BB cream (& similarly CC, DD, EE creams) is an all-in-one/multipurpose cream. These creams are a brilliant marketing concept, promising your skin countless benefits.
Are you looking to even-up your skin tone, cover blemishes, moisturise your skin, protect it from harmful ultraviolet rays of sun, and, at the same time, make it healthy? Well, you are then probably looking for a ‘soup’ of foundation, moisturiser, sunscreen, anti-ageing ingredients, skin-nourishing vitamins and anti-oxidants. BB cream is one of the most popular creams that try to provide almost all these benefits.
In this post, we would discuss about these multipurpose creams and critically analyse if the hype created around them is worth it.
BB cream (Beauty Balm or Blemish Balm)
BB cream is basically a tinted moisturiser. But, these are lighter than foundation and a bit heavier than regular tinted moisturisers. In addition, BB cream also contains moisturiser, anti ageing ingredients, anti oxidants and broad spectrum sunscreen.
A German dermatologist is claimed to have developed the first BB cream (Blemish Balm cream) in 1967 to treat the skin post skin procedures. These creams later gained popularity in Asian and American markets. BB cream is basically a daily-use cream with light make-up & some added skin care.
CC cream (Corrective Creams/Conceal and Correct/Color Control cream)
CC creams supposedly even out skin tone. These target blotchiness, redness, sallow or dull complexions, hyper-pigmentation, melasma, age spots and scarring. While BB creams target people under age 30 years, the target of CC creams is age more than 30 years. CC creams focus on skin with uneven tone, imperfections, photoaging, fine line and wrinkles. While marketing of BB cream and CC cream is for separate scenarios, there are subtle differences. CC creams have more SPF, active antioxidants and better anti-ageing ingredients and lighter consistency than BB creams.
DD cream (Disguise and Diminish/Daily Defence/Dynamic Do-All Cream)
These creams combine the skincare properties of BB creams and corrective properties of CC creams.
EE cream (Extra exfoliating/Enlighten Effect/Energy Enhancer)
These creams contain skincare and corrective properties of predecessor creams along with exfoliants and powerful antioxidant vitamin E or tocopherol.
These creams are the result of a superb marketing strategy that combines different steps of skincare and make up in single container. The idea of multipurpose cream capitalise on the propaganda that it is the only product you’ll need after you wash your face.
Is BB cream worth the hype created around it?
- The basic ingredients of all these creams are more or less similar. Almost all of these creams have sunscreens, moisturizer, antioxidants and anti ageing ingredients. There is hardly any significant difference between different BB/CC/DD/EE creams. This is just a marketing gimmick to introduce another product claiming to be a better version that is even more expensive.
- BB cream (and CC/DD/EE creams) is/are basically light makeup. These act as foundation or concealer to cover all imperfections and provide luminous glow. Unlike a pure skin care product (anti ageing cream or moisturiser), you can not apply them at night. This is because the foundation present may clog your pores and cause more harm than benefits So, do not fall for false propaganda that these products would replace the routine skincare, as you still have to use moisturiser or anti ageing creams as night cream.
- Most of the times, these creams do not match your specific skin need. If you have too dry skin, you cannot depend on these creams for sufficient hydration. If your skin is too oily, you have to avoid these creams as they may clog pores and cause acne. Then there might be trouble finding an exact shade that matches your skin tone. Some of these creams do not provide information of SPF of sunscreens present in the cream, so can’t guarantee protection from sun.
These creams are just a short cut to light make-up, covering blemishes and providing luminous glow. It is better to use these multipurpose creams as tinted moisturiser without skipping your routine skin care essentials.
If you like this post, don’t forget to share with your friends.
Dr Monika Misra
Latest posts by Dr Monika Misra (see all)
- Warts – all you need to know - July 8, 2018
- Gray hair – is there any cure? - January 28, 2018
- Chickenpox – myths & facts - July 30, 2017
