We Tried Dozens of BB Creams—These 13 Hydrate and Color-Correct All Skin Types (2024)

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.

Our Top Picks

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

FAQ

• How do you apply BB cream?

  “To get the most coverage, use a brush. I recommend a dense foundation brush for a smooth application,” says Cahill. "To get the naturally radiant look, use a damp sponge as this will help the dew come through the product and even sheer of the product out a tad.”

• What is the difference between BB and CC cream?

  Cahill says a BB cream is a beauty balm hybrid between skincare, primer, foundation, and/or SPF, whose goal is to lightly even out skin tone, treat, and protect. In contrast, a CC cream (or color/complexion corrector) is designed to correct uneven skin tone and add coverage while protecting your skin.