Whether it’s because you’re dealing with flaky skin and sallow tones or you’re experiencing rough texture and redness, if it seems like your complexion just isn’t as hydrated, glowing and even as it once was, you’re certainly not alone. But if you’re like us, you don’t feel like caking on a heavy foundation to cover it up, which can sometimes actually exacerbate the problems. To the rescue: CC creams. These lightweight formulas not only hydrate skin and hide skin flaws, they also treat the skin discoloration that comes with age all while providing SPF protection without the heaviness of a foundation. And if you’re north of 50, you’re going to want to add one of these miracle creams to your makeup collection for those days when a dab of gloss and some mascara are no longer enough to give your complexion that glow it’s craving. Here, what to know about cc creams, how to find the right one for you and our picks for the best CC cream for mature skin.
What is a CC cream?
You may have already heard of BB creams, which are souped-up tinted moisturizers made with ingredients that help eliminate signs of aging all while providing a more natural look than a foundation. But if you’re over 50, you may be more interested in their cool older cousin, CC creams, AKA color corrective creams. These are lightweight tinted moisturizers packed with ingredients that help even-out discoloration both instantly and over time. Says celebrity makeup artist Elaina Badro, who has worked with stars like Carrie Underwood and Christina Millian, “If you’re looking for heavy coverage, this is not the product for you. CC creams are typically light in texture.” And while BB creams often have acne-related helpers, CC creams are all about addressing hyperpigmentation — along with other skincare benefits like providing sun protection and addressing skin texture.
“They’re great for mature skin due to their ingredients. They often contain hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and vitamin E,” says Badro. And Emmy-winning makeup artist Andrew Sotomayor says to keep in mind that the majority of them are sheer. That means, he explains, “they’re useful if you don’t have dark spots or acne that you’re trying to cover, which may do better with a full or medium cover foundation.”
The 14 best CC creams for mature skin
How to apply a CC cream
While your fingers will work in a pinch, “the best way, especially if you want a bit more coverage, is to use a beauty sponge,” says Badro. “Just place a bit of CC cream on the nose, forehead, cheeks and chin, then use the sponge to stroke outwards blending in the cream into the skin.” One to try: Badro’s own Luxury Beauty Sponge (Buy from Elaina Badro, $16). Badro’s tip to make your CC cream last longer? Seal it with a translucent powder.”
The best CC cream for mature skin: 14 amazing picks
Keep reading to see the best CC cream for mature skin, according to celebrity makeup artists.
Best All-aRound CC Cream
IT Cosmetics
Why we like it:
- Wide color range
- Great coverage
This one made both Sotomayor and Badro’s lists for best CC cream for mature skin— and for good reason. “It’s a rarely seen full-coverage CC cream,” says Sotomayor. But thanks to its lightweight formula, it’s still easy to toss on and go. Packed with niacinamide and vitamin E to treat skin arghs while it blurs imperfections, it perfects as you wear it like any good CC cream. Why Badro loves it? “It contains hyaluronic acid, which helps to hydrate and plump while minimizing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.” And, despite it’s professional-level quality, she adds, “it’s only $21!”
Best drugstore Cc cream
e.l.f. Cosmetics
Why we like it:
- 30 shades
- Wallet-friendly price
Offered in an incredible range of 30 colors, this budget-friendly pick has quite the following. Sotomayor calls it one of the best values on the market, explaining, “it comes in warm, neutral and cool shades and covers fast. The airtight packaging protects the formula, and while this is a full-coverage CC cream, you can also apply a light amount for a sheerer finish.” As for the texture, he says, it’s “rich and creamy.”
Best mineral CC cream
Tower 28
Why we like it:
- Mineral sun protection
- Luxe natural ingredients
Another favorite of Sotomayor’s, this clean formula has been getting quite a bit of buzz. “I like that this is a mineral-based sunscreen, and it comes in an easy-to-dispense tube, so it’s neat to work with,” he says. And it’s also packed with prickly pear and white sage extracts to help protect delicate skin. What’s more: “It has a full shade range with yellow, pink and neutral undertones that make the product look more natural,” he insists.
Best matte CC cream
Neutrogena
Why we like it:
- Wide shade range
- Velvety finish
- Great for those with acne
The amount of shade choices of this low-cost buy is enough to grab our attention — it comes in 34 shades! But add to the fact that it contains complexion-balancing niacinamide and contains no oil, fragrance, parabens, sulfates or phthalates, you’ve got yourself a real winner. Fans rave about the beautiful natural finish on the skin, the way it minimizes pores and the fact that it stays on all day.
Best CC cream for sun protection
Supergoop!
Why we like it:
- Sun protection you can count on
- Non-greasy finish
“I recently used this on a film to protect the actors’ skin,” says Sotomayor. “The cast was shooting outdoors a lot, so I knew I needed to protect them from sunburn and also have a simple formula that could be reapplied after lunch for UV protection and for color correction.” This one did the job with 100% mineral broad-spectrum SPF 50 protection. In fact, that’s why Badro points out it makes it especially good for physical sunscreen lovers everywhere.
