BB Creams have the BB which stand for Beauty Balm or Blemish Balm. They have light weight coverage, are more hydrating and they usually have skin care serums in them. It’s a combination of skin care and foundation that are supposed to be healthier than a traditional foundation. They are supposed to be optimal for those with acne because they are gentler and will not clog your pores or cause more acne, and they are also supposed to treat the skin. They are more of a tinted treatment, than a tinted moisturizer. BB Creams almost always have a facial sunscreen in them and are often used as primers. A few of my favorites are the Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12 Hour Primer (spf 30), the Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream (spf 35), and Lancome’s Bienfait Teinté Beauty Balm (spf 30). While the Lancome is the most expensive of the bunch, it also has .7 ounces more product than the others, which makes it less per ounce than the other two. I am not a fan of the Smashbox BB water however, and do not recommend that one.
CC Creams have the CC which stands for Color Correction. They typically have a medium coverage (some that boarder on full coverage) and try to address issues like redness or sallowness. They usually have very gentle ingredients because they are also skin care, and unlike BB Creams they are supposed to replace your foundation and aren’t often found as a primer. They are also usually super hydrating and typically have sunscreen in them as well. I have only tried two that I like. The It Cosmetics is hands down my favorite. It has an spf pf 50, it has anti-aging serum in it, and it is full coverage. It’s not super hydrating, but if you use a moisturizer under it it’s perfect. The only other one I have tried and like was the Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream. It’s lightweight, hydrating and has medium coverage.
DD Creams have the DD which stands for Daily Defense or sometimes Dynamic Do-All. DD creams have more coverage and are supposed to be the best of all worlds. They should be non-comedogenic, hydrating and acne fighting as well as a meduim to full coverage. DD creams also have spf protection in most cases. Some might argue that the It Cosmetics CC cream is a DD cream as well, however most DD creams are created by skin care brands that don’t have a lot of cosmetics. The Derma Doctor brand is one I haven’t personally tried but that I have heard nothing but good things about. I honestly haven’t seen to many DD creams, and I feel it’s because they are pretty much the same as a CC cream. The DermaDoctor brand has a more meduim coverage. The only other one I have seen is the Julep and I haven’t personally liked anything I have tried form Julep and the one person I know who has used it didn’t like it. If you want a more sull coverage DD cream I recommend the It Cosmetics CC cream.
Drop your favorite brands and other questions about BB, CC and DD creams in the comments.