another. Treat the letters as a hint about intent — care versus correction — rather than a specification.
How to Choose
Look past the label to three things: how much coverage you want, the finish, and the sunscreen filters. The four formulas below show how much they vary.
| Formula | Type | SPF and filters |
|---|---|---|
| Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream | BB | SPF 42; octinoxate with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide |
| Erborian CC Cream | CC | SPF 25; octinoxate, octisalate, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide |
| Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream | CC | SPF 30; octinoxate, octisalate, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide |
| IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream | CC | SPF 50+; titanium dioxide and zinc oxide only |
If you want even less coverage, see tinted moisturizers; for more, tinted moisturizer vs foundation. A primer underneath helps either last longer.
