Primers, BBs and CCs! Oh My! (Part 3 - CCs)
First off, let me apologize for the long (and I'm surely anticipated...) delay with this post. A lot has happened since then. In a nut shell, I decided to take a leap of faith and move 32 hours away to Portland, Oregon with my boyfriend and I honestly could not be happier! But anyway, let's talk about CCs, shall we? What is a CC? What does it stand for?
Depending on who you ask and the brand, the acronym CC typically refers to a "Color Correcting" (or "Color Control") cream. After the successful launch of BBs in the industry, various cosmetic lines decided to capitalize on this by addressing a major concern shared by most women: uneven tone/complexion. What makes it different from a BB?
Like most BBs, CC creams also prep the skin and may serve as a primer that also moisturizes, smooths texture, conceals and enhances both the coverage and longevity of wear of your foundation. It can be worn alone, or under powder/liquid. Most contain an SPF (check to see if it's mineral or chemical!) to also protect the skin. But the major point of difference is that CC's aim to help correct discoloration, such as reducing redness or sallowness (yellowish tone) and not only do they serve as a quick fix, but some can even help increase clarity and a more even complexion not only as a quick fix, but also as a treatment when used over an extended period of time. So where to start? My Recommendations: 1. IT Cosmetics - Your Skin But Better CC Cream SPF 50+ ($38)
If you haven't heard about IT cosmetics yet, you need to crawl out from under your rock. I can not say enough good things about both the founder and the line! [ Quick Back story: Jamie Kern Lima, a former news anchor, was tired of her makeup melting off. As a sufferer from rosacea, she decided to partner with a group of plastic surgeons to create a cosmetic line for both women with/without sensitivities that would not only endure the day, but would also offer benefits when worn and voila, IT (Innovative Technology) Cosmetics was born! ] What makes their CC so amazing is that it can truly be worn by itself as a full-coverage foundation. Moreover, it is one of the few available that actually has SPF 50+ (!!!) UVA/UVB broad spectrum PHYSICAL sunscreen. So there's no harmful chemicals or additives but it is jam-packed with anti-aging peptides, vitamins, antioxidants and is clinically proven to improve texture, brightness, and your skin's hydration by 79%! Need I say more?
It's available in 4 shades, just over an ounce at 1.08 fl oz.
2. PUR Minerals CC Cream SPF 40 ($38)
For the same price, you can also choose to invest in PUR's CC option. Also available in 4 shades and at 1.05 fl oz, this CC cream utilizes plant based ingredients to brighten and color correct your complexion, as well as erase brown spots, blemishes and fine lines.
3. Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream SPF 30 ($39)
For those of you who prefer organic cosmetics, JB's 1.7 fl oz CC is a 12 in 1 product that corrects color and repairs damage by increasing cellular turnover, promotes elasticity and firms the skin to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and evens both the tone and texture of your skin. The only negative? It only comes in 2 shades. Womp womp. 4. Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream Dark Spot Correcting SPF 30 ($42)
The most expensive (and smallest, 1 oz? Wtf?) CC on our list, this one is available in 7(!!!) shades. The point of difference? This CC is super lightweight, and in addition to neutralizing and brightening the complexion, addressing dark spots, sun spots AND post-acne marks and controls oil for all you oil-blotters out there!
There you finally have it! Once again, sorry for the long delay. Now that I've finally gotten settled in my apartment, updates should happen much more frequently. My next post will be on both skin and color, so be on the lookout for it soon! ~ Myisha :)