Remember when
BB creams were the beauty buzzword? Now cosmetic companies are taking it up a letter with the CC cream. First launched in Hong Kong by Rachel K cosmetics in 2011, CC creams contain all the benefits of BB creams, but claim to provide more coverage, targeting an issue particularly relevant to FOFs--uneven skintone. We spoke to two beauty experts, Tracey Brown who sings the praises of CC creams and Dana Ramos, who thinks it’s a marketing gimmick. Now, we want you to tell us what you think.
Read the interviews below, then, enter to win Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream by Juice Beauty by answering this question in the comments below: What's your most bothersome skin issue?
What exactly is a CC cream?
Tracey: CC stands for color correcting. Cosmetic companies have taken the BB Cream and added more property to it, so it makes skin look better by adding more coverage.
Dana: CC creams and BB creams are essentially the same thing--it's a basic makeup product [tinted moisturizer] with added ingredients to make it more effective. Each company has their own list of added ingredients: some contain peptides, others contain glycolic acid, etc.
So there's no difference between BB creams and CC creams?
Tracey: BB cream doesn't have properties to fix your skin discoloration. The CC cream ingredients and properties help even out your skin tone, age spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation.
Dana: I don't see a difference except that CC creams may be more effective in evening out skin tone, whereas BB creams are targeted more toward improving the skin overall--but you will find they each have some of the same ingredients.
What skin issues do CC creams treat?
Tracey: Dry skin, sun damage, acne, aging skin and shiny or oily skin.
Dana: They might make your skin look better when used as makeup, but you'd get that same effect from products that don't call themselves CC. You might get some sun protection if your CC cream has SPF. But really, you're getting a little bit of things that are good for your skin, but not to the point that its going to make any real difference.
Before and after one application of Rachel K CC Cream (src: VanityRouge.com)
What are the benefits of using a CC cream?
Tracey: There are certain things that over fifty skin needs. Usually our pores are enlarged, we have a bit of sagging going on, we have some fine lines. We need moisture and sunscreen, and our skin tone needs evening out. CC cream treats all of those issues, so instead of layering on 10 different products you can get one cream that treats all of that. It's a time saver, as well as a money saver.
Dana: CC cream won't change your skin. The tiny bits of retinol, peptides, or glycolic acid found in CC creams won't actually do anything.
Can CC creams replace foundation?
Tracey: Yes. I don't like heavy makeup or foundation. With CC cream your skin is evened out, you look radiant, dewy, and healthy, and thats what the over fifty crowd should be trying for.
Dana: I'm all for women who say, 'I like the way CC creams feel and look as makeup.' I just want them to understand that they're not getting any skin benefits other than SPF and coverage.
Would you recommend CC cream to women over fifty?
Tracey: I recommend CC creams, 100% percent. I think they are really beautiful. It's a time and money saver. CC cream is what's going to help even out your skin tone and make it look clear and bright. It doesn't look like you have a ton of makeup on. It creates a nice, soft look without being overdone.
Dana: Bottom line: Can it hurt you? No. Can it help you? Probably not. The active ingredients in CC creams contain too small of an amount to really make a difference to your skin.
Juice Beauty has set up an exclusive offer for Fab Over Fifty members! Use code FAB to receive a deluxe Stem Cellular Repair Eye Treatment gift with any order of $45 or more from www.juicebeauty.com. Offer expires January 31st, 2013.
Tracey recommends...
Tracey Brown is a beauty expert based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the owner of Brown Beauty Consulting, a boutique marketing firm and editor-in-chief of
Blinging Beauty. After 30 years in the beauty industry as a makeup artist, trainer and skin care expert, and a member of the team that launched Sephora.com, Tracey is now a brand strategist and published journalist, being called upon for her expertise by such mediums as CNN and CBS.
--
Dana Ramos, author of
The Skin Regime is a skin-care enthusiast and writer who lives in Westchester, New York. She's from California where she obtained a Masters in Professional Writing from USC and wrote screenplays. In addition to creating and writing The Skin Regime book and concept, she writes freelance articles and is working on other books.
Enter to win Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream by Juice Beauty by answering this question in the comments below: What's your most bothersome skin issue?
Five FOFs will win. (See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes January 24th, 2012 at midnight E.S.T. Contest limited to residents of the continental U.S.
{FOF Homework} Then & Now 
{Giveaway} Another shot at intimacy! 
{Bedroom Confessions} He wouldn't put it down!
