BB vs. CC Cream: What’s the Difference and Which to Use?

Many cosmetic products on the market yield different effects for different problems. Products are designed to address specific cosmetic issues affecting the average person. There is overlap since different companies produce their own versions of certain cosmetic tools. The problem is that there are so many concerns and different products that it can be difficult to keep track of which are useful or whether you have 2 products that do the same thing. 

The situation is further complicated because many products are given unclear names that do not fully explain their role in your cosmetic routine. One of the biggest subsections of the industry is skincare, which has become a major concern for hundreds of thousands of people.

Skincare is one of cosmetics' largest and most complicated aspects and can be difficult to navigate without prior experience. People starting a skincare routine for the first time will likely experience additional confusion since dozens of skincare products are unfamiliar. Skincare products are also more likely to have flamboyant or simplistic names that give little insight into what they are for. 

One of the main points of confusion in skincare is the difference between BB and CC creams, which have abbreviated names and a similar naming convention. Most people ask what the difference is and which one they should use.

What is BB Cream?

BB cream is not well recognized by people who have recently begun taking an interest in their skincare. It does not have a detailed name, so it might get overlooked unless you have pre-existing knowledge of it. Despite the average person's lack of knowledge about BB cream, it might be a valuable addition to your skincare routine. 

If you are unfamiliar with BB cream, the first thing to know is its name is technically redundant. The acronym "BB" is short for "blemish balm" or "beauty balm," depending on where you are. The product was originally created by Dr. Christine Schrammek, a German dermatologist, in the 1960s to treat her patients. 

Despite originating in Germany at the hands of a German doctor, the product did not reach commercial acclaim until the 1980s. BB cream became extremely popular in Korea after Korean cosmetics companies began making versions of Schrammek's original formula. Since then, BB creams have accounted for 13% of cosmetic products in South Korea (for obvious reasons, it does not circulate in North Korea).

Due to BB cream evolving under South Korean auspices, hundreds of different formulae incorporate different ingredients to maximize the effect, with almost none of them remaining identical to Schrammek's original formula. 

The different formulae are usually marketed under different brand names to promote consumer loyalty and help them identify the brand that works for them. Regardless of the formula, all brands of BB cream are designed for the same purpose and can generally be chosen by the preferred brand. The function of BB cream is to restore the skin by acting as a foundation, moisturizer, and sunscreen rolled into a single product. 

While its worth as a foundation lies in creating a uniform complexion, its main benefits lie in its moisturizing and sunscreen effects. Skin losing moisture can cause serious problems for your complexion and lead to cracking, while sunlight can generate other major complexion issues. BB creams cornered the market in South Korea, with certain brands creating additional creams specifically for men. 

Eventually, their popularity in Korea led them to travel the globe and find a place in Western markets that expanded their popularity tenfold. This begs the question of where CC creams fit into the equation and whether they are as important or effective as BB creams.

What is CC Cream?

CC cream shares the same ambiguity as BB cream, primarily because its name is an abbreviation that does not illustrate the product's function. To the average observer, CC cream is viewed as a completely unrelated product that might not apply to skincare. However, the truth is that CC cream is more closely related to BB cream than you might think. 

The problem is that identifying the difference between CC cream and BB cream is almost impossible. "CC" is an abbreviation for "color control" or "color correcting" cream that was created in the wake of BB cream's popularity explosion following South Korea's enhancement of Schrammek's original formula. It shares the same qualities as BB cream and is a foundation, moisturizer, and sunscreen packed into a single topical cream. 

While modern science has not created an official definition for either product, there is another thing it has been unable to accomplish. There is no scientific evidence proving that CC cream and BB cream are any different from each other.

Modern research has found no quantifiable differences between the products, and they ultimately serve the same cosmetic purpose. The spread of CC creams is almost identical to the spread of BB creams, based on Schrammek's formula. The differences between BB and CC creams vary by brand due to the different formulae used to produce them. 

Despite being essentially the same thing, CC creams experienced a surge in popularity that saw them gain popularity in South Korea, Europe, and North America. By 2016, BB and CC creams were widely available in most cosmetics stores, with neither overtaking the other as the market leader. The only benefit CC cream has that BB cream lacks is that it can reduce enlarged pores and redness of the skin. It also has a lighter texture than BB creams, making it easier to use in a hurry. 

The question of which to use is a little more complicated than you might have imagined because they are essentially the same product with only minor differences.

Which Should You Use?

Deciding between BB cream and CC cream can be challenging since they seem to accomplish the same goal. The minor differences between them mean it is seemingly the dealer's choice on which product to use. Despite the borderline negligible differences, there is enough of a distinction between the 2 that makes it possible to determine which one is worth using. CC creams have a deeper tone, making them more effective for covering up discoloration or blemishes that might require a large amount of makeup. 