Best CC cream for redness
Lumene
Why we like it:
- Soothing ingredients
- Intensely hydrating
This medium-coverage formula gets attention for being packed with nourishing, soothing Nordic lingonberry and ultra-hydrating Arctic spring water, making it a great choice for anyone battling parched, irritated skin. Formulated for all skin types, it goes on easily and evenly. Unfortunately, it only comes in two shades (light and medium), but since it’s super sheer, that covers a wider range than you think. Still, we’d urge the brand to consider expanding the selection.
best color-balancing CC cream
Physicians Formula
Why we like it:
- Innovative pigments
- Great for dry skin
Meet the CC cream that takes its name seriously. This little potion contains pigments in non-skin-tone colors to counterbalance any unwanted hues in your complexion. It contains yellow to correct blue spots and add warmth, green to address redness and pink to brighten. Think of this as less of a true tinted moisturizer and more of a social media filter in real life that simply blurs away trouble spots and offers SPF 30 to boot.
Related: 3 Color-Correcting Makeup Primers That Will Nix Dull Skin, Redness, and Dark Circles
Best color-matching CC cream
Makeup Revolution
Buy from Revolution Beauty, $12
Why we like it:
- Innovative white-to-skin-tone formula
- Nourishing vitamin E
This formula doubles as a magic trick: It goes on white, then releases micro-encapsulated pigments as you rub it in that adapt to your skin tone. But the fun doesn’t stop there. It also ups your radiance with a hydrating formula packed with vitamin E — all while giving skin an incredibly natural finish.
Best illuminating CC cream
Pacifica
Why we like it:
- Slightly dewy finish
- Skin-loving extras
Badro looks for this formula because it’s free of parabens, phthalates, mineral oil and talc, which makes it a great choice for sensitive types. It also offers incredible natural skin helpers including coconut, kelp and ginseng to help increase your radiance from the inside out. And the hydrating formula makes for one glowy finish that’s hard to resist.
Best CC cream for dark skin tones
The Lip Bar
Why we like it:
- Great shade range on the deep end
- Very moisturizing
If you’re a shopper on the darker side of the skin-tone spectrum who’s had trouble shade-matching in the past, you may want to hug the women-of-color creators of this best CC cream for mature skin. They’ve got you covered with a gorgeous array of dark shades (and for the rest of the skin-tone continuum, too!). Plus, with a mousse-like texture and moisturizing rose water, hyaluronic acid, Irish sea moss extract and cucumber extract, this stuff glides on like a dream. But with a low SPF of 11, we wouldn’t think of this as our SPF for the day — just a boost to it.
Best splurge CC cream
Chanel
Why we like it:
- Brightens skin over time
- High SPF
Sure, it’s an investment, but Sotomayor insists this formula from Chanel is worth every cent. “It has a high level of protection at SPF 50 and built-in priming, vitamin C and medium coverage, making it an excellent choice for vacation or if you don’t want a lot of steps!” he exclaims. The luxurious feel on your skin and breathtaking finish also help elevate this from a crowded market.
Best lightweight CC cream
Ilia Beauty
Why we like it:
- Silky texture
- High SPF
- Recyclable packaging
If you hate the feeling of makeup on your skin, you’ve got to try ILIA’s version of a CC cream that wears like a serum thanks to its wealth of plant-based squalane and hyaluronic acid. Why Sotomayor loves it: “It has a mineral-based SPF 40 and a dewy finish that makes it look like you just got out of the shower. It’s so refreshing to wear, so I love it for clients — and for me to help me wake up in the morning!”
Related: Collagen Serum Is Kate Middleton’s Secret to Glowing Skin
Best CC cream for finicky skin
Clinique/Sephora
Why we like it:
- Ultra-gentle
- Oil-free
- Doubles as a primer
Badro adores that this CC cream is versatile. While it can be worn on its own for a touch of perfecting help, she says the oil-free formula can double as a primer, so “it can even be worn under foundation if you’re looking for more coverage.” And because it’s allergy-tested, non-acnegenic and free of lots of potential irritants including fragrance, alcohol, talc and gluten, it won’t stress your skin out while you wear it. It doesn’t come in the widest range of colors (only three shades), but because they’re sheer, more people can wear it than you think.
Best nourishing CC cream
Olay/Amazon
Why we like it:
- Offers seven benefits
- Fast-absorbing
This is one hard-working CC cream. In fact, it offers seven benefits: it hydrates, rejuvenates, brightens, evens tone, blurs pores, firms, smooths and offers a touch of protection against the sun! The magic comes down to the vitamins and antioxidants stuffed inside that make this stuff work like a skin treatment but wear like a tinted moisturizer. And the lightweight texture means it disappears into your skin almost on contact.
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For more of our favorite beauty products to shop, click through these stories:
Makeup Artists Pick the Best BB Creams for Women Over 50 — One Will Make *You* Glow
7 Best Lip Plumpers That Make Thinning Lips Look Thicker Both Instantly and Over Time
Celebrity Makeup Artists: The 8 Best Blushes for Mature Skin That Give You Some Glow