I use BB but would love to give CC a try it looks like it might repair some damage…
age spots rosieasia uneven skin tones and dry skin love to try
I see no difference in the picture shown but that was only one application. Worth a try to see if it works over time.
Firming is what I’m focused on most — but hyperpigmentation is second. I currently use a BB cream and like what it does. But the CC cream looks like it could really clear the complexion.
My most bothersome skin issue is large pores!
Splotches of discoloration. Other than that, I have pretty good skin for a 58 year old.
The BB creams that I’ve tried so far are “ok”, but I would really love to try a CC cream because I do need extra coverage and pore & line minimizing.
broken capilliaries, ugh!!
I have used both, have to say I like the BB creams more
My biggest skin concern is loss of radiance and lack of elasticity/firmness
Please let me try this. I think I’m going to go crazy before I find a new “foundation” that works for my skin. I can’t wear my BE minerals any longer. Help! I can’t afford to keep buying new ones that look terrible.
These CC’s look amazing. How nice it would be to not layer 3 or 4 products on your face before you even apply makeup! This CC cream appears to have what a face needs!
Dark undereye circles, rosacia around nose, large pores
This is something I would like to try. I like for my face to look even.
My most bothersome skin issue is fine lines and breakouts.
would love to try
My skin has uneven color with lots of red and age spots.
I would love to give the CC a try!
Acne scars!! The redness seems to never go away. I hate it.
I have been using BB cream for about a year, but especially at this time of year, I think I could use something extra.
I have been using BB cream that I purchase from a Korean supplier. I LOVE the stuff. I have tried several of the BB creams here in the US and they do not compare. I would love to give this a try and give you an honest review! Thank you
Age spots are one of my problems, especially on my neck! Sure would love to make them go away! Will be anxious to see if this product really works! I do use a BB cream and am pleased. Feelin’ good for age 62!
At my age, 68, simply uneven skin tone. I have been using a tinted moisturizer for the past year and I must say it’s my favorite cosmetic. So now I would love to try the CC Cream.
I have uneven skintone from years of sunning (I know better now and have been using sunscreen for decades, but the damage is done!), and quite a bit of redness across my nose and cheeks that’s been diagnosed as rosacea. Other than that, NO wrinkles and not many brown spots. And I agree, I think CC is just basically BB with different letters!
I have a few age spots around outer eye corners and overall uneven skin tone. What I always see inthe mirror is the crepey skin in the inner corners of my eyes.
I would love to try it for my dry skin and uneven skin tone
I would love to try for my dry skin and uneven skin tone
May not be a miracle, but every little bit of active ingredient helps! And I need help.
I use a BB as well, in lieu of foundation, they have come a long way that is for sure.
Love my BB cream..no more pore clogging foundation makeup..great coverage, moist healthy skin!
I have hyperpigmentation as well as rosacea. I wear a heavy makeup now but would love to see if this would cover and be lightweight.
Love my BB cream..no more pore clogging foundation makeup..great coverage, moist healthy skin! Sun Screen too!
Would love to win this Repair Cream.
dry skin is an issue with me.
Looks like something I would like to try. Never tried BB or CC but have heard a lot about them both lately.
Fiming my skinuis my main concern and then the issue of enlarged pores I’d love to try the CC cream
My bothersome skin issue is very large pores and black under eye circles!
uneven skin tone, redness, broken capillaries, freckles….
Dry skin@ uneven skin tone
Age/sun spots on my face are troubling me and wearing a full foundation to cover just accents my wrinkles. What’s a woman to do? Can CC cream be some help? Love to give it a whirl.
What’s your most bothersome skin issue?
still get blemishes at age 56. I’ve had oily skin all my life and have big pores. Skin is very sensitive to a variety of skin products.
Yes please!
enlarged pores and firming
My most bothersome skin problem is age spots and fine lines.
My worst skin problem right now probably is uneven skin tone. But I’ve tried the Olay CC cream, and, aside from the fact that it stung my face (which I did NOT expect from an Olay product), it really was nothing more than a slightly tinted moisturizer, and a thin one at that. The L’Oreal product I tried was much better at evening my skin tone out.
I am doing all that I can to keep age at bay, but there is some loss of firmness- that would be my issue to address..
I have an uneven skin tone, and some blemishes, so I wold love to try this cream.
I am a woman of medium brown complexion and my concern is enlarged pores.
I use BB Cream and I would also love to try this! I love the simplicity of these types of creams. I like the more natural look also.
