15 best CC creams to keep redness and dark circles at bay
If they aren't already, CC creams (AKA colour correcting creams) are definitely worth adding to your makeup arsenal. Especially now, with summer well underway, and when most of us are tempted to part with our full coverage foundations and opt for more lightweight formulations instead.
As the name name implies, CC creams are formulated to cancel out any redness, dark circles and other forms of discolouration so as to even out your skin tone. The pigments in the formula aim to neutralise a specific colour that is the opposite from the tint featured in the product. In a nutshell: green cancels out redness, orange counteracts blueness and lavender helps erase yellow tones. Pretty neat, right?
Best CC creams at a glance – our top picks
- Best CC cream overall: Erborian CC Crème, £40, Sephora
- Best CC cream for full coverage: IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream, £26.40, LookFantastic
- Best hydrating CC cream: Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream, £31.91, Sephora
- Best affordable CC cream: L'Oréal Paris C'est Magic CC Cream, £10.99, LookFantastic
And as someone who has quite a bit of redness on my face, I can't even begin to explain just how game-changing CC creams are for me. Don't get me wrong: there's truly nothing wrong with embracing your natural skin – and you shouldn't feel like you need to colour correct your unique features to create a “perfect”-looking base. However, as a makeup enthusiast, I also understand that having an even canvas can make the biggest difference to the end result. While I don't really mind a bit of natural flush peeking through, there's nothing more frustrating than doing my makeup right after working out, which usually leaves my whole face tomato-level red. So trust me when I tell you that no amount of foundation will do just as good a job as a high-quality CC cream.
The best part is that CC creams have come such a long way – and there are now tonnes of options to choose from. You can pick one based on your preferred coverage level, finish as well as your skin priorities. Lots of CC creams also double as a sunscreen, offering sun protection ratings of between SPF 15 and SPF 50 to protect your delicate skin from sun damage and other environmental aggressors. And they also tend to feature a variety of skin-loving ingredients for every skincare need. Depending on the product, this can usually include things like hyaluronic acid for additional hydration and vitamin C for a brightening effect, as well many others such as niacinamide and glycerin.
As you can probably guess, I normally tend to reach for formulas with a green tint to cancel out red undertones. My go-to is the L'Oréal Paris C'est Magic CC Cream Anti-Redness, but I've also recently discovered the TikTok-trending Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Colour Correcting Treatment which I honestly cannot recommend enough. I enjoyed how – besides the obvious instant colour correcting results – it has helped to reduce redness over time.
To help you choose a product that is best for you, we've put together a round-up of the very best CC creams available to match your budget, preference and skin type, regardless of whether you have normal skin, dry skin, oily skin or anything in between. Below, you’ll find that we’ve cherry-picked the best formulas on the market as well as all the bestsellers, so you can rest assured that you'll definitely find one that ticks all the boxes.
Our top picks | BB creams vs. CC creams - what are the differences? | How do CC creams work and how should I apply one?
From tinted moisturisers to light-coverage foundations.
BB creams vs. CC creams - what are the differences?
We get it: it all can be a little confusing – from BB (beauty balm) creams to CC (colour corrector) creams and even DD (daily defence) creams, it's easy to get overwhelmed when trying to figure out what you need and what works for your skin.
What you do need to know, however, is that although BB creams and CC creams might appear very similar, they do have a few key differences. Essentially, the idea behind CC creams is that they contain pigments that help with colour correcting, which is especially useful if you have areas of hyperpigmentation, acne scarring or dark circles. In fact, these products are specifically designed to conceal – and sometimes treat – redness or sensitivity.
How do CC creams work and how should I apply one?
CC creams are also perfect for neutralising unwanted shades from our skin tone by introducing a little makeup artist wizardry. You might know that shades that sit opposite each other on the colour wheel cancel each other out. So as we've mentioned earlier in the article: green tackles red, orange takes care of the blue, and lavender cancels out the yellow.
