Best Color Correcting Cream For Acne Prone Skin

CC cream, which stands for "color correcting cream," is a cream that works as a foundation, sunscreen, and moisturizer all in one. Color correcting cream for acne gets rid of age spots, redness, and dark spots. The best color correcting cream for acne makes spots and uneven skin tone less noticeable.
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best color correcting (cc) cream for acne prone skin
If you want to save time in the morning and cut out a few steps, color correcting cream for acne is your new favorite multitasker.

Even though many of us dream of having flawless, blemish-free skin (the kind where you can leave the house without makeup and feel as confident as hell), that’s not the reality. Everyone has some skin problem they have to deal with, whether it’s redness, dark circles under the eyes, acne scars, or a mix of all three, the color correcting cream for acne can come invaluable They are the makeup fix for various skin problems, and experts and TikTokers use them to get that perfect glow.

You’ve probably seen color correcting cream for acne all over the makeup aisle. They’re the pretty purple, peach, and mint-colored tubes and compacts that don’t look like they belong anywhere near your skin at first glance. But you’re mistaken. We talked to Lori Taylor Davis, Smashbox’s in-house makeup artist, about how to use color correcting cream for acne and what products she can’t live without.

What Is Color Correction?

The “color-correcting” power of color correcting cream for acne isn’t about making your skin the same color as hiding problem areas.

If you care a lot about skincare, you might already know about color theory and how you can use it in cosmetics.

Color theory says that “correcting” your skin isn’t so much about covering up flaws as it is about making redness disappear and reducing blue and purple shadows.

This chart can help you figure out your skin’s undertones and how to use that information for color correction.

When you buy the right shade of color correcting cream for acne for your skin tone, you take the guesswork out of color correction since the color correcting cream for acne is meant to even out, tone, and blend into your skin.

CC creams have light-reflecting particles in them that are supposed to hide skin that:

  • dull
  • sallow
  • red
  • tired

CC vs. BB cream, DD cream, and Foundation

cc vs bb cream, dd cream, and foundation

Many people compare color correcting cream for acne to other creams at the same time. All of color correcting creams for acne are tinted moisturizers with sunscreen in different forms. Each of them has a different claim based on what the buyer wants.

BB cream

“Beauty balm” is another name for “BB cream.” BB creams are a little thicker than CC cream and are meant to cover enough that you won’t need Foundation.

A good CC cream and a good BB cream would do many of the same things, and the differences between the two are minor.

A BB cream will usually give you more color coverage than a CC cream, but it won’t help with uneven skin tone or blemishes.

DD cream

DD creams are also called “dynamic do-all” or “daily defense” creams.

These products have the texture of a BB cream, but they also have the color-correcting particles of a CC cream. They claim to give you the best of all worlds. There aren’t many DD creams on the market yet.

Foundation

How do all these “new” products compare to Foundation, which has been around for a long time?

One reason is that you can use BB, CC, and DD creams in more ways. It’s easy to put on some color correcting cream for acne and know that your face is moisturized and protected from the sun.

But BB, CC, and DD creams might not have as many color options as you’d like. Most of them only come in a few shades, like light, medium, and deep, which doesn’t work well for many skin tones.

Traditional Foundation comes in more shades, and more are being added to the market.

Benefits Of Color Correcting Cream For Acne

benefits of cc cream

Some types of makeup aren’t as good as a CC cream. One thing that CC cream does is protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays, which can cause photoaging.

Some “traditional” foundations say they have anti-aging ingredients, but SPF is the best way to keep your skin healthy.

Remember that color correcting cream for acne might not be enough to protect your skin from the sun on a day when you are out in the sun. Recent research has shown that some common SPF ingredients may harm your health.

CC cream also feels lighter on the skin, which makes it less likely to clog your pores and cause a breakout.

Since one layer of CC cream might not give as much “opaque” coverage as a regular foundation, you might need to use a little more if you want to look polished.

Some beauty experts would say that makes it “buildable,” even though not everyone will like it.

You can also use color correcting cream for acnein a few different ways. For example, you can just spread some on before running errands if you don’t want to put on a full face of makeup, or you can use a thin layer as a primer to protect your skin while you put on Foundation on top.

People who swear by CC cream say that it nourishes, protects, improves, and “corrects” the look of their skin without the guesswork and time commitment of color-correcting concealer products.

How well CC cream works for you may depend on your skin type, what you want to achieve, and which color correcting cream for acne line you choose.

Are Color Correcting Cream For Acne Good For Oily Skin? 

Many cosmetics companies say that CC cream is excellent for all skin types, even oily ones. Your success with CC cream will depend significantly on which one you pick.

Color correcting cream for acne can help oily skin because, unlike BB (beauty balm) cream, it is less oily and feels lighter on the skin.

Does that mean it will make your skin better? If you don’t try, it’s hard to know.

Who Should Color Correct Their Skin, and Who Shouldn’t?

who should color correct their skin, and who shouldn't

Since my skin texture isn’t even, I’m even more hesitant to build up layers of products on my face. This made me think of a big question: Is there anyone who shouldn’t use color correcting cream for acne?

Davis says, “Color-correcting primers are good for all skin types, but they work best for people who care about texture.” In this case, she says to choose a color correcting cream for acne format based on the texture of your skin: “Cream products work best on normal to dry skin, especially if you are older or have a rough complexion because the cream can hide flakiness. People with oily skin sometimes use a powder corrector to help keep oil under control.”