My most bothersome skin issues are fine lines and dark circle around my eyes.
My skin is superdry and sensitive.
I’m starting to notice some age spots. Ugh!
I have dry skin with age spots and hyperpigmentation. I don’t like the heavy makeup look and would love to try the CC.
My biggest issue is some discoloration. I have very fair skin and started noticing some changes now in my 50′s.
I’m not much for foundation, never had to wear it in my younger days…. I just started using a Korean BB cream and I love it, I might like this even more!!
I can see a more even skin tone in the photos above.
I’m not expecting miracles, but a little help is a nice thing
Thanks again FOF!!
Sharon
uneven skin tones and I loved BB cream when I tried it, so I’m hoping CC cream will be better.
My most bothersome issue is uneven skin tone. I have sun damage and some freckles…could use some “corrective coloring” help….
dryness
My most bothersome skin issue is probably dull skin – although I do use a Vitamin C product occassionally to even out the skin tone. I had not heard of CC before so I would love to try it!! xoxo
I am getting the impression that even though the expectations of a cc cream really making any long term improvements in the skin is not the case,spf is a definite do,and as a product that would improve the appearance of skin in a number of ways,a lot mentioned are issues in particular I have, I am more than ready to to lustfully want to try juice beauty’s cc cream!Organic to boot? Please bring it to me!I am really trying to watch any skin care products with potentially harmful components after a bout with cancer.Thank you FOF and juice beauty for this giveaway.
age spots and dry skin I would love to try it
I like the BB appearance and coverage…….curious about CC.
I am recovering from a bout with pneumonia and spent the entire month of December in bed or on the couch. I tried my best to adhere to my skin care regime, but more often than not I did not have the strength or desire to do my night time routine.
I am finally getting my mental and physical energy back. However, when I looked in the mirror about two weeks ago, I was shocked to see how pale I was and the huge dark circles under my eyes.
I hoped that an eye primer combined with my concealer and new blush would put some life back in my complexion. Neither product had the therapeutic impact that I anticipated.
Even though the skin care and cosmetic industries are all about “hope”, the Juice Beauty CC Cream seems like a viable solution. I need all the help I can get…..
Would like to try this product.
I have discolorization all over my face and puffiness
Sounds like a dream come true! Sign me up!
Rosacea,large pore, broken capillaries….the whole nine yards and to top it all off now I’m starting to get age spots. Sounds like a dream come true!
The thing I would like help with the most is sun damage on my face!
I was a redheaded sun worshiper with fair skin from New York…I am now so discolored and uneven…didn’t know it was happening until I stopped tanning….I can’t go out without makeup and SPF since moving to Florida two years ago …My go to right now…Smash box BB creams
I’ve never used BB or CC cream. My most bothersome skin issue is hyperpigmentation. Enlarged pores and fine lines are an issue as well, however the ‘spots’, especially on the left side of my face really bug me. Unfortunately moisturizers and makeup didn’t come with an SPF when I began using them. (back in the day! lol)
I am 53 yrs. old and have many skin issues that go along with that. Enlarged pores, fine lines and wrinkles and uneven skintone. I would love to win a creme that can help something. Thank you.
I have enlarged pores
My worst problem is the lines above my upper lip. They make me look like a smoker and I have never been one!
large pores on my nose
My biggest skin problem is uneven tone.
When I was a pre-teen and a young teen, I had terrible acne, and it took its ugly toll on my skin. I am always trying to find ways to hide the scarring. I presently use a BB, but maybe the CC would be even better. Thank you so much for all the info.
My skin changed when I went through menopause, the wrinkles and age spots came on fast. I don’t like to wear makeup but for the first time in my life I look my age. What to do?
I would love to try CC to even out my skin tone and age spots. Also to help with my large pores. I don’t like heavy foundations so this sounds like it could be just what I need. I like looking natural not overly made up.
My main issues are wrinkles and age spots. I am 54.
Pick me please
My problems are uneven skin tone and periodic acne. Would love to try this!
Keep hearing about this stuff, would love to try it.
My biggest problem is some brown spots. I would love to compare the CC Cream to my Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream. I also know that Juice Beauty is an excellent brand.
My most bothersome issue is large pores…..and makeup just makes them stand out. I would love to try CC cream! ty
Wrinkles!
Wrinkles under my eyes.
My youthful freckles are not age spots. I would love to see what Juice Beauty CC can do for me.
