This Is The Perfect Foundation Replacement For Summer

Source: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images

Summer is officially here, which means it’s time to trade in those heavy-duty formulas for something lighter, and we have the perfect solution: BB and CC creams. The lighter the formula, the more long-lasting (in general) it’ll be throughout a hot sunny day. Plus, BB and CC creams are seriously skin-friendly and usually contain SPF, which is another major bonus. To help you decide which summer-solution will work for your skin type and preferred coverage, we broke it down into CC and BB creams (yup, there’s a difference) and included our fave products. Check it out:

Solution 1: BB Cream

BB creams are another skin-saving product to come out of Korea, and we’ll be forever thankful. The BB reference originally stood for blemish balm, however, when it was adopted by the West it was changed to beauty balm – although there isn’t anything balmy about it. A BB cream is a sheer cream with very light coverage. It’s similar to a tinted moisturizer however it has added skincare benefits; most importantly it provides sun protection.

Depending on the BB cream formula, it can also have anti-aging and hydrating ingredients to replenish your skin. It’s perfect for those days when you want to wear something light on your skin with a natural skin-like finish. Although it shouldn’t replace your sunscreen, especially during the summer months, so don’t forget to apply SPF 30 before your BB cream. It’s also important to remember that as BB creams are very sheer, the shades often work for multiple skin tones.

TLDR; BB cream is a light coverage cream with a sheer finish.

Source: Bare Minerals, Iman Cosmetics, Smashbox

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream, $32: If dry skin is an issue for you, this BB cream is perfect, as the formula is enriched with marine extracts to hydrate and brighten your skin. It also has SPF 30 and comes in 16 different shades.

Iman Cosmetics Skin Tone Evener BB Crème, $16: This lightweight beauty balm will help even out skin tone while nourishing and brightening the skin with vitamins A, E, and C.

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35, $42: If you’re looking for a dewy finish, you’ll love this BB cream. Formulated with emollients to hydrate the skin and pearl pigments to add luminosity, it’ll leave your skin looking lit from within. It also offers SPF 35 protection and is suitable for all skin types.

Solution 2: CC cream

A CC cream is a color-correcting formula that neutralizes uneven skin tone by using color canceling tones. It’s perfect for skin that’s prone to redness, blotchiness or hyperpigmentation. It has an almost-whipped texture and is ordinarily heavier than a BB cream as it offers more coverage. Most CC creams also contain SPF to protect the skin from the harmful rays of the sun. We’d recommend CC creams for someone who prefers more coverage to conceal any blemishes, pigmentation, or uneven tone.

TLDR; CC cream is a light to medium coverage color-correcting cream.

Source: It Cosmetics, Thrive Causemetics, Black Up

It Cosmetics CC+ Cream Oil-Free Matte with SPF 40, $40: This CC cream is perfect if you want a full coverage option that’s still kind to your skin. It’s also great if you have oily or acne-prone skin as it contains charcoal and clay to absorb oil, and tea tree extract to combat blemishes.

Thrive Causemetics CC Cream, $38: A multi-tasking CC cream that blurs imperfections with color-adjusting micro-pigments that also hydrates and brightens with vitamin C. Plus, with every CC cream you buy, Thrive will donate a product to a woman in need to help her thrive.

Black Up CC Cream Multi-Action, $41: Formulated to target common issues for deeper skin tones, like excess sebum and dullness, this CC cream will work to mattify the skin and minimize the appearance of pores while leaving your skin with a gorgeous healthy glow.

Do you guys use BB or CC creams? Let us know in the comments below.