Color Correctors: How to Use Them

Before you put brush to canvas, so to speak, you’ll want to add the application tips that Davis has gathered over many years and hundreds of faces. “The most important thing is to put it on in thin layers,” she says. “Think of the corrector as a way to get rid of stains instead of as an extra layer.” So, you’ll need to go slow and gently chip away at that spot until it matches the rest of your skin.

As far as tools go, now is not the time to start painting with your fingers. (Although Glossier cloud paint is awesome.) To look like a master makeup artist, you need to be precise. Davis says, “Using a brush or beauty blender to apply correctors will help you control how much product you use, making it easier to get a flawless complexion without looking heavy or unnatural.” “Rubbing the color correcting cream for acne with your fingers in a circular motion can help you get good coverage with very little product.”

How To Color Correct Redness With Makeup

This is for people who want to get rid of their redness. You should learn about green color correctors if your skin is too red because of acne, rosacea, or a bothersome sunburn. Consider using a color-correcting primer as your base if you want to cover your whole face. If not, a spot tube will be enough.

“I like to use the Smashbox Multi-Tasking Detail Brush to hide raised blemishes. Because of how the brush tip is made, it is easy to cover up a spot, “Davis adds. If you want to hide acne, you should also think about using a non-comedogenic formula, like Lancome’s Teint Idole Ultra corrector, so that you don’t clog your pores, which could lead to more breakouts.

How To Color Correct Dark Spots, Hyperpigmentation & Undereye Circles With Makeup

Okay, we’re catching a lot of fish here, but that’s because all three problems have one important thing in common: Their undertone is brownish-gray. Davis says that if your skin problems fall into this category, you should choose correctors with a peach, apricot, or orange tint, depending on how bad the discoloration is and the undertone of the user’s base. If you have darker skin, orange will help even the color, while apricot and medium skin go together like peanut butter and jelly. Have fairer skin? Choose a color corrector in peach.

How To Color Correct Yellowness With Makeup

Yellowness can stop you from having the bright, glowing skin you want, whether under your eyes, scattered across your face, or with a consistent undertone. The difference will be huge if you use a purple color corrector. Choose a lavender-colored powder or cream. For spots, use a small brush, and for under the eyes or the whole face, use a makeup sponge.

Green Makeup Concealer

You’re happy shopping in the cosmetics section of a department store when you see something strange: green makeup concealer. You can’t think of why anyone would want to wear green makeup.

What is green makeup concealer, and why is it used?

Even though it has an unusual color (or maybe because of it), a green concealer can be a pimple sufferer’s best friend. People often call green concealers “color correctors” because that’s what they do.

When used right, a green concealer can lessen the redness of swollen pimples and help hide breakouts.

You might not understand how this would work if you’re not an artist. Look at a painter’s color wheel to get the idea. Red and green are complementary colors, which means that on the color wheel, they are directly across from each other.

Since they are opposites, these two colors work against each other (at least when it comes to skin and makeup). The situation may be very different for painters.

No matter what is causing the redness, green color correctors will get rid of it, whether it’s a ruddy complexion, rosacea, or swollen pimples and acne.

How to Apply Green Color Correctors

Of course, you don’t have to understand color theory to know that it works. You only need to know how to put this makeup concealer on the right.

Apply your foundation.

If your Foundation is liquid or cream-based, put that on first. If you don’t, you might rub off the concealer when you put on your Foundation.

Use a dabbing motion to put on the green color corrector.

Use a small makeup brush or cotton swab to put a small amount of green color corrector on a red spot. Touch the skin with a dab or tap. Don’t smear. Rubbing the pimple can make it worse and make it look redder.

If you have more than one or two pimples to cover, using a dampened makeup sponge to put on your concealer is easier. Use a light touch to cover the whole area.

Blend, blend, blend.

Blending out your green color corrector is the key to making it look natural instead of like a St. Patrick’s Day decoration gone wrong. Using your makeup sponge (or, for a single zit, a clean finger), pat the area gently to blend.

Tap or pat the mixture with your hands until it is thoroughly mixed. When you’re done, the green color should “disappear” into your skin.

Use concealer and some powder.

Add a second concealer of the same color as your skin for more coverage. Use this concealer right on top of the green corrector.

Add a light dusting of translucent powder to the finish, and you’re good to go.

Don’t give up if it doesn’t look perfect the first time, especially if you’re not used to wearing makeup. After a few tries, you’ll be able to use your green color corrector in a way that looks natural.

Once you’ve tried it, you’ll never want to be without it again.

Should You Try CC Cream?

You can even out the color of your skin with more than just CC cream.

The best things you can do for the health and appearance of your skin are to drink a lot of water, get a lot of rest, and stick to a skincare routine that tones, moisturizes, and protects.

If you use your favorite Foundation instead of color correcting cream for acne, the result probably won’t be much different.

Many skincare and beauty experts swear that some color correcting cream for acne brands are better than Foundation and tinted moisturizers. Some well-known color correcting cream for acne products are:

  • Your Skin, But Better CC Cream with SPF 50 by It Cosmetics
  • Moisture Surge CC Cream with SPF 30 by Clinique
  • Stem Cellular CC Cream with SPF 30 by Juice Beauty (vegan and non-toxic)
  • Almay Smart Shade CC Cream (for a drugstore fix)

In Conclusion

Color correcting cream for acne is a beauty product meant to keep your skin moist, protect it from sun damage, and make your skin tone look more even.

Even though the idea of a “CC cream” is pretty new, the idea of a tinted moisturizer and its ingredients are not.

When choosing a color correcting cream for acne, it’s important to consider what you want the product to do and your expectations.

Color correcting cream for acne is a good choice for people who don’t like to wear a lot of makeup and want light coverage and SPF protection. But it won’t heal or change the way your skin looks for good.

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