My most bothersome issue having used tinted moisturizers is that the coverage is great where my skin is smooth and clear but still splotchy where the tinted moisturizer does not offer complete coverage. I have been reading about the CC’s and have been intrigued… I would love to be a tester for this one, thanks!
Have a great day!
Debi
My most bothersome issue having used tinted moisturizers with sunscreen is that the coverage is great where my skin is smooth and clear but still splotchy where the tinted moisturizer does not offer complete coverage. I do love the multi use products and they are a huge time saver. I have been reading about the CC’s and have been intrigued… I would love to be a tester for this one, thanks!
Have a great day!
Debi
I’m fifty-two, where should I start? The fine lines around my eyes. The skin that starts to sag.
The racoon hollows around my eyes. Take your pick.
Melasma – if CC could help I’d be a convert – nothing else seems to work at evening out my skin colouring.
I would absolutely Love to try CC Cream because I have redness around nose area and some red blotchy areas on cheeks and forehead that I have not been able to cover with BB creams!
I would love help with large pores and fine lines…would love to try CC…!!!!!
Age spots! Fine lines! Help!!
I have a lot of acne scars sounds like this cream would realy help hide them. I would love to try this cream.
i have very dry skin year round
My face is “going south” and it really bugs me. I would try injections if they weren’t so darn pricey.
My most troublesome skin issue? The fact that it, along with the rest of me, is getting old, tired, wrinkled and loose. I would love to try Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream by Juice Beauty – maybe it could help at least one of my issues!
A saggy neck is my most bothersome issue!
Would love to try this!
I’m currently battling oily skin with patches of dry skin, uneven skin tone, laugh lines, and small traces of crow’s feet. I just recently started getting the uneven skin tone (melanin). It would be nice to have a product that fights all these problems!
Age spots and uneven skin tone
Hyperpigmentation
Large pores from teen acne and oily skin. Still get some pimples at 56 – very embarrassing.
I just look tired all the time… I saw some old pictures of me, and i looked radiant! I want that special glow back.
My most bothersome skin feature may be redness, but I really don’t like the size of my pours in spots either.
I think that the redness and uneven tone wins.
Increasing lines and loss of firmness is my worry area.
Discoloration
I would love to test and review Juice Beauty CC cream.
I would love to try this CC cream. My skin is OK for 60+ skin, but there are imperfections of tone and texture that could benefit from this product.
My biggest skin issue is acne scars and redness.
Would love to try.
Rosacea makes my skin all different colors. I. Need. This. Stuff.
Evening out: sometimes even w foundation, I still look uneven. I see a diff w the cc cream– would like to see if there’s proof on my pudding!
hyperpigmentation, enlarged pores and acne scars. I would love to try a CC cream!
My complexion is drab, lifeless. I need some brightening all over with a lessening of dark circles under my eyes.
I doubt it can repair anything related aging but hope it works on sun spot I have
Uneven skin tone — spots and reddish areas.
I have some previous sun damage, would love to give this a try!
Getting older is suppose to make ourselves more beautiful. But without your cream, how can I go on?
I would like to try this (due to sensitive skin) before buying.
I’d love for my skin to look smoother-I am accumulating wrinkles and bumps, added to the increasing age spots….The good thing is that I’m also growing more near sighted, so it’s not too traumatic to look in a mirror!
I would love to try this product. My skin tone is uneven with pigmentation and rosacea among other things.
The brown spots can drive me a little bananas. I would love to try something that evens out my skin tone.
My biggest skin issue is uneven skin tones. I want something to even them out. Also, I don’t like heavy makeup. This would be great to try!
Love that her skin tone is evened out with the CC product! Who doesn’t need that??!!
Would love the opportunity to try this product.
PS sorry but I disagree with Dana….there is definitely more coverage with the CC cream. My BB cream is does not give the even tone this seems to provide.
I have been looking for a tinted moisturizer and would love to try this one! My worst problem is uneven skin tone.
My skin is uneven and dry. I sometimes have small dry flakes around my nose and unfortunately I pluck the small hair from my chin and that skin has become darker. I suffer with dark circles around my eyes, which I believe is a genetic condition. I use cosmetics to lighten these areas, but this dryness and uneven skin tone is driving me to sulk at times.
I am getting age spots and would like to get rid of them.
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Dear Author, This is really a good post but do you have some more information about the topics you raised?
Large pores, oil production, and acne scarring!
Hi, you are right. But i need some more information on this matter.