If You Hate Heavy Foundations, These CC Creams Are Worth Knowing About

I have a confession to make. Despite being a beauty editor with an embarrassingly large number of products stashed in my house, I actually use a surprisingly small amount of them on a daily basis. Sure, I test and try a lot of things to see what’s good, but when it comes to my skincare, haircare and makeup routines, I like to keep things as pared-back and simple as possible.

Why? Well, for one thing, I no longer have the same amount of time for lengthy beauty rituals that I used to have. But mainly I’ve realised that what’s the point of overcomplicating things with 10-step routines, including foundations, concealers and under-eye correctors, if you can use one multitasking product that will do the job just as well? And that’s where CC creams come in.

On days when wearing a full-coverage foundation feels too overdone, but I'm not feeling skin-confident enough to skip makeup entirely, I reach for a CC cream. Short for colour correcting, CC creams are formulated to reduce any colour in your complexion that’s giving it an uneven appearance. For me, that tends to be redness caused by breakouts, purple tones under my eyes from tiredness and sometimes sallow undertones. For others, it might be rosacea, inflammation or pigmentation in the skin. Packed with clever colour-correcting pigments, CC creams effectively counterbalance the unwanted tones in our skin to get everything looking more even, smooth and healthy. And while they aren’t as full coverage as a classic foundation, they definitely provide more coverage than something like a skin tint or a BB cream. Plus, the glow that they impart on tired-looking complexions is something else.

Who Are CC Creams Good For?

I'm not alone in my love of CC creams either. Beauty editors and makeup artists are obsessed with them too.

"While I don't use a huge amount of CC creams, I do like brands like Erborian specifically for combatting redness on my clients," says makeup artist Lisa Caldognetto. "Whether it's rosacea or eczema, there can be a bit of skin texture going on alongside redness and a lot of CC creams have quite nourishing formulas to combat this alongside colour correcting."

How To Apply CC Creams

And if you're concerned that a CC cream won't offer enough coverage for you, Caldognetto has a great tip for application. "The best way of applying a CC cream for extra coverage is to use a dense brush and pat the product on with it," Caldognetto advises. "Avoid circular or blending motions as that will sheer out the product and lessen the coverage—you want to press the product onto the areas that you want it."

Feeling tempted? Keep scrolling for the 7 best CC creams on the market right now.

Best CC Creams, Confirmed by Editors

• Best Overall CC Cream: Erborian CC Dull Correct, £38
• Best CC Cream for Neutralising Redness: L'Oréal Paris C'est Magic CC Cream Anti-Redness, £11.99
• Best Lightweight CC Cream: By Terry Brightening CC Serum, £22
• Best CC Cream for Shade Range: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF50, £32
• Best CC Cream for Mature Skin: Chanel CC Cream Super Active Complete Correction SPF 50, £55

1. Erborian CC Dull Correct

This is probably my favourite CC cream of all time and I've been through countless bottles of the stuff. The coverage is definitely on the sheer side—and despite the limited shade range I would therefore say that the shades available are quite stretchable—but it has a unique ability to make skin look incredibly healthy without disguising any of your natural texture. It contains vitamin E to protect skin and tiger grass to combat redness and inflammation, and I always get compliments on how glowy my skin looks when I wear this.

2. It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream With SPF50+

When I asked on Instagram which CC cream makeup artists, industry experts and my fellow beauty editors rated most, it was this cult product from It Cosmetics that came out on top—by a long way. And once you've tried it, it's easy to see why. It has a creamy, hydrating texture that glides onto skin to diffuse the appearance of pores, even skin tone and create a plump, juicy texture, and it's packed with hyaluronic acid and other skin-friendly ingredients to moisturise and refresh your complexion. Plus, it's available in 14 versatile shades, which is a pretty impressive offering when it comes to CC creams.

3. By Terry Cellularose Moisturising CC Cream

This is a serum rather than a cream, but I'm including it in my round-up of the best CC creams anyway because it is incredible. Yes, it's pricey, but it's more than worth it in my opinion, as you only need to apply the smallest amount to see the biggest skin transformation. After having both of my children, this CC serum was genuinely the only thing that I wore for months. It takes seconds to apply, but leaves skin looking so bright, fresh and glowy that nobody will believe you've only had three hours of broken sleep. Plus, I love that it gently exfoliates skin as well as conceals unevenness—so you're getting some long-term skin benefits as well as the instant results. 

4. L'Oréal Paris C'est Magic CC Cream Anti-Redness

If your skin is prone to redness, then I can't recommend this high-street CC cream enough. The formula itself is tinted green, which naturally neutralises red tones in your complexion to leave skin looking calmer and even in tone. And, worry not, it won't leave you looking like the Hulk—once you've rubbed it in it is totally undetectable as it adapts to your skin tone. 

5. It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Nude Glow With SPF40

Another CC cream from It Cosmetics comes in the form of this brightening formulation of their cult classic, and replaces the late illuminating version of the product. It's not as full-coverage as the original, but if glowy skin is up your street, then the name says it all here. Part-skincare, part-makeup, it boasts an extremely luminous finish that does away with any need for highlighter. I love it on days that my skin looks really dull, but if you're oily like me, then you might not love the sheen that if leaves by the end of the day. 

6. Chanel CC Cream Super Active Complete Correction SPF 50

The chicest CC cream in existence, Chanel's offering imparts instant luminosity to skin while delivering ingredients that will actually help your complexion to look glowier in the long-term. Packed with super fruit extracts, it aims to protect skin with SPF 50+, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improve radiance over time. 

7. Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream SPF 30 

If you prefer your skin to look natural and don't like the way that classic foundations or base products can feel on your skin, then this CC cream from Clinique is brilliant. It feels exactly like applying a moisturiser, but has just the right amount of coverage to diminish the appearance of things like redness, sallowness and dark circles. Plus, it contains sunscreen so it really is a one-and-done product. 

How We Tested

Both the wider Who What Wear UK team and our beauty team have tested hundreds of CC creams between us. From more affordable products to luxury brands, we tested the gamut at different price points and rated them on how they covered redness, blemishes, and wore throughout the day. Each CC cream has been tested by us, as experts, and is genuinely a staple in our editors' makeup bags.

Why Trust Us

At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.