This is why CC creams can also be ideal for acne-prone skin, since many of them are specifically designed to camouflage the redness in spots. It's why they'll help to brighten up unwanted dullness too, regardless of whether you’re using something that provides a sheer or matte finish.
Plus, if you're giving your skin a much-deserved break from foundations, CC creams can be an ideal alternative, offering just enough coverage without feeling heavy on the skin or clogging up your pores. All you need to do is blend it into your skin with the help of your favourite makeup sponge (or hands), starting with the centre of the face or any areas of discolouration to provide a more even base, before adding a little concealer to specific areas as needed.
Looking for more beauty products to upgrade your skincare routine? Check out our guides to the best moisturisers and face creams, eye creams, anti-ageing creams, night creams, hyaluronic acid serums and vitamin C serums.
For more makeup, skincare, hair care and wellness content from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter @deniseprimbet and Instagram @deniseprimbet.
Scroll down for our full edit of all the best CC creams, from all the trending products and our own favourites…
Best premium CC cream
Why we love it: Is there anything this Chanel CC cream can’t do? It’s great for unifying, moisturising, correcting, protecting and boosting your skin's glow with each use. The all in one formula is enriched with murunga plum extract for more complete correction. Perfect for minimising dark spots and redness, keeping skin hydrated for up to 12 hours, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while protecting you from environmental aggressors and UV rays.
Enjoy more savings when shopping for the best CC cream with these Boots discount codes.
Best CC cream for full coverage
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream, £33, LookFantastic
Why we love it: A CC cream that provides full coverage and broad spectrum SPF, protects against UVA and UVB rays and provides a brightening and hydrating finish is definitely something we can get onboard with. Available in 14 different shades, the It Cosmetics CC cream has a formula that helps conceal dark spots and minimise the appearance of pores. The best part is that it contains a wide range of skincare ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, soy extract, collagen and essential oils.
Save big when shopping for the best CC creams using these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best hydrating CC cream
Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream, £32, Sephora
Why we love it: This Clinique CC cream is ideal for rebalancing your skin tone, keeping it moisturised and well-protected from sun damage. It features Smart Colour Correcting Technology as part of its oil-free formula that ensures your face stays flawless by preventing its undertones from changing with time.
Make sure to bookmark these Sephora discount codes to save when you shop for the best CC creams.
Best CC cream overall
Erborian CC Crème, £41, Sephora
Why we love it: Enriched with SPF25, this Korean CC cream has a formula that features colour controlling pigments that adjust to your skin’s natural look. It also contains centella asiatica, a botanical active ingredient that preserves and moisturises your skin while minimising the look of blemishes and imperfections. Did we mention that this CC cream SPF is suitable for all skin types and that you can even use it as a makeup primer?
Enjoy more savings when shopping for the best CC cream with these Sephora discount codes.
Best affordable CC cream to tackle redness
L'Oréal Paris C'est Magic CC Cream Anti-Redness, £11.99, LookFantastic
Why we love it: This CC red correct cream is created to adapt to your natural skin tone, thanks to Smart Pigment Capsules that transform into a foundation once applied. This makes it perfect to use for a nude-skin makeup look, providing light coverage and buildable coverage thanks to a formula enriched with antioxidants, vitamin B5 and vitamin E. Perfect for strengthening your skin’s natural defences.
Apply these LookFantastic discount codes at checkout to save.
Best CC cream with the biggest shade range
Supergoop! CC Screen SPF 50, £43, Revolve
Why we love it: In all honesty, this CC cream is truly one of the best options on the market. First and foremost, it features the biggest shade range we've ever seen (we're talking 15 shades in total, compared to the usual 3-4 that you would get from most CC creams) – more than enough reason for it to be one of our favourites. Of course, in true Supergoop! fashion, it also offers sublime SPF protection as well as a gentle, antioxidant-rich formula that's designed to even out your skin tone. Brb, adding to cart…
Best colour correcting treatment
Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Colour Correcting Treatment, £38, Dr. Jart+
Why we love it: If you're a TikTok-obsessive, chances are, you already recognise this epic colour correcting treatment from Dr. Jart+. This viral product genuinely deserve all the hype that it gets online. Priced at £38, its unique formula is incredibly lightweight and is designed to adapt to your natural skin colour, all the while neutralising redness, evening out your complexion and helping manage rosacea and breakout-prone skin. Don't let the light green colour scare you away, it seamlessly turns into a nude shade as you continue to rub the product in.
