Difference Between BB and CC Cream, Tinted Moisturizer & Foundation (2024)

Doing base makeup was simple back in the day. All most of us needed was a bottle of liquid foundation to create the base. Today, the beauty trends have changed. People now want minimal makeup using products that also provide skincare benefits and are ideal for daily use, paving the way for products like BB creams, CC creams, and tinted moisturizers. Coming across these multiple options on the beauty counter can get overwhelming, and make you wonder what is the difference between all these products. Read on as we make things easier for you. In this piece, we explore the difference between BB and CC cream, tinted moisturizer, and foundation so that you can clearly understand each of these products and include them in your vanity as per your requirement.

What is BB cream?

BB cream (also known as beauty balm or blemish balm) helps to even out skin tone and rectify blemishes. This makeup product gives a lighter coverage than foundation, but is thicker than a tinted moisturizer. BB cream contains skin-boosting ingredients that means you can get sunscreen, colour, moisturizer, and skin-reenergizing compounds in BB cream.

How to use BB cream?

  • Cleanse your face with a gentle facewash.
  • Apply BB cream using circular strokes. Start from the middle of your face and work your way outwards. If you have dry skin, you can apply a moisturizing cream before applying BB cream to ensure optimal moisturization.

Pro tip: While choosing from different types of face washes, you must look for nourishing ingredients in the cleansers. For instance, you can use vitamin C-enriched gel facewash to get healthy and glowing skin. Alternatively, you can go for orange-water infused soothing face wash to gently remove dirt and dust without stripping away the skin’s natural oil.

What is CC cream?

CC (colour correction or complexion care) cream addresses skin issues like redness and gives you an even-toned skin. Like BB cream, you can get similar benefits including sun protection and hydration. However, the only difference between BB cream and CC cream is that the latter is made for colour correcting your skin. So, if you don’t want to buy separate products for colour correction (i.e. concealer) and coverage (i.e. foundation), then you can opt for a CC cream.

How to use CC cream?

  • Prep your skin and Dot CC cream on your face.
  • Blend the product using your fingers, brush or sponge.

Now that you know what is the difference between BB and CC cream, let’s learn about the other two skincare and makeup products.

What is Tinted moisturizer?

Tinted moisturizers refer to moisturizers that come with a hint of colour. This type of skincare + makeup product hydrates the skin while giving light coverage. If you want minimal coverage, you can go for a tinted moisturizer. Note: Tinted moisturizers give less coverage than CC creams but have higher texture due to the presence of emollient properties.

How to use a tinted moisturizer?

  • Cleanse your face.
  • Choose a tinted moisturizer that matches your complexion.
  • Blend the product into your skin by using your fingertips, brush or beauty blender.

What is a foundation?

Foundation is a face makeup product that blurs imperfections, hides blemishes and discolouration, and gives you a smooth, even skin tone. It is a base makeup product that comes in multiple forms like liquid, cream, powder, serum, and even water-based formulation. Liquid and creamy foundation is known to all. What is powder or serum or water-based foundation, you ask? Powder-based foundation is a pigmented finely milled powder that gives coverage along with a lightweight finish. Serum-based foundation is formulated with the essential ingredients of a face serum to give hydrated skin as well as even skin tone. With water as the main ingredient, water-based foundation works perfectly for acne-prone skin and gives lightweight coverage and natural looking finish. Available in a wide range of shades, you can get sheer, medium, full or buildable coverage, depending on the kind of makeup look you’re going for.

How to use foundation?

  • Prep your face.
  • Take the required amount of foundation.
  • Gently tap the product into your skin using a brush, or beauty blender.

Difference between BB and CC cream, tinted moisturizer, and foundation

Take a quick glance at the following table to understand the difference between BB and CC cream, tinted moisturizer, and foundation, and their individual benefits:

Pointers

BB Cream

CC Cream

Tinted Moisturizer

Foundation

Coverage

Light

Medium to full

Light

Medium to full

Texture

Heavy

Light

Light

Can be creamy, powdery, water-based, serum.

Benefits

Offers skincare benefits, hides blemishes

Colour corrects, fades away redness, brown spots

Hydrates, blurs imperfections, gives natural glow

Helps to build a base for your makeup and get even-toned skin

So, who do you think will win the battle of CC cream versus Tinted moisturizer versus BB cream versus foundation? CC cream helps colour correct your skin while Tinted moisturizer hydrates skin, hides imperfections. While BB cream extends more skin benefits than foundation however it offers less coverage than foundation.

Those who are not a big fan either of the heavyweight coverage of foundation or the lightweight coverage of tinted moisturizer can opt for a BB cream. Our BB creams act as a multi-tasker, which help you get bright, healthy skin and an even-toned complexion. What’s more! You can get moisturized skin and optimal protection from the sun by simply including tinted BB cream in your vanity.

Pro tip: No matter which product you go for, always remember that you should take off your makeup before going to bed to reduce the chances of developing acne, pimple, blemishes, etc. You can either use vitamin C-enriched micellar water or facewash to remove dirt, dust, and makeup from your face and follow it up with a nourishing and hydrating moisturizer to get radiant skin.

Now that you know about the BB and CC cream difference, and how tinted moisturizers are different from foundation, go ahead and pick what you feel is the best option for you. And keep browsing through our vast range of Garnier skincare products to get healthy and clear skin.

Difference Between BB and CC Cream, Tinted Moisturizer & Foundation (2024)
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