gracie7

For years now, we have been touting the benefits of all-in-one foundation, moisturizer, and sunscreen. But what started out so innocently as a BB cream has now evolved into a revolution, with BB, CC, DD, and EE creams entering the market. As if makeup shopping wasn’t difficult enough, now it sounds like bra shopping in an alternate universe!

Luckily, I’ve spent time researching each cream, and I’m happy to tell you which I quite frankly think are worth the money and which are not!

BB CREAM: BEAUTY BRIGHTENING. BEST FOR NORMAL TO DRY SKIN TYPES.

A BB cream is a non-brightening primer, foundation, moisturizer, SPF and anti-aging cream.

BB creams are typically laden with hydrators to create a dewy finish, which are not so great for acne-prone or oily skin.

Unfortunately, BB creams typically are formulated to be make-up products. Yes, you will reap some benefits with regular use over time. But I’d take 10% vitamin C in a serum over 10% vitamin C in a BB cream any day, simply because an expertly-crafted serum is formulated to maximally deliver ingredients within the skin. Delivery systems matter. Ingredients like propylene glycol, butylene glycol, and other alcohols, as well as advanced delivery systems like liposomes, are commonly used to increase the skin’s absorption of ingredients.

The BB cream is meant to cover somewhat, and to deliver somewhat. You generally don’t find specialized delivery systems in a BB Cream.

CC CREAM: COLOR CORRECTING. BEST FOR OILY AND ACNE-PRONE SKIN TYPES.

A CC cream is a color correcting cream, meaning that it is a brightening primer, foundation, moisturizer, SPF and anti-aging cream.

Though it is called “color correcting,” I recommend most CC creams only for those with oily or acne-prone skin, not age spots or hyperpigmentation.

This is because you will find many CC creams have no more brightening or lightening ingredients than many BB creams. Instead, the major difference is that CC creams, unlike BB creams, are typically oil-free. CC creams are generally not suitable for dry skin types.

Like BB creams, CC creams are still passed over in my book for cogent ingredients in a specialized delivery system. This is not because I manufacture my own vitamin C serum — trust me, I could have a CC cream manufactured easily! Rather, it is because the benefits come from optimized concentrations of ingredients AND the right delivery system.

DD CREAM: DAILY DEFENSE. LIKE A GLORIFIED SUNSCREEN.

Called both a “daily defense” and less commonly a “dynamic do all”, the DD Cream is generally even lighter in texture than the CC cream. Like the BB cream and the CC cream, the DD cream generally has brightening and anti-aging ingredients. But because of the “defense” aspect, you rarely find a DD cream without sunscreen.

Are DD creams really different enough from treatment sunscreens, BB creams, and CC creams to warrant their own category? In my opinion, the answer is “no.” It seems to me that what appeared to be the trend of creating the next cream in the alphabet was more important to marketers at the time than actually creating a product that was truly novel.

EE CREAM: EXTRA EXFOLIATING. SUITABLE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES.

I’ve only found one EE cream, but I really like it. It is a novel enough product that I’ll accept the name! (But if someone comes out with an FF cream, I reserve the right to knock it down, no matter how good it is!)

BOTTOM LINE

Despite what the letters may sound like, most of these repetitive alphabet creams are foundations with similar benefits. BB creams are best for dry to normal skin types. CC creams are best for oily skin types. DD creams are suitable for dry skin when used with a moisturizer underneath, and suitable for oily skin when used alone.

EE cream, on the other hand, is a dual facial and exfoliant — a rinse-off product that is different from the rest. I like it a lot, and highly recommend using it to keep skin hydrated and smooth!

Source: https://www.futurederm.com/what-are-...actually-need/