Conversely, BB creams seem to excel at hydrating the skin and preventing cracking. Technically, both products can have these effects, but CC cream is slightly better at the former, while BB cream is slightly better at the latter. Therefore, your choice should be based on the most pressing issue you have with your skin. Countless skin conditions threaten to affect your complexion and your skin's health. Most, if not all, induce dehydration or hyperpigmentation as a symptom, meaning finding the right tools to counteract these issues is essential for anyone who takes pride in their appearance.

BB creams can help you deal with skin conditions that cause dehydration, while CC creams address hyperpigmentation. Almost every cream on the market is packed with pharmaceutical-grade ingredients that can make fast work of the issue you are having. Furthermore, all of them are extremely easy to apply and seldom delay you from accomplishing any other goals you have. 

That said, another detail might discourage more discerning users from using BB or CC creams. Some avoid pharmaceutical-grade ingredients since many have harsh side effects or cause unnecessary discomfort. While BB and CC creams are safe for all skin types, some might prefer a more natural solution. The question is: what can serve as an alternative to BB or CC creams without introducing chemical ingredients?

Natural Substitute For BB Cream

BB creams can moisturize and protect the skin, especially concerning exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The problem is that some of the ingredients in mainstream BB creams can disconcert customers who prefer the natural approach. The good news is that there are natural substances in the world that can effectively substitute BB creams. The bad news is that figuring out what those are can be difficult if you are not a botanist or biologist. 

If your main goal is to counteract skin conditions dehydrating your skin, vitamin C is one of the best options available. As a child, you probably heard the same speech all parents give about getting enough vitamins to grow up healthily. It turns out that your parents' speech was more accurate than you might have given your parents credit for. Not only does vitamin C promote healthy development in our bodies, but it also helps protect our skin from the elements.

A variant of vitamin C called magnesium ascorbyl phosphate was studied last year to determine its effects on human skin. The results showed that magnesium ascorbyl phosphate hydrates the skin, restoring health and elasticity. This same effect was observed in conventional vitamin C skin serums designed to repair and enhance the skin. 

This means vitamin C can undo and protect against dehydrated skin while reinforcing our natural concentration of an essential vitamin. Additional substances can hydrate the skin just as effectively as vitamin C, such as green tea, Aloe vera, and hyaluronic acid (a chief ingredient in several BB creams). 

While most products that use these substances include additional preservatives and pharmaceutical additives, others are 100% natural. This allows you to reap the hydrating benefits of BB creams without the unwanted ingredients. This brings us to the question of whether there are similar substances that can reasonably replace CC creams.

Natural Substitute for CC Cream

CC creams can have the same benefits as BB creams but are less effective at hydrating the skin than the latter. However, these creams compensate for this by outperforming BB creams when dealing with skin discoloration. The most common cause of skin discoloration is hyperpigmentation or burst blood vessels. 

One is caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation, while the latter is an injury that several factors can cause. Either way, the discoloration of your skin can be severe enough to have you questioning your appearance. CC creams protect against UV radiation, making it easy to avoid extreme cases of hyperpigmentation and keep your complexion uniform.

Additionally, its use as a foundation allows you to cover up burst blood vessels or other sources of discoloration. Unfortunately, they share the same weakness as BB creams by using chemical ingredients that might be unpleasant for certain people. Once again, nature does have a substitute for CC creams that might be more effective for you.

Oddly enough, vitamin C makes another appearance (which might not be surprising since they share a letter). In 2017, a study on vitamin C discovered that it can inhibit our body's ability to produce melanin. Melanin is the chemical our bodies produce to darken our complexion in response to intense solar radiation. In fact, melanin is responsible for the skin tones seen in people from the Middle East or North Africa who are exposed to more intense sunlight than the rest of the world. 

Unfortunately, our bodies can overproduce melanin and cause dark skin patches in an otherwise uniform complexion. Vitamin C can inhibit our body's ability to produce it and prevent overproduction from causing skin discoloration.

Finding the Right Blend

BB and CC creams have established themselves in modern skin care, especially for people prone to skin conditions. While the products are essentially the same, their minor differences create small niches in which each can thrive with different groups. The problem is that the chemical ingredients seen in most commercial BB and CC creams can cause certain people to avoid them. Fortunately, natural alternatives can yield the same benefits without introducing chemicals to your skin. The real challenge will be finding a vendor offering alternatives with only natural ingredients.

We at Teami understand the significance of your appearance and your aversion to chemical products. That is why we have created a catalog of products using natural ingredients to address several health and cosmetic issues that affect the human race. Among our product lineup is our Hibiscus Infused Vitamin C Serum, which can rehydrate the skin and tackle pigmentation without a single chemical ingredient. We encourage you to visit our website and try a bottle if BB or CC creams are not for you. After all, finding the right blend is a Teami effort.