Best CC cream for a natural finish
e.l.f. Camo CC Cream, £14, Sephora
Why we love it: This affordable option from e.l.f. Cosmetics offers medium-to-full coverage that acts as a foundation with a natural finish. It’s formulated with a sun protection rating of SP30 and offers great skincare benefits, thanks to a range of hydrating ingredients that work to improve your skin’s texture and tone.
Check out these Sephora discount codes to save.
Best lightweight CC cream
Erborian CC Water, £41, LookFantastic
Why we love it: Part of the brand's incredible CC cream line, this product features a unique lightweight formula – perfect if you're after a weightless feel and seamless coverage. Its gel-like consistency is infused with micro-pigment capsules that melt into the skin upon application. Ideal for warm weather.
Check out these LookFantastic discount codes for savings.
Best CC cream for mature skin
Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme Global Anti-Ageing CC Creme, £52, Sephora
Why we love it: Estee Lauder has done it again. Its age-defying CC cream comes in a universal shade that complements virtually any complexion and provides sheer coverage and leaves your skin looking dewy. It also features innovative technology that helps significantly reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles to ensure that your skin looks radiant, healthy and beautiful for longer.
Enjoy more savings when shopping for the best CC cream with these Sephora discount codes.
Best CC cream for sensitive skin
La Roche-Posay Rosaliac CC Cream, £29.69, Amazon
Why we love it: Specifically designed for sensitive skin that’s prone to redness, this long-lasting correction cream is available in one universal shade that’s adapted to fair-to-medium skin. It has a non-oily, parabens-free and alcohol-free formula that glides over the skin with a natural-looking finish. Did we mention that it’s also enriched with La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water to soothe your skin?
Best CC cream with vitamin C
Summer Fridays CC Me Serum, £65, Cult Beauty
Why we love it: This CC cream serum contains two types of vitamin C in its formula, which helps it brighten your skin while reducing the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmintation. Its formula also contains peptides and squalane to help lock in moisture and protect against free radicals. Just apply a few drops to your face and neck, and voila – you’re well on your way to more illuminated skin.
Save big when shopping for the best CC creams using these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best CC cream with glycerin
Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 CC Cream, WAS £16.50 NOW £9.99, Amazon
Why we love it: Fast-absorbing? Check. Non-greasy and features SPF15 protection? Check and check. The Olay CC Cream is not your average CC cream. Its formula is infused with skin perfecting powders as well as the VitaNiacin Complex that is designed to correct your skin tone over time (yep, actually). Plus, it won't clog your pores and you'll be left with a glowy, dewy finish. Now, we don't know about you, but we're sold.
Make sure to check out these Amazon discount codes when shopping for CC creams.
14. Best soothing CC cream
Erborian CC Red Correct, £20.50, LookFantastic
Why we love it: With the help of Korean beauty wisdom, this color correcting cream uses an innovative formula that evens out your complexion and acts as a skin perfector that reduces the appearance of redness and blemishes.
Check out these LookFantastic discount codes for savings.
15. Best oil-free CC cream
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream Matte SPF 40, £33, Boots
Why we love it: Infused with a wide range of goodies such as charcoal, colloidal clay, tea tree extract as well as hyaluronic acid, peptides and antioxidants, this oil-free CC cream delivers full coverage with a natural matte finish. The best part is that it does so without creasing or cracking throughout the day. Foundations who?
Enjoy more savings when shopping for the best CC cream with these Boots discount codes.
