Best bet BB and CC creams

First picture: Lumene Vitamin C+ Illuminating Anti-Age BB-cream SPF 20 in 01 Light and 02 Medium

Second picture: Age Defense BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 in Shade 03 and Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream Hydrating Colour Corrector Broad Spectrum SPF 30 in Medium Deep

I had better luck with Lumene’s Vitamin C+ Illuminating Anti-Age BB-cream SPF 20, available in two shades, Light and Medium. The product is packed with vitamin C-rich Arctic cloudberry, which supposedly “enhances skin’s luminosity” and will “improve elasticity for an overall more youthful appearance”; Lumene also doesn’t promise too much with the product, which is nice—it’s meant to cover small imperfections, not fix every single thing that may be wrong with your skin. I really appreciate that honesty—especially because the product does everything it promises.

Texture-wise, it’s light, creamy, and gel-like, and unlike the other drugstore BB and CC creams I tried, it absorbed quickly and without leaving a greasy finish. I got really good coverage out of this—it covered some acne scars and made my pores seem smaller—and it lasted about five or six hours, which was also a benefit. The only qualm I have, really, is that there isn’t more SPF; SPF 20 is a little lacking. Otherwise, though, Lumene is a seriously great pick in the drugstore aisle, and should definitely be checked out.

On the more expensive end of the spectrum is Clinique, so popular for the effectiveness of their skincare products; the brand’s BB and CC creams are no different. The brand’s BB cream, Age Defense BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30, doesn’t promise anything corrective or any anti-aging benefits, but it does include a good amount of SPF and a nice level of pigmented coverage. The BB cream is available in three shades: Shade 01, for very fair complexions with pink undertones; Shade 02, for very fair to moderately fair complexions with golden undertones; and Shade 03, which I used, which is for moderately fair to medium complexions with golden undertones. The cream has a thick consistency that absorbed quickly and well, and it lasted all day on me—about eight hours. It is more expensive than any of the drugstore options, but with Clinique, you get what you pay for; this product didn’t really have anything negative going for it.

More recently, Clinique also launched a CC cream, Moisture Surge CC Cream Hydrating Colour Corrector Broad Spectrum SPF 30, which is available in six shades: Very Light, Light, Light Medium, Medium, Medium Deep, and Deep. Like Clinique’s BB cream, this has a thick, gel-like consistency that spreads well and absorbs quickly. You can wear this on its own—which I prefer—or under foundation, but I like the former option because it kept the product breathable. I got good color correction and brightening out of this product, and my skin felt moisturized all day, for about eight hours. Again like Clinique’s BB cream, their CC cream isn’t cheap—but it does everything it promises.

Will more and more brands come out with their own BB and CC creams? Most definitely, and if you can try them out, do—but I would recommend Lumene and Clinique as your initial best bets.

AVAILABILITY: Lumene’s BB cream is $14.99 and available at drugstores like CVS; Clinique’s BB cream is $37 and available at Clinique.com, Sephora, and department store Clinique counters; and Clinique’s CC cream is $35 and available at Clinique.com, Sephora, and department store Clinique counters.

EDITORIAL NOTE: The products featured in this post were provided to Chesapeake Family’s About Face blog by the manufacturer or their public relations company for review. Chesapeake Family’s About Face blog posts are inspired by personal experience and opinion, and are not paid for or influenced by the manufacturer, PR company, or any other organization unless mentioned.

Photos by Roxana Hadadi.

In middle school, Roxana Hadadi was a cosmetics-scorning tomboy; in high school, a glitter eye shadow- and black nail polish-loving trend kid; in college, obsessively committed to dying her hair unruly colors that upset her mom. Now a bit older and a bit more mature, she’s trying to figure out what hair, body and cosmetics products will work for her, you and your family in About Face, Chesapeake Family’s new beauty blog — and she’ll leave the sparkle makeup and neon highlights in the past. Roxana also writes movie reviews for Chesapeake Family’s Popcorn Parents blog.