The BB cream craze is fairly recent in the Western hemisphere, even though it’s been popular in Asian countries like South Korea and Japan for over 20 years. Its success led to the creation of CC creams, DD creams, and Estée Lauder is now launching the EE cream.
Learn more about the differences of BB cream vs. CC cream vs. DD cream vs. EE cream and find out if each of these new types of products is replacing something old. If you’re late to the double letter cream craze, here’s what you need to know about each of them.
BB Creams
Even though Asia is responsible for its popularity, BB cream was originally created in Germany. Developed by dermatologist Dr. Christine Schrammek in the 1960s as a post surgery topical treatment, BB cream took decades to find its niche in the world of skincare.
BB stands for “beauty balm” or “blemish balm” and its moisturizing and creamy texture does more than hydrate your skin. A good BB cream combines light coverage with sun protection, helping you get a glowing look.
Produced by the biggest companies in the industry, BB creams can be used under your foundation, as a replacement or even on top of it, and they can also offer anti-aging benefits, thanks to antioxidants and other ingredients usually found in serums.
BB creams to try: Diorskin Nude BB Creme SPF 10, La Roche Posay Hydreane BB Cream, Too Faced Air Buffed BB Creme
CC Creams
“Color correcting” creams stand out from the original in more than one way. Instead of the all-in-one approach, they were created to deal with sallowness and redness. The texture is the biggest difference when it comes to BB creams vs. CC creams. The latter has a lighter consistency and it’s usually fast-absorbing.
With or without light-diffusing particles, CC creams also include antioxidants, but they have less in common with tinted moisturizer than BB creams. Even if you get a CC cream with SPF, you probably won’t use enough to get the full sun protection your need.
CC creams to try: Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream SPF 30 Hydrating Colour Corrector, Chanel CC Cream SPF 30, Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream
DD Creams
Whether you consider them “daily defense” creams or “dynamic do-all” creams, they’re the next step in the evolution of alphabetical skin care. In a comparison between BB creams vs. CC creams vs. DD creams, you’ll find that the latter is mostly focused on anti-aging benefits and protecting the skin from environmental stressors.
A hybrid of BB creams and CC creams, they’re useful when you’re looking for hydration and protection with just a little coverage.
DD creams to try: Julep DD Cream, DermaDoctor DD Cream, OFRA DD Cream
See also: Would You Shave Your Face for Better Skin?
EE Creams
The first EE cream is Estée Lauder’s Enlighten Even Effect Skintone Corrector SPF 30. In an attempt to reinvent the BB cream, the makeup giant has created a product that’s aimed at skin discoloration, but also includes protection elements.
Since these creams are also mixing sun protection with buildable and illuminating coverage, it’s easy to get confused in the BB cream vs. CC cream vs. DD cream vs. EE cream conundrum. If this color-correcting product takes off, we’ll surely see FF creams by next year.
Is the Tinted Moisturizer Going Out of Style?
The biggest loser in the rise of alphabetical creams has been tinted moisturizer, that offers coverage and similar benefits to BB creams, CC creams, DD cream, and now EE creams, but lags behind in the skin care department.
Even if it hasn’t been wiped out completely by these creams, tinted moisturized is probably running its course in the cosmetic world, so don’t be surprised if your favorite one gets discontinued sooner rather than later.
More: 10 Worst Pore Clogging Ingredients
Will Foundation Transform to Keep Up?
While BB creams, EE creams and everything in between offer a wide range of benefits, they don’t claim to be an alternative to foundation. Liquid foundations have the most catching up to do, but so far it doesn’t look like BB creams and their offspring pose any real danger to the classic foundation.
